Raj Kumar and Anr v. State of Haryana and Anr

o o 2023:PHHC:165691o o ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo 880o(2)o o o o o o o o oooooo o o o o o o o o ooooCRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o oooooooooooooo oooooooooJudgmentoReservedoono:o17.11.2023oo o o o o oooooooooJudgmentopronouncedoon:oooo30.11.2023o o RAJoKUMARoANDoANOTHERoo o o o o ......Petitioneroo o o o oo o o o o o VERSUSo o STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoANOTHERoo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o *****o Present:o-oo Mr.oVikasoGoel,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioner.o o oo o o o Mr.oPankajoMulwani,oDAG,oHaryanaoo o o forotheorespondents.oo o o o o *****oo VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o

1.o o Prayeromadeobyotheopetitionersoinotheopresentopetitionoisotoohando overo theo investigationo ofo caseo FIRo No.o 158o datedo 20.04.2016o registeredo underoSectionso148/149/323/506/379oofotheoIndianoPenaloCode,o1860o(foro shorto"theoIPC")o(theooffenceounderoSectiono395oIPCowasoaddedoandotheo offenceounderoSectiono379oIPCowasodeletedolateroon)oatoPoliceoStationoCityo Bahadurgarh,o Districto Jhajjaro too someo othero independento Investigatingo Agency.oo

2.o o Brieflyosummarized,otheocaseoofotheopetitionersoisothatotheoaboveo FIRo hado beeno registeredo ono theo statemento ofo oneo Sarojo Kumaro Pandeyo allegingothatoonotheodayoofotheoincident,oheowentotootheolandoownedobyohiso employero foro gettingo theo sameo eartho filledo whereo theo petitionero No.1o CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -2-o o alongwithohisoaccomplicesopickedoupoaoquarrelowithohimoandogaveobeatingsotoo himoandoalsoosnatchedofromohim.oSinceotheoallegationsomadeooutoaocognizableo offence,o theo FIRo waso registeredo ando investigationo commenced.o Theo petitionersowereoarrestedobyotheopoliceoonotheosameodayoandoproducedobeforeo theoCourt.oTheopetitionersowereoreleasedoonobail.oEventuallyoasoSectiono395o IPCowasoaddedoandoSectiono379oIPCowasodeleted,opermissionowasosoughtotoo re-arrestotheoaccusedoperson.oTheosaidopermissionowasograntedobyotheoSubo Divisionalo Judicialo Magistrate.o Someo accusedo wereo arrestedo whileo otherso wereograntedotheoconcessionoofopre-arrestobail.oItoisoallegedothatotheosaidoFIRo hadobeenoregisteredoatotheoinstanceoofooneoP.K.oGuptaowithowhomopetitionero No.2oisoinoaolitigationobeforeotheoCiviloCourtoforotheosameolandoonowhichotheo complainantoclaimsotoohaveobeenosentotoofilloupoearth.oTheoemployeroofotheo complainantoviz.otheodefendantoinotheosuitowantedotootakeoforcibleopossessiono ofotheolandopurchasedobyohimodespiteoaoCiviloCourtodecreeodatedo11.02.1981o havingobeenopassedoinosuitoNo.o192oofo1979oasoperowhichopossessionoofotheo disputedolandohadobeenohandedooverotootheovendoroofotheopetitioners.oTheo policeoinitiallyopresentedofinaloreportoono29.07.2016oagainstosomeoaccusedo andothereafteroaosupplementaryochallanowasofiledoono18.09.2016oagainstotheo remainingoaccused.oItoisoaverredothatotheosaidoinvestigationowasotaintedoundero theoinfluenceoofooneoP.K.oGuptaowhooisohavingodealingsowithotheohighopoliceo authorities.ooAocomplaintowasoalsoomadeobyopetitioneroNo.1otootheoNationalo CommissionoforoScheduleoCasteoatoDelhioregardingotheoattemptoatograbbingoo hisolandoandoagainstotheoPoliceoworkingounderotheoinfluenceoofoPoKoGupta.o AnoenquiryowasoconductedobyotheoNationaloCommissionoforoScheduleoCasteo andopartiesowereoalsooheardoinotheopresenceoofoInspectoroGeneraloofoPoliceoono

26.09.2016.oItowasoallegedothatotheopoliceowasoworkingounderoinfluenceoofo CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -3-o o someoDirectoroGeneraloofopoliceo(withoutonamingoanyoperson).oTheoNationalo CommissionoforoScheduledoCasteospecificallyorecordedoaofindingoinorelationo too innocenceo &o falseo implicationo ofo theo petitionerso &o returnedo ao findingo aboutotheofinaloreportounderoSectiono173oCr.P.C.oobeingowrong.oAofurthero findingowasoalsoorecordedothatotheoofficersowereobiasedoinotheiroapproachoando wereoinsensitive.oHence,otheoinvestigationoofotheocaseooughtotoobeotransferredo toosomeootheroagencyotooconductoaofairoprobe.oo

