CR.A/405/2001 1/39 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD CRIMINAL APPEAL No. 405 of 2001 For Approval and Signature: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.M.KAPADIA HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.A.PUJ ========================================================= 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ? 4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the constitution of India, 1950 or any order made thereunder ? 5 Whether it is to be circulated to the civil judge ? ========================================================= SHIVPRASAD (SHRIPRASAD) RAMPRASAD KUMBHAR & 1 - Appellant(s) Versus STATE OF GUJARAT & 1 - Respondent(s) ========================================================= Appearance : MS. SHILPA R SHAH appointed by Legal Aid Committee for Appellants MR KT DAVE ADDL.P.P. for respondents ======================================================== CR.A/405/2001 2/39 JUDGMENT CORAM : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.M.KAPADIA and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.A.PUJ Date : 24/01/2007 ORAL JUDGMENT (Per : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.M.KAPADIA) 1. The appellants ('the accused' for short) were tried by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Court No.13, City Sessions Court, Ahmedabad, in Sessions Case No.213 of 2000 for commission of the offences punishable under Section 8 ( c ) read with Sections 21 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 ('the NDPS Act' for short) arraigned on charge of accused No.1 having been found with contraband article charas weighing one Kg. (two packets containing 500 grams each) whereas accused No.2 having been found with contraband article charas weighing 500 grams (one packet), without pass/permit when they were intercepted and CR.A/405/2001 3/39 JUDGMENT apprehended near Three Junction Road, Old Air- Port Road, Near Meldi Mata's temple, Sardarnagar, Ahmedabad, on the basis of the prior information received by P.W.3, Bimalbhai Motilal Rajvanshi. At the end of the trial, the accused were found guilty for possessing the contraband article charas without pass/permit and as their complicity is proved, the trial court convicted them vide judgment and order dated 30.3.2001 for commission of the offence punishable under Section 8 (c ) read with Section 20 (b) of the NDPS Act and sentenced each of them to suffer R.I. for ten years and fine of Rs.1 lakh i.d., R.I. for further one year. 2. Aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment and order of conviction and sentence, the accused have filed this appeal under Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure ('the Code' for short). 3. Briefly stated, the prosecution case, as CR.A/405/2001 4/39 JUDGMENT disclosed from the FIR and unfolded during the trial, are as under: 3.1. P.W.3, B.M. Rajvanshi, P.I. State Narcotic Cell, CID Crime, received a secret information on 22.2.2002 from U.M. Jadhav, PSI through an informant regarding possession of contraband article charas by the accused which was noted down in the information register (Batmi Register). Thereafter permission was sought from the Superintendent, State Narcotic Cell for conducting raid. Vinod Dantania, a Police Constable was directed to bring two persons to act as panch witnesses for the purpose of carrying out the raid. The panchas were informed about the secret information received. On 23.2.2000, P.W.3, BM Rajvanshi, along with the members of the raiding party and panchas went in Government vehicles No.GJ-1-G-1331, GJ-1-BF-7860 and GJ-1-BB-65 and reached at the Kotarpur approach road near Thakhaji Thakore's tea Lari. Members of the raiding party took their position CR.A/405/2001 5/39 JUDGMENT in the said area where the informant accompanied them to identify the persons who were to approach with 1.5 Kg. charas. At about 4.45 P.M. both the accused came there and they were caught with 1.5 Kg. of charas. On carrying out search and seizure, a detailed procedure followed regarding recording of the panchnama, preparation of seizure memo, preparation of the arrest memo, etc. 3.2. On completion of the raid, a complaint was lodged by P.W.3, B.M. Rajvanshi in State Narcotic Cell, CID Crime Branch which is on record at Ex.40 and on the basis of the complaint crime was registered against the accused for commission of the offences punishable under sections 8 (c ), 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act. 3.3. Pursuant to the registration of the complaint, P.W.4, Vakhatsingh Jethisingh Solanki, PSI, was entrusted with the investigation. During the course of investigation, he recorded CR.A/405/2001 6/39 JUDGMENT statements of witnesses and arranged to send the muddamal to FSL Ahmedabad for analysis through P.W.1, Bldevji Chhanji Meena, ASI, Narcotic Cell. On receipt of the FSL report certifying that the muddamal which was sent for analysis was charas and as incriminating evidence was found against the accused, P.W.4, BM Rajvanshi filed charge- sheet against the accused for commission of the aforesaid offences in the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Ahmedabad. 