CHARANJIT LAL Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) APPELLANT Charanjit Lal has filed this appeal challenging his conviction and sentence under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as ordered by the Special Judge vide judgment/order dated 30.10.2003. Prosecution story, in brief is that complainant - Lokesh Chhabra along with shadow witness Chander Bhan had approached the Deputy Superintendent of Police (hereinafter referred at 'DSP') Raj Singh on 06.09.2000. Complainant had moved a complaint before the DSP that the appellant had raised a demand of Rs. 1800/ - from him for getting him appointed as apprentice with

(2.) THOMAS Press. DSP gave demonstration of working of phenolphthalein powder (in short 'p. powder') to the complainant and other witnesses. Complainant handed over two currency notes in the denomination of Rs. 500/ - each to the DSP who returned the same to the complainant after application of p.powder and directed the complainant to hand over the same to the accused on demand. Raiding party was organized by the DSP and Chander Bhan was directed to act as a shadow witness. Chander Bhan was instructed to give a signal to the raiding party after the bribe money was accepted by the appellant on demand from the complainant. Complainant was directed to hand over the tainted currency notes to the appellant on demand. Constable Hari Krishan was also appointed as a shadow witness. Thereafter, the raiding party left for the raid. Complainant and the shadow witnesses met the appellant and the complainant handed over the tainted currency notes to the appellant. Appellant kept the said tainted currency notes in his shirt pocket. On receipt of signal from the shadow witness, DSP along with the remaining raiding party reached the spot. When the fingers of the appellant were dipped in a solution of sodium carbonate, the colour of the solution turned pink. The said solution was put in a nip and was taken in possession. Tainted currency notes were recovered from the shirt pocket of the appellant and were taken in possession. Shirt pocket of the appellant was dipped in a solution of sodium carbonate and the colour of the solution turned pink. The said solution was put in a nip and was taken in possession. After completion of investigation and necessary formalities, challan was presented against the appellant. Learned Sr. counsel for the appellant has submitted that the appellant had been falsely involved in this case as Chander Bhan -shadow witness was inimical towards him. Complainant had held an inquiry against Chander Bhan -shadow witness and due to the said inquiry report, Chander Bhan was transferred from Faridabad to Palwal. Due to this reason, Chander Bhan, in connivance with Lokesh Chhabra, had falsely involved the appellant in this case. Further the complainant had not supported the prosecution story. Chander Bhan -shadow witness had also not supported the prosecution story to the effect that the complainant had given the tainted currency notes to the appellant on demand. Learned State counsel, on the other hand, has submitted that the prosecution had been successful in proving its case. Appellant was caught red -handed while accepting bribe from the complainant.

(3.) THE said witness has deposed that on receipt of signal from the shadow witness, they had reached the spot and the tainted currency notes were recovered from the shirt pocket of the appellant. He also deposed that when the fingers of the appellant were dipped in a solution of sodium carbonate, the colour of the solution turned pink. The shirt pocket of the appellant was also dipped in a solution of sodium carbonate and the colour of the solution had turned pink. PW -10 Constable Hari Krishan who was also appointed as a shadow witness deposed that Lokesh Chander had gone inside the office of the appellant while Chander Bhan was standing in the gallery and he was standing in the park. On receipt of signal from Chander Bhan, he had given a signal to the raiding party. Thereafter, the raiding party entered the office of the accused and the tainted currency notes were taken in possession. The hands as well as the shirt pocket of the accused were dipped in a solution of sodium carbonate. However, the said witness had not deposed as to whether the colour of the solution had changed its colour. PW -11 Raj Singh, DSP has deposed that the complainant had approached him with Chander Bhan on 06.09.2000 and had moved complaint Ex.P -A. He had shown the demonstration of working of p. powder to the witnesses. He further deposed that complainant had handed over two currency notes in the denomination of Rs. 500/ - each to him and he had returned the same to the complainant after application of p.powder and had instructed him (complainant) to hand over the same to the appellant on demand. Chander Bhan and Constable Hari Krishan were appointed as shadow witnesses. Then they reached the spot on receipt of signal from Constable Hari Krishan. They entered the office of the appellant and recovered the currency notes from his shirt pocket. The colour of sodium carbonate turned pink when the fingers of the appellant as well as his shirt pocket were dipped in the said solutions.