3.o o Replyoonobehalfoofotheorespondentsohasobeenofiledowhereinoitohaso beeno informedo thato theo investigationo ino theo mattero haso alreadyo beeno concludedoandotheofinaloreportohadobeenofiledoagainstoSitaoRam,oKrishan,o Suresho ando Kuldeepo aso wello aso ao supplementaryo reporto againsto accusedo Pavitar,oRajoKumaroandoRajesh.oItowasoalsoopointedooutothatotheoNationalo Commissiono foro Scheduleo Casteo hado alsoo directedo thato theo furthero investigationoinotheocaseotoobeoconductedothroughotheoStateoCrimeoBranch.o SinceotheoorderopassedobyotheoNationaloCommissionoforoScheduledoCasteowaso adjudicatoryoinoitsonatureoandoeffectoandotravelledobeyondotheopowerovestedo onotheoNationaloCommissionoforoScheduledoCasteounderoArticleo338oofotheo ConstitutionoofoIndia,ohence,otheosaidoorderoofotheoNationaloCommissionero wasochallengedoinoCWP-21647oofo2016oandostayowasograntedoono26.09.2016o againstotheoimpugnedoorder.oo

4.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo partieso ando haveo goneo throughotheodocumentsoappendedoalongwithotheopresentopetition.oo

5.o o Theofactsoasonoticedoaboveoremainoundisputed.oTheoentireocaseo ofopetitionersoforoseekingotransferoofoinvestigationoisobasedoonotheogroundsoaso under:-o

i)o thatotheocomplainantohasolodgedotheoFIRoatotheoinstanceoofoP.K.o CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -4-o o o Guptaowithowhomoheohasoaopendingocivilodispute.o

ii)o P.K.o Guptao haso contactso witho higho policeo officialso ando iso o exploitingotheosameotoopressurizeotheopetitioners.oo o

iii)o Theoinvestigatingoagencyohasobeenoworkingounderoinfluenceoofoao o D.G.Po ranko officero &o haso choseno too ignoreo theo evidenceo o producedobyotheopetitioners.oo

iv)o TheoNationaloCommissionoforoScheduledoCasteohasoalreadyoheldo theoinvestigationotoosufferofromobiasoandotheopetitionersobeingo innocent.o

6.o o TheoaboveocontentionsohaveobeenoconsideredoalongowithoCWP-21647-2016owhichohaveobeenoreiteratedobyotheocounseloandoitohasoobservedo asounder:-oo a)oo theo investigationo waso concludedo ando finalo reporto hado alreadyo o beeno filedo aso pero whicho theo petitionerso waso himselfo ino o encroachmentooveroland.oo b)o TheoCCTVofootageoreferredotoobyotheopetitionersodidonotoshowo o anyofaceoandohenceoitocouldonotobeodeterminedothatopetitionerso o wasonotopresentoatotheoplaceoofooccurrence.oo c)o Theoofficeoofotheopetitionersowasoonlyoatoaodistanceoofo30okmso o andopleaoofoalibiocouldonotobeoperoseoaccepted.oo d)o Theopetitionersohadoanteotimedotheooccurrenceotoobeoato10:00oamo whereasoitotookoplaceoofo11:00oam.oo e)o Theo Nationalo Commissiono foro Scheduledo Casteo travelledo beyondotheopowerounderoArticleo338(5)oofotheoConstitutionoofo Indiao &o passedo orderso againsto reporto undero Sectiono 173o ando returningoaofindingoofoinnocenceoofotheopetitionersowhichoisoano CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -5-o o adjudicatoryofunctionoandotheosaidoorderohadobeenostayedobyothiso Court.oo

(f)o EvenothoughoallegationoofoinfluenceoofosomeoDGPorankoofficero isomade,ohowever,onoosuchoofficeroisonamedooromadeoaoparty.o Theoallegationowasothusogeneral.oo

(g)o TheoNationaloCommissionoforoScheduledoCasteohadonoomaterialo too substantiateo itso findingso ono theo issueo ando thuso doo noto withstandotestoofojudicialoscrutiny.ooo