3.4. As the offences under the NDPS Act are exclusively triable by the Court of Sessions, the learned Metropolitan Magistrate committed the case to the City Sessions Court, Ahmedabad. 3.5. The learned Additional Sessions Judge, Court No.13, City Sessions Court, Ahmedabad to whom the case was made over for trial, framed charge against the accused for commission of the offences punishable under sections 8 (c ), 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act which was read over and CR.A/405/2001 7/39 JUDGMENT explained to the accused. As the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and claimed to be tried, they were put to trial in Sessions Case No.213 of 2000. 3.6. To prove the culpability of the accused, the prosecution has examined four witnesses and relied upon their oral testimony, details of which are given in para 2 of the impugned judgment and order. They are as under: P.W. No. Name Ex.No. Page No. 1 Baldevji Chhanaji Meena 14 63- 70 2 Mahendrakumar Bhikhabhai Patel 20 71- 87 3 Bimalbhai Motilal Rajvanshi 28 83- 124 4 Vakhatsingh Jethisingh Solanki 45 125- 148 3.7. To bring home the charge levelled against the accused, the prosecution has also produced number of documents and relied upon the contents CR.A/405/2001 8/39 JUDGMENT of the same. They are also mentioned in para 2 of the impugned judgment and order. They are as under: Sr. No Particulars Ex. No Page No 1 Information communicated to the superior dated 23.2.2000 33 421- 424 2 Panchnama of the search of the accused dated 23.2.2000 21 391- 402 3 Letter addressed to th accused Shivprasad explaining the provisions of the search dated 23.2.2000 34 425- 426 4 Letter addressed to the accused Mohanlal explaining the provisions of the search dated 23.2.2000 35 427- 428 5 Seizure memo given to accused No.1 dated 23.2.2000 36 429- 430 6 Seizure memo given to accused No.2 dated 23.2.2000 37 431- 432 7 Information of arrest given to accused No.1 dated 23.2.2000. 38 433- 434 8 Information of arrest given to accused No.2 dated 23.2.2000. 39 435- 436 9 Original complaint of Rajvanshi 40 437- 440 10 Communication to the superior regarding th raid dated 23.2.2000 41 445- 448 11 Copy of letter sent to FSL dated 24.2.2000 42 449- 452 12 Receipt of FSL dated 24.2.2000 15 381- 382 13 Copy of letter sent to FSL dated 24.2.2000 43 453- 456 CR.A/405/2001 9/39 JUDGMENT Sr. No Particulars Ex. No Page No 14 Receipt of FSL dated 24.2.2000 16 383- 384 15 Opinion of FSL with covering letter dated 28.2.2000 46 457- 468 16 Opinion of FSL with covering lester dated 28.2.2000 47 469- 478 17 Panch slips 22 to 27 403 to 408 18 Muddamal Pavit 31 413- 416 19 Copy of station diary 32 417- 420 20 Copy of extract of muddamal register 18 387- 388 21 Opinion penned down in Batmi register 29 & 30 409- 410 & 411- 412 22 Closing purshis 50 487- 488 3.8. After recording of the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was over, the trial court explained to the accused the circumstances appearing against them in the evidence of the prosecution witnesses and recorded their further statement as required under section 313 of the Code. In their further statement, the accused denied the case of the prosecution. They have CR.A/405/2001 10/39 JUDGMENT stated that they are in relation is uncle and nephew, one of whom has an egg lari and the other has kulfi lari and they both reside in the same house at Subhash Nagar. The police had gone to their house and asked them to sit in an auto rickshaw. They never traded in narcotic drugs or psychotropic substance. They also denied of having been asked their willingness to be sarched in presence of a Class I Officer or an Executive Magistrate. According to them, on the previous day, police had gone to their lari to eat eggs, when they demanded the money they were slapped and asked them to meet the police the next day and on the next day they both were caught from their residence as the police was vindicative after having demanded the money. However, they have neither produced any evidence nor did they examine any witness in support of their defence. 