STATE Vs. AB MAJID DAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS revision petition is directed against the order dated 15 -06 -1998 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Badgam whereby he discharged the respondents herein for the commission of offences falling under sections 121 -A, 120 -B and 212 RPC. The factual matrix of the case as projected by the prosecution is that in the Police Station, Saddar Srinagar FIR No 304 of 1997 was registered for the Commission of offences falling under section 10/11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act and investigation thereunder was started. Bank account No.191/2 in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank Branch, Rawalpora, Srinagar was found in the name of respondent No.1 who is a vegetable vendor and runs his shop in Sant Nagar area of Srinagar City. Respondent No.1 is an immediate neighbour of respondent No

(2.) WHO is a senior leader of secessionist political organisation known as J&K Hurriat Conference. Respondent No. 2 has close relations with unlawful organisation known as ËœAlbarqâ„¢ and in order to execute the secession acts used to get secret monetary help from internal and external agencies who are hostile to the Union of India. In the year 1995, respondent No. 2 with an objective of carrying on these unlawful activities in a clandestine manner developed thick friendly relations with respondent No, 1 who became a frequent visitor to his house. For the safe custody of the money (which was so being received through ËœHawalaâ„¢ and other means) said account No.191/2 in the J&K Bank Ltd. was opened. At the dictates of respondent No.2, respondent No.1 used to frequently deposit and withdraw the money. The withdrawn money was being spent for the procurement of illegal arms, ammunition and explosive materials which were being distributed to concerned groups of militants for the purpose of committing the acts of violence and sabotage in the State and thus threatening the integrity and security of the country. At the time of seizure of the said accounts, an amount of rupees one Crore was found in it. 2. The learned Sessions Judge before discharging the respondents had made the following observations in the impugned orders:

(3.) WHILE discussing the prosecution evidence, the learned Sessions Judge has held that there is no evidence to show that at any point of time any witness of the prosecution actually saw the accused Abdul Majid passing any money by cash or by cheque to the accused Abdul Gani Lone. There is not even a single cheque or counter -foil of the cheque on the file to suggest that the accused Abdul Majid has ever paid any money to the accuse Abdul Gani Lone from account No. 191/2 in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank.  He had also found that there existed no conspiracy to purchase arms and ammunition including explosives as no recovery could be made of any such objectionable items. Equally, there was no evidence to suggest that any weapon or explosive material was ever purchased, procured or possessed by any of the accused. No prosecution witness even faintly had deposed that criminal force was applied in order to wage war with the aim of over -throwing the State. There was not even an iota of evidence to show that a particular militant was given shelter by respondent No.2 in order to screen him from the legal consequences of the acts committed by them. The prosecution had even failed to trace the source of the money from where the deposits were made in the said account.