7.o o Evenoinotheopresentocase,otheopetitionersohasoneitherodisclosedo theonameoofoanyoallegedoseniorofunctionaryonoroestablishedoanyolinkoofoP.K.o Guptaowithotheosaidoofficer.oFurther,onoosuchoofficeroofotheorankoofoDGPooro evenoP.K.oGuptaowhooisoallegedotooexertoinfluenceohasobeenoimpleadedoaso respondento ino theo presento caseo too controverto theo allegationo leveled.o Stillo further,o eveno thougho theo petitionero hado mentionedo thato ao Civilo Suito iso institutedo byo petitionero No.2o againsto P.K.o Gupta,o however,o thereo iso noo mentionoofoanyoorderopassedoonoanyoapplicationounderoOrdero39oRuleo1oando 2,oifoany,oandoasotoowhetheropossessionoofotheopetitionersoregardingotheolando inoquestionohasobeenoacceptedobyotheoCiviloCourtoasoanointerimomeasure.o Thereocanobeonoopresumptionoofotheoaboveofactoandotheosameoisorequiredotoobeo pleadedoandoprimaofacieoestablishedobeforeoanoinvestigationoconductedobyoano InvestigatingoAgencyocanobeoquestionedoandotheoauthoritiesomayocalledoupono tooexplainotheiroinvestigation/misconduct,oifoany.oFurther,otheopetitionersoalsoo failedotoodiscloseoasotoohowotheocomplainantoSarojoKumaroPandeyoisorelatedo tooP.K.oGuptaoandowhyowouldoP.K.oGuptaoinvolveohimself.ooTheopresento criminalomiscellaneousopetitionoapparentlyoseemsotoobeofiledobyoattributingo motiveoandoreasonsoforofalseoimplicationowithoutoestablishingotheoentireolinko CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -6-o o andocompletingotheochainoofoeventsoinowhichosuchoallegations/attributionso mayobeoperceivedotoohaveoanyosemblanceoofotruth.oo

8.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinotheomatteroofo"Stateoofo WestoBengaloandoothersoversusoCommitteeoonoProtectionoofoDemocratico RightsoandoOthers"ooreportedoaso(2010)o3oSCCo571oheldoasounder:oo o "70.o Beforeo partingo witho theo case,o weo deemo ito necessaryo too emphasiseo thato despiteo wideo powerso conferredo byo Articleso 32o ando 226o ofo theo Constitution,o whileopassingoanyoorder,otheoCourtsomustobearoinomindo certainoself-imposedolimitationsoonotheoexerciseoofotheseo constitutionalopowers.o Theoveryo plenitudeo ofotheopowero undero theo saido articleso requireso greato cautiono ino itso exercise.oInsofaroasotheoquestionoofoissuingoaodirectionotoo CBIo too conducto investigationo ino ao caseo iso concerned,o althougho noo inflexibleo guidelineso cano beo laido downo too decideowhetherooronotosuchopoweroshouldobeoexercisedobuto timeoandoagainoitohasobeenoreiteratedothatosuchoanoordero iso noto too beo passedo aso ao mattero ofo routineo oro merelyo becauseoaopartyohasolevelledosomeoallegationsoagainstotheo localopolice.oThisoextraordinaryopoweromustobeoexercisedo sparingly,ocautiouslyoandoinoexceptionalosituationsowhereo ito becomeso necessaryo too provideo credibilityo ando instilo confidenceoino investigationso orowhereo theo incidentomayo haveonationaloandointernationaloramificationsoorowhereo sucho ano ordero mayo beo necessaryo foro doingo completeo justiceoandoenforcingotheofundamentalorights.oOtherwiseo CBIowouldobeofloodedowithoaolargeonumberoofocasesoando witholimitedoresources,omayofindoitodifficultotooproperlyo investigateoevenoseriousocasesoandoinotheoprocessoloseoitso credibilityo ando purposeo witho unsatisfactoryo investigations."o o

9.o o Theo Hon'bleo Apexo Court,o ino theo mattero ofo "Bimalo Gurungo CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -7-o o versusoUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers",ooreportedoaso(2018)o15oSCCo480ohaso furtheroheldoasounder:o "29.o Theo lawo iso thuso wello settledo thato powero ofo transferringo investigationo too othero investigatingo agencyo mustobeoexercisedoinorareoandoexceptionalocasesowhereo theocourtofindsoitonecessaryoinoorderotoodoojusticeobetweeno theo partieso too instilo confidenceo ino theo publico mind,o oro whereoinvestigationobyotheoStateoPoliceolacksocredibility.o Suchopowerohasotoobeoexercisedoinorareoandoexceptionalo cases.o Ino K.V.o Rajendrano v.o Supt.o ofo Policeo [K.V.o Rajendranov.oSupt.oofoPolice,o(2013)o12oSCCo480:o(2014)o 4oSCCo(Cri)o578],othisoCourtohasonotedofewocircumstanceso whereotheoCourtocouldoexerciseoitsoconstitutionalopowerotoo transferoofoinvestigationofromoStateoPoliceotooCBIosuchoas:o

(i)owhereohighoofficialsoofoStateoauthoritiesoareoinvolved,o oro (ii)o whereo theo accusationo itselfo iso againsto theo topo officialso ofo theo investigatingo agencyo therebyo allowingo themo too influenceo theo investigation,o oro (iii)o whereo investigationoprimaofacieoisofoundotoobeotainted/biased.o

47.oTheoConstitutionoBenchoofothisoCourtoinoLolitao Kumariov.oStateoofoU.P.o(LalitaoKumariov.oStateoofoU.P.,o