3.9. On appreciation, evaluation, analysis and scrutiny of the evidence on record, the trial court has held that the prosecution has CR.A/405/2001 11/39 JUDGMENT established beyond reasonable doubt that on 23.2.2000, A-1 and A-2 both were found with contraband article charas weighing in all 1500 grams. Therefore complicity of the accused is established by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt and, therefore, the trial court held that the accused persons are guilty of the offence punishable under section 8 (c ) read with section 20 (b) of the NDPS Act and sentenced each of them to suffer RI for ten years and fine of Rs.1 lakh and in default of payment of fine, RI for further one year, which has given rise to instant appeal at the instance of the accused. 4. Ms. Shilpa Shah, learned advocate appointed by the Legal Aid Committee to assist the accused, has contended that the prosecution has examined the members of the raiding party who have not followed the mandatory and statutory provisions contained under the NDPS Act and, therefore, on account of non-compliance of the mandatory as well as statutory provisions of NDPS CR.A/405/2001 12/39 JUDGMENT Act, the prosecution evidence cannot be relied upon and cannot be acted upon. It is also contended by her that the trial court has misdirected itself in relying upon the oral testimony of the prosecution witnesses in respect of the alleged receipt of secret information, search of the person of the accused persons, seizure of muddamal, arrest of the accused at the scene of offence, etc. It is also pointed out by her that the prosecution has failed to establish that the contraband article which was sent to FSL was not tampered with during the course of its journey from filing of the complaint to the stage of its reaching the FSL. According to her, there is non-compliance of the provisions of Sections 52 and 55 of the NDPS Act. On the aforesaid premises it is contended by her that the prosecution has failed to establish the case beyond reasonable doubt and, therefore, the impugned judgment and order deserves to be quashed and set aside and thereby both the accused may be acquitted of the offences with CR.A/405/2001 13/39 JUDGMENT which they are charged. She, therefore, urged to allow the appeal. 5. In counter submission, Mr. KT Dave, learned APP for respondent – State of Gujarat, has submitted that by voluminous evidence produced by the prosecution, the complicity of the accused is proved beyond reasonable doubt. The accused were found and caught red-handed with contraband article charas. It is also submitted by him that after following and observing mandatory and statutory provisions contained under the NDPS Act, the contraband article was seized and sealed in presence of the members of the raiding party as well as panchas. FSL report in terms certified that the said contraband article which was sent for analysis was charas. It is also highlighted by him that the prosecution has successfully established that the sample was not tampered with during the course of the journey from the stage of filing of the complaint till it reached the FSL. On the CR.A/405/2001 14/39 JUDGMENT aforesaid premises, according to him, the prosecution has established the case beyond reasonable doubt and, therefore, the trial court has rightly recorded the order of conviction and sentence and the impugned judgment and order does not warrant any interference of this court in this appeal and as the appeal lacks merits, deserves to be dismissed. He, therefore, urged to dismiss the appeal. 6. This Court has considered the submissions advanced by the learned advocates appearing for the parties and perused the impugned judgment and order. This Court has undertaken a compete and comprehensive appreciation of all vital features of the case and the entire evidence on record which is read an re-read by the learned advocates for the parties with reference to broad and reasonable probabilities of the case. In light of the caution sounded by the Supreme court while dealing with NDPS cases, this court has examined the entire evidence on record for itself CR.A/405/2001 15/39 JUDGMENT independently of the trial court and considered the arguments advanced on behalf of the accused and infirmities pressed, scrupulously with a view to find out as to whether the trial court has rightly recorded the order of conviction and sentence. 7. At the outset, be it noted that to combat illicit drug traffic and drug abuse, both at the national and international levels, the penal provisions contained under the NDPS Act are stringent and punishment thereunder is harsh, therefore, as per the settled principles of criminal jurisprudence, the Court of law must insist on the strict compliance of the safeguards provided under the statutory provisions contained thereunder. 