RANJIT SINHA Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant has been convicted under Sections 467, 471/467, 468 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code. Under Section 467, as also under Section 471/467, he has been sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for six years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1000 or in default to undergo simple imprisonment for one year more. Under Section 420, he has been sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for 4 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1000 or in default to undergo simple imprisonment for one year more. No separate sentence has been imposed upon him under Section 468. The substantive sentences of imprisonment mentioned above are to run concurrently.

(2.) The offences are alleged to have been committed in November and December 1955. At the material time the appellant was a pleader practising in the Courts at Dumka. He was also on the panel of lawyers who used to be appointed Assistant Public 'Prosecutors for the purpose of conducting State cases in the criminal Courts at Dumka.

(3.) The substance of the prosecution case against the appellant is that in respect of his remuneration he had submitted a false bill containing particulars of cases of the Court of a magistrate, Sri J. S. Singh (P. W. 3), none of which had been conducted by him or for the conduct of none of which he had been appointed by the appointing authority who was the Deputy Commissioner of the Santhal Parganas. It is alleged that by forging such a bill in respect of his remuneration and using the same as genuine, the appellant cheated the servants of the State Government to the tune of Rs. 510.