(2014)o2oSCCo1:o(2014)o1oSCCo(Cri)o524]ohasoelaboratelyo consideredo theo obligationo too registero ano FIRo wheno informationoofocognizableooffenceoisoreceivedobyoaopoliceo personnel.o Theo followingo areo theo relevanto observationso madeo byo theo Constitutiono Bencho speakingo througho P.o Sathasivam,o J.o thato "Wheno ao cognizableo offenceo takeso placeo beforeo theo eyesoofopoliceo personnel,o heo isonoto too awaitoanyoinformationooroanyootherosourceofororegisteringo anoFIR,oitoisohisoobligationoandodutyotooregisteroanoFIR".o Thus,o FIRo registeredo ato theo instanceo ofo policeo leadingo seriousooffencesoinvolvingotheopetitioneroandosupporterso ofo GJM,o cannoto beo discardedo ono theo pleao thato ito waso police,o whoo haso ropedo ino theo petitionero ando othero CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -8-o o supportersobyolodgingotheoFIRoNoobiasooromalaofidesohaso beenopleadedoagainstoanyoindividualoStateofunctionaryooro policeoofficeronorohasoanyosuchopersonobeenoimpleadedoino theowritopetitionosooasotooconsiderotheoallegationoofobias.oIto isoveryoeasyotoomakeoallegationsoofobiasoagainstoaopersono butoitoisodifficultotoosubstantiateotheosame.oInotheopresento case,oneitheroareothereoanyopleadingonoroanyomaterialotoo comeotooaoconclusionothatoStateofunctionariesoincludingo policeo functionarieso areo biasedo againsto theo petitioner.o Thus,otheoallegationsoofotheobiasomadeoagainstotheoStateo ando policeo functionarieso hado too beo rejectedo ando theo petitionero cannoto beo permittedo ino sayingo thato theo FIRso lodgedoagainstohimoareoresultoofoaobiasoofotheoStateooro policeopersonnel.o

53.oMostoofotheocasesowhichowereocitedobeforeousobyo theo partieso areo theo caseso whereo thiso Courto exercisedo jurisdictiono undero Articleo 32o ino transferringo theo investigationoatotheoinstanceoofotheovictims.oForoaovictim,o theoinvestigationoinoaocaseoisoofomuchosignificance.oInotheo event,o ao propero investigationo iso noto carriedo outo ando relevanto evidenceo whicho wouldo haveo beeno collectedo byo dueocareoandocaution,oisonotocollected,otheovictimoisosureo nototoogetojusticeoonosuchofaultyoinvestigation.oInocaseoofo faultyoinvestigation,owhereoanoaccusedohasobeenowronglyo ropedo in,o heo haso theo righto too seeko allo remedieso beforeo courtoofolawoforofurtheroinvestigationoandoaocourtoofolawoiso ableotoomarshaloalloevidenceoandocapableoofodiscerningo truthofromoevidenceoonorecord.oAlthoughoasoaoprinciple,o thereoisonoofetteroonoanoaccusedotoomoveoaocourtoofolawoforo transferoofoInvestigation,obutoonotheofactsoofothisocaseoaso notedoabove,oweodoonotothinkoitotoobeoaofitocaseowhereothiso Courto mayo exerciseo jurisdictiono undero Articleo 32o too transferotheocasesoenomasseotooanoindependentoagency.o Theo presento caseo cannoto beo saido too beo ao caseo ofo individual'sopersecutionobyotheoStateoauthority.o CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -9-o o o

10.o o Ino theo mattero ofo "K.V.o Rajendrano versuso Superintendento ofo Police,oC.B,oC.I.D,oSouthoZone,oChennaioandoothers"ooreportedoaso(2013)o 12oSCCo480,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoheldoasounder:o o "13.o Theo issueo involvedo herein,o iso noo moreo reso integra.o Thiso Courto haso timeo ando againo dealto witho theo issueounderowhatocircumstancesotheoinvestigationocanobeo transferredo fromo theo Stateo investigatingo agencyo too anyo otheroindependentoinvestigatingoagencyolikeoCBI.oItohaso beeno heldo thato theo powero ofo transferringo sucho investigationomustobeoinorareoandoexceptionalocasesowhereo theocourtofindsoitonecessaryoinoorderotoodoojusticeobetweeno theopartiesoandotooinstiloconfidenceoinotheopublicomind,ooro whereoinvestigationobyotheoStateopoliceolacksocredibilityo ando ito iso necessaryo foro havingo "ao fair,o honesto ando completeo investigation",o ando particularly,o wheno ito iso imperativeo too retaino publico confidenceo ino theo impartialo workingo ofo theo Stateo agencies.o Whereo theo investigationo hasoalreadyobeenocompletedoandocharge-sheetohasobeeno filed,o ordinarilyo superioro courtso shouldo noto reopeno theo investigationo ando ito shouldo beo lefto openo too theo court,o whereotheocharge-sheetohasobeenofiled,otooproceedowitho theo mattero ino accordanceo witho law.o Undero noo circumstances,oshouldotheocourtomakeoanyoexpressionoofo itsoopinionoonomeritorelatingotooanyoaccusationoagainsto anyoindividual.o(VideoGudalureoM.J.oCherianov.oUnionoofo Indiao ((1992)o 1o SCCo 397]o R.S.o Sadhio v.o Stateo ofo U.P.o [1994oSuppo(1)oSCCo143:o1994oSCCo(Cri)o248oAIRo1994o SCo38),oPunjaboandoHaryanaoHighoCourtoBaroAssn.ov.o StateoofoPunjabo((1994)o1oSCCo616:o1994oSCCo(Cri)o455:o AIRo 1994o SCo 1023),o Vineeto Naraino v.o Uniono ofo Indiao [(1996)o2oSCCo199:o1996oSCCo(Cri)o264],oUnionoofoIndiao v.oSushiloKumaroModio((1996)o6oSCCo500:oAIRo1997oSCo 314),o Dishao v.o Stateo ofo Gujarato [(2011)o 13o SCCo 337:o CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -10-o o

