YOG RAJ Vs. THE STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BY the impugned judgment, learned Additional Session Judge, Ambala, convicted Yog Raj and Ranbir Singh under sections 120 -B, Indian Penal Code, for entering into a criminal conspiracy to counterfeit traveller cheques of the denomination of Rs. 100/ and purporting to be of the Bank of Baroda , and 489 -D, Indian Penal Code, for having been in possession of instruments and material for counterfeiting the said traveller cheques. Under the first count they were sentenced to six months' rigorous imprisonment each and on the second court three year's rigorous imprisonment each and a fire of Rs. 500/ - each. Both the sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Feeling aggrieved, Ranbir Singh has preferred Criminal Appeal No. 390 of 1970 and Yog Raj Criminal Appeal No. 399 of 1970. Both these appeals will be disposed of by this judgment.

(2.) FOR the decision of question of law involved in this appeal, the relevant facts are that on 16th February, 1969, Inspector Jai Singh, S.H.O. Police Station Ambala Cantt. (P. W. 17) upon receipt of secret information went to the bus stand in Ambala Cantt. He joined with him Kulwant Rai Jain (P. W. 3) and Gurbachan Singh (P. W. 4) at about 3 p.m., Ranbir Singh accused who was holding brief -case Exhibit P. C. C. was seen boarding a bus for Chandigarh. He was stopped and from his brief -case, five printing blocks Exhibits P.L., P.M. -P.N/A, P.N/B, P.N/C, rough proof of counterfeited traveller cheque Exhibit P. R. D and a genuine traveller cheque Exhibit P. D. D were recovered. The same were duly taken into possession. Thereafter, the Inspector above -named arrested Ranbir Singh and the police party raided the Agnihotri Press in Ambala Cantt. belonging to Yog Raj accused. Gurbachan Singh P. W. had been left behind and in his place Bhagat Singh P.W. was joined. Kulwant Rai Jain P.W. remained with the party.

(3.) THEN on 17 February, 1969, A. S. I. Surat Singh interrogated Ranbir Singh accused and in consequence of the disclosure statement made by him, he (Ranbir Singh) discovered from his house in Chandigarh roaster design Exhibit P. X/E used for counterfeiting traveller cheques and two packets Exhibits P. O and P. Q each containing ten genuine traveller cheques of the Bank of Baroda. These articles were duly taken into possession.