8. In this connection, it would be appropriate to refer to the observations made by the Supreme Court in the case of Bharatbhai Bhagwanjibhai v. State of Gujarat, AIR 2003 SC 7. In para 1 of the said judgment, the Supreme Court has observed as CR.A/405/2001 16/39 JUDGMENT under: “The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the NDPS Act categorically records the inadequacy of the existing legislation to combat illicit drug traffic and drug abuse, both at the national and international levels and it is by reason of such deficiencies in the existing laws, the legislature thought it prudent to consolidate the same and bring about a comprehensive legislation so as to meet the exigencies of the situation. A plain look at the provisions of the NDPS Act read with the Statement of Objects and the Preamble would depict the intent of legislature as regards the offences under the said consolidated legislation, which stands expressed in rather explicit language as one of the most heinous ones in nature. This Court, however, in consonance with criminal jurisprudence of the country has been insisting on strict compliance of the safeguards provided CR.A/405/2001 17/39 JUDGMENT under the statute so as to be in tune therewith”. 9. In view of the stringent penal provisions and harsh punishment provided thereunder and in view of the observations made by the Supreme Court in the above referred to judgment, we have to find out as to whether in instant case strict compliance of the safeguards provided under the statute have been observed by the Police Inspector during the course of search of the accused and seizure of the muddamal, contraband article, charas. 10. In this connection, we shall refer to the testimony of P.W.3, BM Rajvanshi, Ex.28, pages 83-124 of the paper book. He has, inter alia, testified that he was communicated a secret information by PSI Jadhav on 22.2.2000 to the effect that two Bhaiyaji of UP namely, Shivprasad and Mohanlal, were going to come to the Old Airport Three Roads near Meldi Mata Temple at CR.A/405/2001 18/39 JUDGMENT around 3 P.M. for selling charas of 1 ½ Kg. to 2 Kg. The informant did not want to disclose his name but was ready to show these persons to the police. The said secret information was noted down in the register and a written intimation was given to the superior and permission for raid was obtained from him. This witness thereafter called Vinod Dantania, a Police Constable and asked him to call two panchas and thereafter they all gathered at the office of the Narcotic Cell. They were also informed regarding receipt of the secret information and they all reached to the place where they expected that the accused would be coming. They carried the drug testing kit box, weighing machine, seal, thread, etc. They waited till 4.15 P.M., and when the accused persons came, the informant gave a signal and they caught both the accused who were attempting to run away but the raiding party encircled them and this witness introduced himself as Gazetted Officer of Narcotic Cell. Their personal search was carried out and they were jointly offered as to whether they need to be searched in presence of a Class I CR.A/405/2001 19/39 JUDGMENT Officer or an Executive Magistrate. Since they refused, such an offer was also given in writing. Their names were also asked. On search of their person, it was found that inside the vest worn under the shirt, two square packets of charas (weighing about 500 grams each) were found out from A-1, Shivprasad and one such packet (weighing about 500 grams) was found from A-2 Mohanal, the other accused. Each packet weighed nearly 500 grams making the total weight of the charas to 1 ½ Kgs. and on testing it was found to be charas. 5 grams were taken out from each of the packets found from A-1 making it 10 grams totally and it was sealed in a small plastic bag. In all three packets were prepared one of which was to be sent to the FSL and it was marked as A- 1, the other which were to be reserved as control reserve samples were marked as A-2 whereas the remaining two packets were sealed in one bag and marked as “A”. The same procedure was followed in the third packet found from the other accused and they were marked as B1, B2 and B respectively. They also made search of the house of Shivprasad CR.A/405/2001 20/39 JUDGMENT after passing a resolution but nothing was found. The raid was communicated to the official superior. After the seizure of muddamal, muddamal pavti was prepared. It was also entered into original station diary. Signatures of both the accused in the seizure memos were obtained. They were informed about their arrest and thereafter he gave the complaint. 