(2012)o2oSCCo(Cri)o628:oAIRo2011oSCo3168),oRajendero SinghoPathaniaov.oStateo(NCToofoDelhi)o((2011)o13oSCCo 329:o (2012)o 1o SCCo (Cri)o 873]o ando Stateo ofo Punjabo v.o DavinderoPaloSinghoBhullaro(2011)o14oSCCo770:o(2012)o4o SCCo(Civ)o1034:oAIRo2012oSCo364])o o 14.o Ino Rubabbuddino Sheikho v.o Stateo ofo Gujarato [(2010)o2oSCCo200:o(2010)o2oSCCo(Cri)o1006)othisoCourto dealtowithoaocaseowhereotheoaccusationohadobeenoagainsto higho officialso ofo theo Policeo Departmento ofo theo Stateo ofo Gujarato ino respecto ofo killingo ofo personso ino ao fakeo encounteroandoGujaratoPoliceoafterotheoconclusionoofotheo investigation,o submittedo ao charge-sheeto beforeo theo competento criminalo court.o Theo Courto cameo too theo conclusionothatoasotheoallegationsoofocommittingomurdero underotheogarboofoanoencounteroareonotoagainstoanyothirdo partyobutoagainstotheotopopoliceopersonneloofotheoStateoofo Gujarat,o theo investigationo concludedo byo theo Stateo investigatingoagencyomayonotobeosatisfactorilyoheld.oThus,o inoorderotoodoojusticeoandoinstiloconfidenceoinotheomindsoofo theovictimsoasowelloofotheopublic,otheoStateopoliceoauthorityo couldonotobeoallowedotoocontinueowithotheoinvestigationo whenoallegationsoandooffenceso wereo mostlyoagainsto topo officials.oThus,otheoCourtoheldothatoevenoifoaocharge-sheeto hasobeenofiledobyotheoStateoinvestigatingoagencyothereoiso noo prohibitionoforo transferringotheoinvestigationo too anyo otheroindependentoinvestigatingoagency."o o

11.o o Further,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinotheomatteroofo "RoydenoHaroldoButhellooandoanotheroversusoStateoofoChhattisgarhoando otherso(supra)"oreportedoaso2023ooSCCoOnLineo204oandoinotheomatteroofoo "Ananto Thanuro Karmuseo versuso Stateo ofo Maharashstrao ando others"o reportedoaso(2023)o5oSCCo802oheldoasounder:o o "34.o Ino Himanshuo Kumaro (Himanshuo Kumaro v.o CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -11-o o Stateo ofo Chhattisgarh,o (2023)o 12o SCCo 592:o 2022o SCCo OnLineoSCo884),othisoCourtohadooccasionotooconsiderotheo poweroofotheoCourtotootransferoinvestigationotooanyoothero independentoagency.oAfterotakingointooconsiderationotheo catenao ofo judgmentso ono theo point,o ito iso reiteratedo thato investigationomayobeotransferredotooCBIoonlyoino"rareoando exceptionalocases".oInoSCCoparaso44otoo55,oitoisoobservedo andoheldoasounder:o o 44.oItoisonowosettledolawothatoifoaocitizen,owhooisoao deo factoo complainanto ino ao criminalo caseo allegingo commissionoofo cognizableooffenceoaffectingo violationoofo hisolegaloorofundamentalorightsoagainstohighoGovernmento officialsooroinfluentialopersons,opraysobeforeoaoCourtoforoao directionoofoinvestigationoofotheosaidoallegedooffenceobyo CBI,osuchoprayeroshouldonotobeograntedoonomereoasking.o o 45.oAoConstitutionoBenchoofothisoCourt,oinoStateoofo W.B.ov.oCommitteeoforoProtectionoofoDemocraticoRightso (StateoofooW.B.ov.oCommitteeoforoProtectionoofoDemocratico Rights,o(2010)o3oSCCo571:o(2010)o2oSCCo(Cri)o401),ohaso madeo theo followingo observationso pointingo outo theo situationso whereo theo prayero foro investigationo byo CBIo shouldobeoallowed:oo o "70....oInsofaroasotheoquestionoofoissuingoaodirectiono tooCBIotooconductoinvestigationoinoaocaseoisoconcerned,o althougho noo inflexibleo guidelineso cano beo laido downo too decideowhetherooronotosuchopowersoshouldobeoexercised,o butotimeoandoagainoitohasobeenoreiteratedothatosuchoano orderoisonototoobeopassedoasoaomatterooforoutineooromerelyo becauseoaopartyohasolevelledosomeoallegationsoagainstotheo localopolice.oThisoextraordinaryopoweromustobeoexercisedo sporingly,ocautiouslyoandoinoexceptionalosituationsowhereo ito becameso necessaryo too provideo credibilityo ando instilo confidenceoino investigationso orowhereo theo incidentomayo haveonationaloandointernationaloramificationsoorowhereo sucho ano ordero mayo beo necessaryo foro doingo completeo CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -12-o o justiceoandoenforcingotheofundamentalorights.oOtherwiseo CBIowouldobeofloodedowithoaolargeonumberoofocasesoando witholimitedoresources,omayofindoitodifficultotooproperlyo investigateoevenoseriousocasesoandoinotheoprocessoloseoitso credibilityo ando purposeo witho unsatisfactoryo investigations."o

