SYED HAMEEDUDDIN Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who seeks bail, has been arrayed as A - 19 in the crime, which is pending investigation, for the alleged offences punishable under Sections 120-B, 255, 258, 259, 260, 263(A), 420, 471, 472, 474, 34 of the Indian Penal Code r/w Sections 64 (c) and 69 (b) of the Indian Stamp Act and Sections 3 (1) (ii), 3 (2), 3 (4), 3 (5) and 4 of Andhra Pradesh Control of Organized Crime Act, 2001 (for short "APCOCA").

(2.) The Government of Andhra Pradesh have constituted a Stamps Investigation Team (S.I.T.) for investigation of the fake stamps cases. Consequently, all the crimes that have been registered earlier at various police stations have been brought within the purview of S.I.T. Having regard to the magnitude of the crime and its area of operation having been spread over in different States in the country, the investigation in this case has been entrusted to Central Bureau of Investigation, pursuant to the orders passed by the Apex Court.

(3.) During the course of investigation, A-2 in the crime is said to have made a confession before the competent authority, which reveals the involvement of the petitioner in the crime. Inasmuch as confession made to police officer who is competent to record the same, is admissible under Section 18 of the APCOCA, the confession said to have been made by A-2 forms a basis of the case against the petitioner. The petitioner was arrested on 07-04-2004 and since then he has been in judicial custody.