A L MEHRA Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE several petitions arise out of the case which is known popularly as the budget Leakage-Case.

(2.) ON the 9th March, 1956 a report was received at the Police Station that certain government Officers had made an unauthorised disclosure of Union Government's budget proposals for the year 1956-57 to some unauthorised persons. The Police registered a case under Sections 165a, 120b of the Penal Code, Section 5 of the prevention off Corruption Act and Section 5 of the Official Secrects Act. and apprehended a number of persons including F, X. Jacobs, General Foreman of the rashtrapati Bhawan Printing Press, D P. Chadha, a reskieiit of Delhi, A. L. Mehra, sales Manager of Mercury Paints and Varnishes, Bombay, N. L. More, a millowner of Bombay and H. G. L, Kothari, a resident o[ Bombay. On the 23rd March, 1956, mr. D. D. Sharma, Additional District Magistrate, Delhi, tendered a pardon to mehra under Section 337 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on condition of his making a full and true disclosure of the whole of the circumstances within his knowledge relative to the offence and to every person concerned. With the exception oi the approver who was granted a pardon all the other prisoners were released on bail.

(3.) THE prisoners appeared before the Special Judge appointed under the prevention of Corruption Act on a number of hearings but were informed on each occasion that the Police had not completed the investigation and that no proceedings could he taken. On the 23rd June, 1956 the Public Prosecutor informed the Court that the investigation of the case was over and that he would file a complaint in the Court of the District Magistrate on or before the 7th July, 1956. In view of this statement the learned Special judge adjourned the matter before him sine die and ordered the prisoners to appear before the Court by which they may be thereafter summoned.