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State, By Inspector Of Police, Cbi/Acb/Chennai v. S. Sankaran And Another
Structured Summary of the Opinion
Factual and Procedural Background
The State filed the present Criminal Original Petition challenging the order dated 14.11.2003 made in Crl.M.P.No.381 of 2003 by the Court of the Principal Special Judge for C.B.I. Cases, Chennai.
A charge sheet was filed against the respondents/accused for offences under Section 120-B read with Sections 409 and 477-A of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The allegation was that, while working as Catering Superintendents at VLR, Central Station, Chennai, the respondents entered into a criminal conspiracy around May 1993 and misappropriated or converted to their own use provisions entrusted to them to the tune of Rs. 1,11,808.05.
The prosecution examined its witnesses and then filed a petition under Section 311, Cr.P.C. seeking examination of four additional witnesses (S. Gopal, S. Thouladeen, S.F. Raziudeen and K.S. Somanathan) to prove entrustment of the provisions. The trial Court dismissed that petition on 14.11.2003 on the ground that the petition was filed at the fag end of the trial, the four witnesses had not been examined during the investigation, and reasons for not examining them were provided by the Public Prosecutor rather than the Investigating Officer. The State challenged that dismissal by way of the present revision.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether the trial Court erred in refusing to permit the prosecution to examine four additional witnesses under Section 311, Cr.P.C., at the fag end of the trial.
- Whether delay in producing or examining those witnesses (including their non-examination during investigation and the lapse of about ten years) and the absence of Section 161 statements preclude the exercise of the Court's power to summon or examine additional witnesses.
- Whether allowing the proposed additional evidence would cause prejudice to the accused or amount to an impermissible attempt by the prosecution to fill lacunae in its case.
Arguments of the Parties
Petitioner's (Prosecution's) Arguments
- The four witnesses sought to be examined are the authors of records that must be proved through them.
- These witnesses are material to proving entrustment of the provisions to the respondents.
- The documents which would be proved through these witnesses are already part of the documents filed with the charge sheet, so permitting their examination would not cause prejudice to the accused.
- The prosecution relied on Section 311, Cr.P.C. and precedent recognizing the wide amplitude of the provision to summon or examine material witnesses at any stage if essential to a just decision.
Respondents' (Accused's) Arguments
- Six prosecution witnesses had already been examined and the Investigating Officer's examination was still in progress; the petition was urged to extend the trial and rebuild the case at a late stage.
- Of the four proposed witnesses, S. Gopal is dead; S. Thouladeen and S.F. Raziudeen have retired and their whereabouts are unknown; only K.S. Somanathan remains in service — procuring the others would cause delay.
- Those witnesses had not given statements under Section 161, Cr.P.C. during the investigation; after a lapse of ten years their memory may have faded and they may not recollect events clearly.
- Permitting such witnesses now would prejudice the accused and would be unfair, appearing to be an attempt to fill lacunae in the prosecution case at the fag end of trial.
- The respondents relied on precedent cautioning that additional evidence should not be received if it would prejudice the accused or amount to a retrial or change the nature of the case; and on precedent critical of unexplained delays in recording Section 161 statements.
Table of Precedents Cited
| Precedent | Rule or Principle Cited For | Application by the Court |
|---|---|---|
| (2002) SCC (Cri) 230 — Shailendra Kumar v. State of Bihar and others | Section 311, Cr.P.C. has wide amplitude; Court may summon or examine material witnesses at any stage if their evidence is essential to the just decision, and negligence or laches in not examining them earlier does not undermine the Court's power to do so. | The Court acknowledged this principle but held it did not warrant permitting the additional witnesses in the present case because witnesses cited in the charge sheet were available and the prosecution's late attempt to produce alternate witnesses was not a proper ground. |
| (2001) 4 SCC 759 — Rambhau and another v. State of Maharashtra | Section 391 (additional evidence) confers wide discretion but such evidence must not be allowed if it would prejudice the accused or be a means to relitigate or change the nature of the case; it is not to fill gaps in the prosecution's case where the prosecution had a fair opportunity earlier. | The Court applied this caution to refuse the prosecution's petition: it found the prosecution was attempting to use new witnesses to fill lacunae and potentially prejudice the accused, so the trial Court's refusal was justified. |
| (1997) 10 D.N. Andhra Law Times (reported decision) | Evidence of witnesses whose Section 161 statements are recorded after an unexplained delay may not be safe to accept; delay in recording statements without explanation undermines reliability. | The respondents relied on this principle to argue that the more-than-ten-year delay in obtaining Section 161 statements (or absence thereof) rendered the proposed evidence unsafe; the Court considered the delay and potential faded recollection as factors weighing against permitting the additional witnesses. |
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The Court first identified the procedural posture: the prosecution had exhausted the opportunity afforded to it for examining witnesses and, at the fag end of a long-pending misappropriation trial, sought to examine four additional witnesses under Section 311, Cr.P.C.
The Court set out the parties' competing contentions: the prosecution contended these four persons were material and the authors of records to be proved through them and that the relevant documents were already in the Court; the respondents contended delay, practical difficulties (one dead, two retired and untraceable), absence of Section 161 statements and the passage of about ten years would cause prejudice and render the proposed evidence unreliable.
