LawforAll

advocatemmmohan

My photo
since 1985 practicing as advocate in both civil & criminal laws

WELCOME TO LEGAL WORLD

WELCOME TO MY LEGAL WORLD - SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Sections 120B/414/384/386/387 of the Indian Penal Code,1860 (IPC) read with Sections 17/18/21 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 along with Sections 25 (1B) (a)/26/35 of the Arms Act and Section 17 (1) (2) of the Criminal Law Amendment (CLA) Act - grant of bail -whether a prima facie case is made out against the accused or not. We have gone through the material on record and are satisfied that the Appellant is entitled for bail and that the Special Court and High Court erred in not granting bail to the Appellant for the following reasons: (A) A close scrutiny of the material placed before the Court would clearly shows that the main accusation against the Appellant is that he paid levy / extortion amount to the terrorist organization. Payment of extortion money does not amount to terror funding. It is clear from the supplementary charge-sheet and the other material on record that other accused who are members of the terrorist organization have been systematically collecting extortion amounts from businessmen in Amrapali and Magadh areas. The Appellant is carrying on transport business in the area of operation of the organization. It is alleged in the second supplementary chargesheet that the Appellant paid money to the members of the TPC for smooth running of his business. Prima facie, it cannot be said that the Appellant conspired with the other members of the TPC and raised funds to promote the organization. (B) Another factor taken into account by the Special Court and the High Court relates to the allegation of the Appellant meeting the members of the terror organization. It has been held by the High Court that the Appellant has been in constant touch with the other accused. The Appellant has revealed in his statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.PC that he was summoned to meet A-14 and the other members of the organization in connection with the payments made by him. Prima facie, we are not satisfied that a case of conspiracy has been made out at this stage only on the ground that the Appellant met the members of the organization. (C) An amount of Rs. 9,95,000/- (Rupees Nine Lakh and Ninety-Five Thousand only) was seized from the house of the Appellant which was accounted for by the Appellant who stated that the amount was withdrawn from the bank to pay salaries to his employees and other expenses. We do not agree with the prosecution that the amount is terror fund. At this stage, it cannot be said that the amount seized from the Appellant is proceeds from terrorist activity. There is no allegation that Appellant was receiving any money. On the other hand, the Appellant is accused of providing money to the members of TPC. 12. After a detailed examination of the contentions of the parties and scrutiny of the material on record, we are not satisfied that a prima facie case has been made out against the Appellant relating to the offences alleged against him. We make it clear that these findings are restricted only for the purpose of grant of bail to the Appellant and the trial court shall not be influenced by these observations during trial

Sections 120B/414/384/386/387 of the Indian Penal Code,1860 (IPC) read with Sections 17/18/21 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 along with Sections 25 (1B) (a)/26/35 of the Arms Act and Section 17 (1) (2) of the Criminal Law Amendment (CLA) Act -  grant of bail -whether a prima facie case is made out against the accused or not. We have gone through the material on record and are satisfied that the Appellant is entitled for bail and that the Special Court and High Court erred in not granting bail to the Appellant for the following reasons: (A) A close scrutiny of the material placed before the Court would clearly shows that the main accusation against the Appellant is that he paid levy / extortion amount to the terrorist organization. Payment of extortion money does not amount to terror funding. It is clear from the supplementary charge-sheet and the other material on record that other accused who are members of the terrorist organization have been systematically collecting extortion amounts from businessmen in Amrapali and Magadh areas. The Appellant is carrying on transport business in the area of operation of the organization. It is alleged in the second supplementary chargesheet that the Appellant paid money to the members of the TPC for smooth running of his business. Prima facie, it cannot be said that the Appellant conspired with the other members of the TPC and raised funds to promote the organization. (B) Another factor taken into account by the Special Court and the High Court relates to the allegation of the Appellant meeting the members of the terror organization. It has been held by the High Court that the Appellant has been in constant touch with the other accused. The Appellant has revealed in his statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.PC that he was summoned to meet A-14 and the other members of the organization in connection with the payments made by him. Prima facie, we are not satisfied that a case of conspiracy has been made out at this stage only on the ground that the Appellant met the members of the organization. (C) An amount of Rs. 9,95,000/- (Rupees Nine Lakh and Ninety-Five Thousand only) was seized from the house of the Appellant which was accounted for by the Appellant who stated that the amount was withdrawn from the bank to pay salaries to his employees and other expenses. We do not agree with the prosecution that the amount is terror fund. At this stage, it cannot be said that the amount seized from the Appellant is proceeds from terrorist activity. There is no allegation that Appellant was receiving any money. On the other hand, the Appellant is accused of providing money to the members of TPC. 12. After a detailed examination of the contentions of the parties and scrutiny of the material on record, we are not satisfied that a prima facie case has been made out against the Appellant relating to the offences alleged against him. We make it clear that these findings are restricted only for the purpose of grant of bail to the  Appellant and the trial court shall not be influenced by these observations during trial.