46.oInotheoaboveodecision,oitowasoalsoopointedooutothatotheo sameoCourtoinoMinoroIrrigationo&oRuraloEngg.oServiceso v.oSahngoooRamoAryao(MinoroIrrigationo&oRuraloEngg.o Servicesov.oSahngoooRamoArya,o(2002)o5oSCCo521o2002o SCCo (L&S)o 775),o hado saido thato ano ordero directingo ano enquiryo byo CBIo shouldo beo passedo onlyo wheno theo Higho Court,oafteroconsideringotheomaterialoonorecord,ocomesotoo theoconclusionothatosuchomaterialodoesodiscloseoaoprimao facieo caseo callingo foro ano investigationo byo CBIo oro anyo otherosimilaroagency.o

47.oInoanoappropriateocaseowhenotheoCourtofeelsothatotheo Investigationobyotheopoliceoauthoritiesoisonotoinoaopropero direction,oandoinoorderotoodoocompleteojusticeoinotheocaseo ando ifohighopoliceoofficialsoareo involvedo inotheoallegedo crime,otheoCourtomayobeojustifiedoinosuchocircumstanceso toohandooverotheoinvestigationotooanoindependentoagencyo likeoCBI.oByonowoitoisowellosettledothatoevenoafterotheofilingo ofo theo charge-sheeto theo Courto iso empoweredo ino ano appropriateo caseo too hando overo theo investigationo too ano independentoagencyolikeoCBI.o

48.oTheoextraordinaryopoweroofotheoconstitutionalocourtso underoArticleso32oando226orespectivelyoofotheoConstitutiono ofoIndiaoquaotheoissuanceoofodirectionsotooCBIotooconducto investigationo musto beo exercisedo witho greato cautiono aso underlinedobyothisoCourtoinoCommitteeoforoProtectionoofo Democratico Rightso [Stateo ofo W.B.o v.o Committeeo foro Protectiono ofo Democratico Rights,o (2010)o 3o SCCo 571:o

(2010)o 2o SCCo (Cri)o 401)o aso advertedo too hereinabove,o observingothatoalthoughonooinflexibleoguidelinesocanobeo CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -13-o o laidodownoinothisoregard,oyetoitowasohighlightedothatosucho ano ordero cannoto beo passedo aso ao mattero ofo routineo oro merelyobecauseotheopartiesohaveolevelledosomeoallegationso againstotheolocalopoliceoandocanobeoinvokedoinoexceptionalo situationso whereo ito becomeso necessaryo too provideo credibilityoando instilo confidenceo ino theo Investigationo oro whereo theo incidento mayo haveo nationalo oro internationalo ramificationsoorowhereosuchoanoorderomayobeonecessaryo foro doingo completeo justiceo ando foro enforcingo theo fundamentalorights.o

49.oWeoareoconsciousoofotheofactothatothoughoaosatisfactiono ofo wanto ofo proper,o fair,o importialo ando effectiveo investigationoerodingoitsocredenceoandoreliabilityoisotheo preconditionoforoaodirectionoforofurtheroinvestigationooro reinvestigation,o submissiono ofo theo charge-o sheeto ipsoo factooorotheopendencyoofotheotrialocan,obyonoomeans,obeoao prohibitiveo impediment.o Theo contextualo factso ando theo attendantocircumstancesohaveotoobeosingularlyoevaluatedo ando analysedo too decideo theo needfulnesso ofo furthero investigationoororeinvestigationotoounravelotheotruthoando meteooutojusticeotootheoparties.oTheoprimeoconcernoandotheo endeavouroofotheocourtoofolawoshouldobeotoosecureojusticeo onotheobasisoofotrueofactsowhichooughtotoobeounearthedo througho ao committed,o resolvedo ando ao competento investigatingoagency.o o '30.otheo consistento viewoofothiso Courtoiso thatotheo accusedocannotoaskoforochangingotheoinvestigatingoagencyo orotoodooinvestigationoinoaoparticularomanneroincludingo forocourt-monitoredoinvestigation.o