The Court examined the precedents cited by both sides. It recognized that Section 311 (and related provisions like Section 391) permit the Court to summon and examine material witnesses as required for a just decision and that the power is wide. However, the Court emphasized that such a power must not be exercised so as to prejudice the accused or act as a means to fill lacunae in the prosecution case when the prosecution had a fair earlier opportunity to examine witnesses.
Applying those principles to the present facts, the Court observed that the witnesses specifically cited in the charge sheet and listed as prosecution witnesses were still available, yet the prosecution sought to substitute or add other witnesses at a very late stage. The Court noted the prosecution's explanations were provided by the Public Prosecutor rather than the Investigating Officer and found the reasons proffered for not examining the named witnesses during investigation to be improper. The Court also accepted that allowing the newly-named witnesses might enable the prosecution to exert undue influence and could prejudice the accused, particularly given the long delay and potential fading of memory.
Concluding from a careful perusal of the impugned order, the Court found no irregularity or error apparent on the face of the trial Court's order dismissing the Section 311 petition and determined that interference with that well-considered order was neither necessary nor warranted.
Holding and Implications
Holding: The Criminal Revision Case filed by the State was dismissed. The order dated 14.11.2003 made in Crl.M.P.No.381 of 2003 by the Court of the Principal Special Judge for C.B.I. Cases, Chennai was confirmed.
Implications:
- Direct effect on the parties: The prosecution's petition to examine four additional witnesses under Section 311, Cr.P.C. was refused; the trial Court's decision to deny that relief was upheld.
- Broader implications: The opinion affirms that while Sections 311/391 empower courts to summon or receive additional evidence in aid of justice, that power should not be exercised where the prosecution seeks to fill gaps in its case at the fag end of trial, especially where doing so would prejudice the accused or where previously-named witnesses are available. The opinion did not state or establish any new legal precedent beyond the application of existing principles to these facts.
This summary is prepared strictly from the content of the provided opinion and does not add, infer, or supplement facts beyond those present in the text.
The above Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the State against the order dated 14.11.2003 made in Crl.M.P.No 381 of 2003 by the Court of Principal Special Judge for C.B.I Cases, Chennai.
2. The case of the petitioner is that a charge sheet was filed against the respondents/accused for offences under Section 120-B r/w 409, 477-A, IPC and under Sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 on the allegations that the respondents while working as Catering Superintendents in VLR, Central Station, Chennai had entered into a criminal conspiracy during May, 1993 and in pursuance thereof, had misappropriated or otherwise converted for their own use the provisions of stock of Southern Railway, which were entrusted to them or were under their domination, to the tune of Rs. 1,11,808.05.
3. The further case of the petitioner is that so far the prosecution has examined its witnesses; that the prosecution then filed a petition under Section 311, Cr.P.C for examination of four additional witnesses, namely S. Gopal, S. Thouladeen, S.F Raziudeen and K.S Somanathan to prove the entrustment of provisions to the respondents; that these witnesses are the authors of the records to be proved through them; that since the four witnesses are material witnesses and are available, the prosecution had sought the orders of the trial Court to examine them as additional witnesses; that the documents sought to be deposed by these witnesses are already in the Court as part of the documents filed along with the charge sheet and therefore, no prejudice would be caused to the respondents/accused; that the learned Special Judge dismissed the said petition on 14.11.2003 on ground that the prosecution filed the petition at the fag end of the trial; that the witnesses sought to be examined were not examined during investigation by the Investigating Officer and the reason for not examining the witnesses during investigation was given by the Public Prosecutor and not by the Investigating Officer, since the Investigating Officer might have satisfied himself with the other witnesses cited in the list of witnesses to prove the entrustment. On such averments, he would pray for the relief extracted supra.
4. In the counter affidavit filed by the first respondent he would submit that so far in the case six witnesses were examined and the Investigating Officer's examination is going on and at this stage the prosecution has filed the above Crl.R.C for the purpose of extending the trial and rebuilding the case; that among the four witnesses cited by the prosecution, one Gopal is already dead and the other two witnesses namely S. Thouladeen and S.F Raziudeen are already retired from service and their whereabouts are not known to the department and to procure them for the purpose of examination would cause delay in proceedings and the only one witness by name K.S Somanathan alone is working; that the above witnesses have not given statement under Section 161 of Cr.P.C at the time when the investigation was on; that at the lapse of 10 years everything in their mind would be faded away and they cannot recollect anything at this fag end of trial due to senility; that moreover, the prosecution wants to bring them as witness for the purpose of filling up the lacuna caused during trial which will definitely prejudice the interest of the respondents/accused; that it also will not amount to be a fair trial on the part of the prosecution.
5. Heard the learned Special Public Prosecutor for C.B.I appearing for the petitioner and the learned counsel appearing for the respondent as well and the materials placed on record have also been perused.
