CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Vs. RAMESH BATRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Respondent had faced the trial in FIR No. RC-06/99 CHG dated 29.4.1999, registered at Police Station CBI/ACB/Chandigarh.

(2.) Trial Court vide judgment dated 23.8.2010 ordered the acquittal of the respondent of the charges framed against him. Hence, the present application under Section 378(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for grant of leave to appeal by the applicant-CBI.

(3.) Prosecution story, in brief, was that respondent was working as Assistant Manager with Punjab National Bank, J.N.D.C Branch, Hissar. On 20.7.1998, respondent was on duty with regard to opening of new accounts. Sita Ram approached the respondent for opening a saving account. Respondent asked him to bring an introducer and get it verified from the Saving Fund Incharge. Respondent attested the signatures of Sita Ram on the account opening form, specimen signature card and his photograph. On 24.7.1998, Sita Ram met the respondent and showed him a draft deposit receipt to the tune of Rs. 7.50 lacs in the main branch of the bank at Hissar. As per the request of Sita Ram, respondent wrote a letter to Chief Manager, Main Branch, Hissar requesting for issuance of transfer payment voucher to the tune of Rs. 7.50 lacs qua the saving account of Sita Ram bearing No. 14997. The said letter was deliberately handed over by the respondent to Sita Ram. On 26.7.1998, Sita Ram approached the respondent with transfer payment voucher No. QZB 555474 dated 24.7.1998 in the sum of Rs. 7.50 lacs purporting to have been issued by the main branch.