54.o Ito haso beeno heldo byo thiso Courto ino CBIo v.o Rajesho Gandhio(CBIov.oRajeshoGandhi,o(1996)o11oSCCo253:o1997o SCCo(Cri)o88:o1997oCrioLUo63),othatonoooneocanoinsisto thatoanooffenceobeoinvestigatedobyoaoparticularoagency.o Weofullyoagreeowithotheoviewoinotheoaforesaidodecision.oAno aggrievedo persono cano onlyo claimo thato theo offenceo heo CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -14-o o allegesobeoinvestigatedoproperly,obutoheohasonoorightotoo claimothatoitobeoinvestigatedobyoanyoparticularoagencyoofo hisochoice.o

55.oTheoprincipleoofolawothatoemergesofromotheoprecedentso ofothisoCourtoisothatotheopowerotootransferoanoinvestigationo musto beo usedo "sparingly"o ando onlyo "ino exceptionalo circumstances.o Ino assessingo theo pleoo urgedo byo theo petitionero thato theo investigationo musto beo transferredo too CBI,oweoareoguidedobyotheoparametersolaidodownobyothiso Courtoforotheoexerciseoofothatoextraordinaryopower."o o

12.o o Further,o ino theo mattero ofo "Dharamo Palo versuso Stateo ofo Haryana"oreportedoaso(2016)o4oSCCo160owhereinoitowasoheldoasoundero:-o o 24.oBeoitonotedohereothatotheoconstitutionalocourtso cano directo foro furthero investigationo oro investigationo byo someo othero investigatingoagency.o Theopurposeois,o thereo hasotoobeoaofairoinvestigationoandoaofairotrial.oTheofairo trialo mayo beo quiteo difficulto unlesso thereo iso ao fairo investigation.oWeoareoabsolutelyoconsciousothatodirectiono forofurtheroinvestigationobyoanotheroagencyohasotoobeoveryo sparinglyoissuedobutotheofactsodepictedoinothisocaseocompelo usotooexerciseotheosaidopower.oWeoareodisposedotoothinko thatopurposeoofojusticeocommandsothatotheocauseoofotheo victim,o theo husbando ofo theo deceased,o deserveso too beo answeredo soo thato miscarriageo ofo justiceo iso avoided.o Therefore,oinothisocaseotheostageoofotheocaseocannotobeotheo governingofactor.o o 25.oWeomayofurtheroelucidate.oTheopowerotooordero fresh,odeonovooororeinvestigationobeingovestedowithotheo constitutionalocourts,otheocommencementoofoaotrialoando examinationo ofo someo witnesseso cannoto beo ano absoluteo impedimentoforoexercisingotheosaidoconstitutionalopowero whichoisomeantotooensureoaofairoandojustoinvestigation.oIto canoneverobeoforgottenothatoasotheogreatooceanohasoonlyo CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -15-o o oneo taste,o theo tasteo ofo salt,o soo doeso justiceo haveo oneo flavour,otheoflavouroofoansweringotootheodistressoofotheo peopleowithoutoanyodiscrimination.oWeomayohastenotooaddo thato theo democratico set-upo haso theo potentialityo ofo ruinationoifoaocitizenofeels,otheotruthoutteredobyoeopooromano isoseldomolistenedoto.oNotoforonothingoitohasobeenosaidothato suno riseso ando suno sets,o lighto ando darkness,o wintero ando springocomeoandogo,oevenotheocourseoofotimeoisoplayfulobuto truthoremainsoandosparklesowhenojusticeoisodone.oItoisotheo boundenodutyoofoaocourtoofolowotooupholdotheotruthoando truthomeansoabsenceoofodeceit,oabsenceoofofraudoandoinoao criminaloinvestigationoaorealoandofairoinvestigation,onoto anoinvestigationothatorevealsoitselfoasoaoshamoone.oItoisonoto acceptable.o Ito haso too beo kepto uppermosto ino mindo thato impartialoandotruthfuloinvestigationoisoimperative.oIfothereo isoindentationooroconcavityoinotheoinvestigation,ocanotheo "faithoinoinvestigationobeoregardedoasotheogospelotruth?o Willo ito haveo theo sanctityo oro theo purityo ofo ao genuineo investigation?oifoaograveosuspicionoarisesowithoregardotoo theoinvestigation,oshouldoaoconstitutionalocourtocloseoitso handso ando accepto theo propositiono thato aso theo trialo haso commenced,otheomatteroisobeyondoit?oThatoisotheo"tourodeo force"oofotheoprosecutionoandoifoweoallowoourselvesotoosayo sooitohasobecomeo"id?eofixe"obutoinoouroviewotheoimperiumo ofotheoconstitutionalocourtsoconnotobeostifledoorosmotheredo byo bono moto oro polemic.o Ofo course,o theo suspiciono musto haveosomeosortoofobaseoandofoundationoandonotoaofigmento ofoone'sowildoimagination.oOneomayothinkoanoimpartialo investigationowouldobeoaonostrumobutonotodoingosoowouldo beolikeoplayingopossum.oAsohasobeenostatedoearlier,ofactso areo self-evidento ando theo grievedo protagonist,o ao persono belongingotootheolowerostrata.oHeoshouldonotoharbourotheo feelingothatoheoisoano"orphanounderolaw".o o