6. During arguments the learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner would cite a judgment reported in (2002) SCC (Cri) 230 (Shailendra Kumar v. State of Bihar and others) wherein it is held:
“Section 311, Cr.P.C empowers the Court to summon material witnesses though not summoned as witnesses and to examine or recall and re-examine if their evidence appears to it to be essential to the just decision of the case. Section 311 reveals that it is of a very wide amplitude and if there is any negligence, laches or mistakes by not examining material witnesses, the Court's function to render just decision by examining such witnesses at any stage is not, in any way, impaired.”
7. At this juncture the learned counsel for the respondents/accused would cite a judgment reported in (2001) 4 SCC 759 (Rambhau and another v. State of Maharashtra) wherein it is held:
“There is available a very wide discretion in the matter of obtaining additional evidence in terms of Section 391 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. But this additional evidence cannot and ought not to be received in such a way so as to cause any prejudice to the accused. It is not a disguise for a retrial or to change the nature of the case against the accused. The order must not ordinarily be made if the prosecution has had a fair opportunity and has not availed of it. However, it is the concept of justice which ought to prevail and in the event, the same dictates exercise of power as conferred by the Code. Section 391 was introduced in the statute-book for the purpose of making it available to the Court, not to fill up any gap in the prosecution case but to oversee that the concept of justice does not suffer.”
8. The other judgment cited by the respondents/accused is one reported from 1997 (10) D.N Andhra Law Times wherein it is held:
“Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Section 161 Statement of witnesses recorded by police and appreciation of evidence of such witnesses, it is not safe to accept evidence of witnesses whose statements were recorded by police under Section 161, Cr.P.C four and half months after the incident for which delay no explanation is given by Investigating Officer.”
Citing the above decision the learned counsel for the respondents would submit that in the case in hand there is a delay of more than 10 years in recording 161 statement and on this score only this Criminal Revision Case is liable to be dismissed and hence he would pray for dismissal of the above Criminal Revision Case.
9. In consideration of the facts pleaded, having regard to the materials placed on record and upon hearing the learned counsel for both, what comes to be known is that in a case of misappropriation filed by the petitioner-prosecution having exhausted the opportunity afforded for it for examination of its witnesses, at the fag end of the trial it has filed a petition under Section 311 of Cr.P.C for examination of four witnesses as additional evidence to prove the entrustment of the provisions with the respondents.
10. It would be argued on the part of the petitioner-prosecution that these four witnesses sought to be examined as additional evidence are the authors of the records which have to be proved before the Court and it should be done only through them and these witnesses are material witnesses. The further argument of the petitioner-prosecution is that since the documents which are sought to be marked through these witnesses are already forming part of the documents filed in the Court along with the charge sheet and therefore, no prejudice would be caused to the accused in permitting the petitioner-prosecution to examine these witnesses as additional evidence.
11. On the other hand on the part of the respondent it would be argued that after the lapse of ten years the petitioner-prosecution has come forward to examine these witnesses as additional evidence as though at the time when they filed the charge sheet and the documents they were not aware of the situation, which cannot be proper ground and therefore, the learned special Judge has dismissed the said petition on ground that the prosecution has come forward seeking to examine these witnesses who have not been examined during investigation nor their statements recorded and the reasons for not examining the witnesses during the time of investigation has not also been given by the Investigating Officer but only by the Public Prosecutor who has nothing to do regarding the examination of witnesses and since the Investigating Officer has been satisfied himself with the witnesses cited in the list of witnesses to prove the entrustment it is not up to the Public Prosecutor now to come forward to say that what evidence was earlier collected are inconsistent and the Court should permit them to examine these witnesses as additional evidence.
12. In the above circumstances this Court is able to find that this is a case of misappropriation registered and it is a long pending case in which after a lapse of ten years, the petitioner-prosecution has come forward to take up the plea to examine these witnesses as additional evidence in spite of the witnesses who have been cited in the charge sheet being alive, with an excuse that they are not able to be procured, which is not a proper reason for examining these witnesses named anew in the petition as additional evidence and therefore on a careful perusal of the order of the trial Court which is impugned herein, this Court is not able to find any irregularity or error apparent on the face of the order nor could this Court see any other inconsistency or infirmity having crept into the order passed by the trial Court. Though as per the propositions held in the judgments cited supra that the Court could permit, if in its considered opinion the witnesses sought to be examined as additional evidence are material witnesses, in the case in hand it could not be permitted because those material witnesses who have been cited as witnesses in the charge sheet are still, available and instead of proving the case through them they are attempting to examine some other witnesses against whom they could wield undue influence as it comes to be argued on the part of the respondent and since there is sufficient force in the arguments of the learned counsel for the respondent, this Court has to only concur with the decision arrived at by the trial Court in not permitting the petitioner-prosecution to examine those witnesses as additional evidence, thus dismissing the application filed by the petitioner prosecution. Since the order of the trial Court is a well considered and merited order, the interference of this Court sought to be made into the same is neither necessary nor warranted in the circumstance of the case and hence the following order:
In result,
(i) the above Criminal Revision Case does not merit acceptance and it becomes only liable to be dismissed and is dismissed accordingly;
(ii) the order dated 14.11.2003 made in Crl.M.P.No 381 of 2003 by the Court of Principal Special Judge for C.B.I Cases, Chennai is confirmed.
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