STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH Vs. KANWAR SINGH RAWAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The State is in appeal against the judgment dated 26.9.2000, rendered by the learned Special Judge (Forest), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, in Sessions Trial No. 8-S/7 of 97/93, State vs. Kanwar Singh Rawat and others, acquitting the respondents herein, who shall hereinafter be referred to as the accused and denoted as A-1, A-2 and A-3, respectively, for the offences under Sections 447, 379, 420, 467, 468 and 471 read with Section 120B of the Indian Penal code (in short IPC ); Sections 41 and 42 of the Indian Forest Act and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 corresponding to Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

(2.) The charge-sheet was laid against as many as six accused, namely Ram Parshad Sohta, Kanwar Singh Rawat (A-1), Rajinder Mohan Dua (in short R.M. Dua), Amrit Singh (A-2), S.R. Messon and Ram Parkash (A-3). However, consequent upon death of accused Ram Parshad Sohta, R.M. Dua and S.R. Messon during pendency of trial, the case against them stood abated.

(3.) Accused Ram Parshad Sohta was resident of Village Dhar, Tehsil Rohru, District Shimla and one of the co-owners of the land comprised in Khasra No. 8 situate in Village Chak Dhar. It is alleged that during 1980-81 he had obtained felling orders of kail and deodar trees from the said Khasra number and sold the same to A-1, Kanwar Singh Rawat.