10.1. This witness has been cross-examined at length. He agreed that there is no mention of Meldi Mata'a temple in the complaint. He agreed that there is no mention in the panchnama of their having stopped writing the same at the place of occurrence and thereafter continued that at the residential premises of the accused. There was a joint offer made to the accused. In the cross-examination this witness further agreed that the secret information was handed over to the official superior by hand delivery and the same has not been given an outward register number. His immediate official superior has not CR.A/405/2001 21/39 JUDGMENT been informed of the success of the raid but it was the Superintendent of the police who had been informed as the post of his immediate official superior was vacant. Most of the papers were written by PSI Jadhav. After the small quantity of the muddamal had been tested with the drug testing kit, the remaining muddamal had not been weighed but it was weighed before testing it. He does not recognize the importance of weight in the narcotic case. He did not agree that in the case of the prior information an official of the FSL ought to have been called at the place of occurrence. It was his first raid after his joining the Narcotic Cell. This witness has not been able to point out as to why some of the pages of the station diary were found torn of. According to him, if there are extra pages, they can be removed by the officer. He disagreed that in the Government registers no such removal can take place without concerned officer making a note of the same somewhere in the register and it is his discretion whether to make such a note or not. He disagreed to the suggestion that narcotic CR.A/405/2001 22/39 JUDGMENT substance had been found unmanned and, therefore, they foisted the case on the accused. He agreed that outward and inward register is being maintained for all the correspondence, but he disagreed that correspondence to his superior are not being reflected in any such register. He also agreed that there is no reference in the panchnama as to the registration number of both the auto rickshaws which were used as means of transportation to reach to the place. He further conceded that there were bags of eggs and pots for kulfi at the residence of the accused and he presumed that accused were trading in selling of eggs and kulfi. There was no case other than the present one against the accused. He also agreed that there ought to have been a separate offer to both the accused. All the papers were prepared in Gujarati language and admittedly both the accused were Hindi speaking persons and documents Ex.34 to Ex.39 were explained to the accused in Hindi language. However, he admitted that both of them understood Gujarati as well. According to this court, nothing substantial could be brought out CR.A/405/2001 23/39 JUDGMENT from the lengthy cross examination of this witness which could impeach the credibility of this witness. According to us, the evidence of this witness is of sterling quality and no infirmity with regard to non-compliance of mandatory and statutory provisions contained under the NDPS Act could be noted by us. 11. Thereafter the prosecution has examined and relied upon the oral testimony of P.W.2, MB Patel, Ex. 20, at pages 71-87 of the paper book. He has testified that he was called on 23.2.2000 while he was standing near tea lari at Meghaninagar between 1.30 P.M. and 2.00 P.M. He was given the information by the police which it received and was further informed that the said contraband articles were to be brought by two persons. They waited for about 1 ½ hours and thereafter two persons came and they were 'gherrowed'. They refused to give out the information regarding any contraband article they possessed. Before their search took place, they CR.A/405/2001 24/39 JUDGMENT were asked whether they intended to call any one to which they refused. Two packets were found from back of one accused (A-1) whereas one packet was found hidden from the back of the other accused. Gross weight was made of all the three packets and a small quantity of articles was taken out from the said packets and the panchnama was accordingly drawn. He identified the panchnama and his signature and the muddamal article. Totally 13 to 14 signatures were put by him on that day. This Panch is working as a partner in a contract business of parking contract at L.G. Hospital since last two years. 11.1. It may be noted that this witness was cross-examined at length by the learned advocate for the accused. However, nothing substantial has been brought out during his cross examination except that he was also engaged as panch in other two matters. According to this court, engagement as panch in other two matters, ipso facto, cannot impeach his credibility. His evidence CR.A/405/2001 25/39 JUDGMENT corroborates the evidence of P.W.3, BM Rajvanshi, with regard to receiving secret information, writing it down, conducting raid, interception of accused persons with contraband article charas in their possession and thereafter necessary formality of seizure, etc. 12. The prosecution has thereafter examined and relied upon the oral testimony of P.W.1, Baldevji Chhanaji Meena, Ex.14, pages 63-70 of the paper book. This witness is the person who