Satheeskumar v. The Inspector of Police

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Monday, the Twenty Seventh day of November Two Thousand and Twenty Three PRESENT The Hon`ble Mr.Justice P.VADAMALAI IN CRL A(MD) No.1035 of 2023 SATHEESKUMAR ... PETITIONER/APPELLANT

Vs THE STATE REP.BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE VIGILANCE AND ANTI CORRUPTION WING, VIRUDHUNAGAR. CRIME NO. 3/2018 ... RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT Criminal Miscellaneous Petition filed praying that in the circumstances stated therein and in the petition filed therewith the High Court may be pleased to Suspend the operation and execution of sentence imposed by the Special Judge cum Chief Judicial Magistrate, Virudhunagar District at Srivilliputhur in Spl C.C No. 01 of 2019 dt. 10.11.2023 till the disposal of appeal and may be pleased to enlarge the above Petitioner/Appellant on bail till the disposal of pending appeal. PRAYER IN CRL.A(MD).1035 of 2023: Pleased to admit this appeal, to call for records from the trial court and to set aside the judgment in Spl.C.CNo.01 of 2019 dated 10.11.2023 by the learned Special Judge cum Chief Judicial Magistrate, Virudhunagar District at Srivilliputhur and may be peased to acquit the Appellant/A2 from the charges leveled against him. Order : This petition coming up for orders on this day, upon perusing the petition filed in support thereof and upon hearing the arguments of Mr.K.SEENU RAMACHANDRAN, Advocate for the petitioner and of Mr.B.NAMBISELVAN, Additional Public Prosecutor on behalf of the Respondent, the court made the following order:- This Criminal Miscellaneous Petition is filed to suspend the sentence imposed by the learned Special Judge-Cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Virudhunagar District at Srivilliputhur, in Spl.C.CNo.01 of 2019 dated 10.11.2023 and enlarge the petitioner on bail till the disposal of this Criminal Appeal.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner demanded a sum of Rs.5,000/-(Rupees Five Thousand only) as bribe amount from the defacto complainant. Thereafter, defacto complainant gave a complaint against the petitioner and the case was registered against the petitioner by the respondent police in Crime No.3 of 2018. After completion of investigation formalities, final report was filed before the concerned Court for the offences under Sections 7 r/w 12 and 13(2) r/w 13

(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the final report was taken on file in Spl.C.C. No.01 of 2019.

¶3Before the trial Court, on the side of the prosecution, 9 witnesses have been examined as P.W.1 to P.W.9 and 39 documents were marked as Ex.P1 to Ex.P39. Six materials objects were marked as M.O.1 to M.O.6. On the side of the accused no witnesses was examined and 15 documents were marked as Ex.D1 to Ex.D15.

¶4The learned Special Judge-Cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Virudhunagar District at Srivilliputhur, upon considering the evidence both oral and documentary and on hearing the arguments on both the sides, has passed the impugned judgment dated 10.11.2023 by convicting the petitioner as follows : S.No. Offence Sentence Fine In

default sentence

¶17 r/w 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 2 years rigorous imprisonment Rs.5,000/-

months simple imprisonment

¶213(2) r/w 13(1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 3 years rigorous imprisonment Rs.5,000/-

months simple imprisonment Challenging the above said conviction and sentence, the petitioner has preferred the present Criminal Appeal along with the above Miscellaneous Petition seeking suspension of sentence.

¶5The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that there are several infirmities in the prosecution case and further there are contradictions in material particulars between the evidence of the prosecution witnesses. He further submitted that the trial Court suspended the sentence till 11.12.2023.

¶6The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent would submit that there are enough materials available on record against the petitioner and hence, he strongly opposed to grant suspension of sentence.

¶7This Court has carefully considered the rival contentions put forward by either side and also perused the materials available on record.

¶8The learned counsel for the petitioner pointed out that certain infirmities and inconsistencies in this case and also certain contradictions in material particulars. The fact remains that there are arguable points involved in this criminal appeal and further the criminal appeal is not likely to be taken up for final hearing in the near future and as such, this Court is of the considered view that the petitioner herein is entitled to the relief of grant of suspension of sentence.

¶9Accordingly, this petition is allowed and the substantive sentence of imprisonment alone is suspended pending disposal of the appeal with the following directions:-

(i) The petitioner is directed to be enlarged on bail on condition that the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Special Judge-Cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Virudhunagar District at Srivilliputhur.

(ii) The sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impression in the surety bond and the trial Court may obtain a copy of their Aadhar card or Bank Pass Book to ensure their identity; and

(iii) The petitioner shall appear before the trial Court once in a month i.e., on the first working day of every English calendar month at 10.30 a.m., until further orders.

sd/-

27/11/2023

/ TRUE COPY /

/12/2023

Sub-Assistant Registrar (C.S. )

Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,

Madurai - 625 023. TTA TO 1 THE SPECIAL JUDGE-CUM-CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT AT SRIVILLIPUTHUR. 2 THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE VIGILANCE AND ANTI CORRUPTION WING, VIRUDHUNAGAR. 3 THE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT, MADURAI. COPY TO: THE SECTION OFFICER, CRIMINAL SECTION, MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT, MADURAI.(CALL FOR RECORDS) +1. C.C. to Mr.G.MARIAPPAN Advocate SR.No.16918 ORDER IN IN CRL A(MD) No.1035 of 2023 Date :27/11/2023 SA/JGB/SAR. /06.12.2023/6P/6C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023.