(1.) This petition is filed against the order passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge Baroda on 29-4-1976 whereby he negatived the claim of the petitioner to copies of documents and statements recorded by the Investigating Agency during the course of investgation. Really speaking this should be treated as Criminal Revision Application inasmuch as the order passed refusing the supply of copies is challenged.
(2.) The claim to the copies arose in the following circumstances: The petitioner came to be arrested on March 19 1976 and was then taken on remand. He gave an application for being released on bail. It appears that the allegation against him was that he had committed offences punishable under sees. 5(3)(a)(b) and 12 of the Indian Explosives Act and secs. 4 5 and 6 of the Explosive Substance Act and sec. 120B of the Indian Penal Code and sec. 121A of the Indian Penal Code. The last mentioned offence is punishable with imprisonment for life. In the course of hearing of this application for bail the petitioner insisted upon copies of documents and police statements recorded during the course of investigation. It may be mentioned that the petitioner has not so far been charge sheeted and the investigation is going on. The demand for the copies was opposed by the Investigating Agency and the learned Judge after hearing both the sides came to the conclusion that copies cannot be supplied to the petitioner. Being aggrieved by this order the petitioner has filed the present petition.
(3.) We are not at this stage concerned with the question whether on the merits of the case there are reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioner has committed an offence punishable with imprisonment for life. That question is yet to be decided by the learned Additional Sessions Judge. It is at the interim stage against the order of refusing the supply of copies that the petitioner has come to this Court by way of this petition.