13.o o Ino theo mattero ofo "Mohano Lalo Sharmao versuso Principalo CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -16-o o SecretaryoandoOthers"oreportedoino(2014)o2oSCCo532,owhereinoitowasoheldoaso under:o o 24.oInotheocriminalojusticeosystemotheoinvestigationo ofoanooffenceoisotheodomainoofotheopolice.oTheopowerotoo investigateo intoo theo cognizableo offenceso byo theo policeo officero iso ordinarilyo noto impingedo byo anyo fetters.o However,osuchopowerohasotoobeoexercisedoconsistentowitho theostatutoryoprovisionsoandoforolegitimateopurpose.oTheo courtso ordinarilyo doo noto interfereo ino theo matterso ofo investigationobyopolice,oparticularly,owhenotheofactsoando circumstanceso doo noto indicateo thato theo investigatingo officeroisonotofunctioningobonoofide.oInoveryoexceptionalo cases,o however,o whereo theo courto findso thato theo policeo officerohasoexercisedohisoinvestigatoryopowersoinobreacho ofo theo statutoryo provisiono puttingo theo personalo libertyo and/orotheopropertyoofotheocitizenoinojeopardyobyoillegalo andoimproperouseoofotheopoweroorothereoisoabuseoofotheo investigatoryopoweroandoprocessobyotheopoliceoofficerooro theoinvestigationobyotheopoliceoisofoundotoobeonotobonaofideo orotheoinvestigationoisotaintedowithoanimosity,otheocourto mayo interveneo too protecto theo personalo and/oro propertyo rightsoofotheocitizens.o o 26.o Oneo ofo theo responsibilitieso ofo theo policeo iso protectiono ofo life,o libertyo ando propertyo ofo citizens.o Theo investigationoofooffencesoisooneoofotheoimportantodutiesotheo policeo haso too perform.o Theo aimo ofo Investigationo iso ultimatelyotoosearchoforotruthoandobringotheooffenderotoo book.oo o

14.o o Theo lawo foro seekingo transfero ofo investigationo too anyo othero agencyobeingowellolaidodown,otheoonusoliesoonotheopetitionersotooestablishothato suchoexceptionalocircumstancesoexistoinotheopresentocaseoasowouldonecessitateo referenceo ofo investigationotoo anyo othero agency.o Onceotheopowero iso extra-CRM-M-1113-2017o o o o o o o o -17-o o ordinaryoandoisorequiredotoobeoexercisedosparingly,oallegationsothatoareonoto supportedobyoanyocogentomaterialocannotobeoreliedouponoforoinvokingosucho power.oTheopossibilityoofohighoofficialsotaintingoinvestigationohasotoobeorealo ando noto perceptive.o Givingo tooo mucho weightageo too general,o vagueo ando uncorroboratedo allegationso cano ofteno beo countero productiveo ando areo susceptibleo too beo devisedo aso toolso foro steeringo investigation.o Neithero theo circumstancesonorotheodocumentsoonorecordosupportotheoevidenceoandotheo investigationoconcludedocannotobeosaidotoobeoabsurdooroirrational.oo

15.o o Noomaterialohasobeenoputoupoonotheobasisowhereofotheoextra-ordinaryopoweroofoprerogativeowritotoobeoexercisedoatothisostage.oThereoiso nothingo ono recordo ono theo basiso whereof,o ito mayo beo presumedo thato theo Investigatingo Agencyo hado conductedo theo investigationo ino ao biaso partialo manner.oThereoisoalsoonooallegationoagainstoanyoperson/InvestigatingoOfficero inohisoindividualocapacityoandohence,onoomotiveocanobeoimputedooroimpliedo againstotheoInvestigatingoOfficeroorotheoAgency.oTheofinaloreportohasoalreadyo beenofiledoandoisopendingoconsiderationobeforeotheocompetentoCourt.oTheo prayeroforotransferoofoinvestigationoinotheocaseoandoatothisostageothusocannoto beoaccepted.oo

16.o o Theo petitionerso may,o ifo soo advised,o takeo recourseo too theiro remedy(ies)oasoavailableotoothemoinoaccordanceowitholaw.o

17.o o Theo instanto petitionoisoaccordinglyo disposedo of,oatothisostage,o witholiberty(ies)oasoaforesaid.oo o o oo o o o o oooo (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo NOVEMBERo30,o2023oo o o o o oooooJUDGEo Seema/VishaloSharmao o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo VISHAL SHARoMA o o WhetheroReportableo o :o Yes/Noo