JAGESHWAR MODI Vs. STATE OF BIHAR (NOW JHARKHAND)

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appellants have been found guilty for the offence under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act for violation of the Bihar Trade Articles (Licenses Unification) Order, 1984 and sentenced to serve rigorous imprisonment for six months as well as to pay a fine of Rs. 1000/ - each and in default thereof, to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for one month passed in Barhi Police Station Case No. 213 of 1992, G.R. No. 2428 of 1992, by Special Judge (E.C. Act), Hazaribagh.

(2.) THE brief facts leading to their conviction are that in the evening of 4th November, 1992, the informant was on patrolling duty, when he received information that one vehicle bearing No. BPM -1792 was carrying nine bags of sugar for black marketing to Telaiya. The informant accordingly informed his superiors and chased the vehicle going from Barhi Chowk to Telaiya in police jeep. It is further stated that the police intercepted the said jeep being driven by appellant Sirazuddin, loaded with nine bags of sugar for which he has no valid documents. The informant knew from the driver of the jeep that appellant Prakash Prasad Barnwal has purchased the said bags of sugar from appellant Jageshwar Modi, who was lifted the same for its distribution through PDS shop at Guriyo. In the meantime, appellant Prakash Prasad Barnwal was seen reaching there on a TVS Suzuki motorcycle bearing Registration No. BEM -186. The police tried to arrest the said appellant, but he managed to flee away leaving his motorcycle near the jeep.

(3.) THIS appeal has been preferred on the grounds that the entire prosecution case was based on surmises and conjectures. It is also asserted that no provision of Essential Commodities Act has been violated just for the lapses on the part of the appellants that at the time of seizure, supporting documents could not be produced before the police. The memo of appeal further mentioned that the learned lower Court has committed error on records and wrongly convicted the appellants.