NARASHIMMAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The genesis of these appeals stems from the complaint of Mr.Lawrence Alexander, Joint Director of Agriculture Department, Thiruvannamalai, to the Superintendent of Police, alleging that during the course of audit of the accounts in the office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture (Oil Seeds), Cheyyar, misappropriation of the Government money to a tune of Rs.64,96,291.00 by forging the contingent bills presented to the Sub Treasury, Cheyyar, between 1985 to 1990 noticed.

(2.) During that period, at different points of time, V.J.Sridharan (A1) and J.Mani serving as the Assistants in the Assistant Director Office, were in charge of preparation and submission of the contingent bills. M.Muthuraj, C.Venkatesan, R.Ponnan and M.Narshiman were the Assistant Directors responsible for signing the bills as Drawing Officers. Annexing a list consisting of details about bills between 03/10/1985 and 03/10/1989, the complaint disclosed the modus operandi of misappropriation by the Assistants and Assistant Director of Agriculture (Oil Seeds) at Cheyyar, manipulating the bills by forging and presented it as genuine before the office of the Treasury and encashed money in connivance with the Token Clerk, Assistant and Assistant Treasury Officer.

(3.) The disclosure of the crime spanning to a period of about 6 years, resulted in registering 6 FIR's in Crime Nos: 652 to 657 of 1991 by the Sub Inspector of Police, Cheyyar Police Station. On completion of investigation, 6 separate Final Reports were filed after getting sanction to prosecute the accused persons, who were public servants and in service.