Non-Reportable

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

 Criminal Appeal Nos . 314-315 of2021

 (Arising out of SLP (Crl.) Nos. 6259-6260 of 2020)

Sudesh Kedia .... Appellant (s)

Versus

Union of India …. Respondent (s)

J U D G M E N T

L. NAGESWARA RAO, J.

1. The Appellant is accused of committing offences

under Sections 120B/414/384/386/387 of the Indian

Penal Code,1860 (IPC) read with Sections 17/18/21 of

the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 along with

Sections 25 (1B) (a)/26/35 of the Arms Act and Section

17 (1) (2) of the Criminal Law Amendment (CLA) Act.

The application filed for grant of bail was dismissed by

the Judicial Commissioner-cum-Special Judge NIA at

Ranchi on 14.02.2020. The High Court dismissed the

criminal appeal filed by the Appellant and upheld the

1 | P a g e

order dated 14.02.2020 of the Special Judge. Therefore,

the present appeal.

2. On a complaint made by Shri Ramadhari Singh,

Sub-Inspector, Police Station Simariya, FIR No. 02/2016

was registered on 11.01.2016 at Police Station Tandwa

under Sections 414, 384,386,387,120B IPC, Sections 25

(1B) (a) 26/35 of the Arms Act and Section 17 (1) (2) of

the CLA Act against Vinod Kumar and others. The

allegation against the persons named in the FIR is that

they were operatives / functionaries of a terrorist gang

TPC and they were extorting levy from coal traders,

transporters and contractors. After investigation a

charge-sheet was filed on 10.03.2016 in the court of

Chief Judicial Magistrate at Chatra against Vinod Kumar

Ganjhu. In exercise of powers conferred under Section 6

(5) and Section 8 of the National Investigation Agency

Act, 2008, the Central Government directed NIA to take

up investigation in view of the gravity of the offences

involving seizure of arms and ammunitions and huge

amounts of cash. The members / operatives of Tritiya

Prastuti Committee (TPC), according to the charge-sheet,

have been extorting money from businessmen in

2 | P a g e

Amrapali and Magadh coal mining areas and they have

amassed movable and immovable properties from the

said money. They have also been obstructing smooth

supply of transport of coal.

3. During investigation, the statement of the Appellant

was recorded under Section 164 Cr.PC. The Appellant

stated that Subhan Miyan contacted him and demanded

money for the smooth functioning of the business of the

transport company i.e. M/s. Esskay Concast and Minerals

Pvt. Ltd. He further stated that he had a meeting with A5, A-10, A-11 & A-14. There was constant demand of

payment of levy, he admitted payment of huge amount

of money.

4. The National Investigation Agency submitted a

supplementary charge-sheet against A-1 to A-16 on

21.12.2018 in which the modus operandi of collecting of

levy from contractors, traders, transporters etc. was

given. It was mentioned in the supplementary chargesheet that coal traders / transporters were paying cash

to Shanti Sah Sanchalan Samiti, Central Coalfield

Limited, village committees and TPC operatives for

carrying on their business smoothly.

3 | P a g e

5. On further investigation, a second supplementary

charge-sheet was filed on 10.01.2020 in which the

Appellant was shown as A-19. According to the

supplementary charge-sheet the Appellant is engaged in

transporting of coal on behalf of GVK Power and

Godavari Commodities. He had attended meetings with

TPC leaders and had paid levy to TPC leader Akraman (A14) CCL employees and village committee members

from his current account. In view of the payments made

by him an inference was drawn that the Appellant

colluded with the members of the terrorist gang (TPC)

and was a party to a criminal conspiracy to raise funds

for a terrorist gang. Further, an amount of Rs. 9,95,000/-

(Rupees Nine Lakh and Ninety-Five Thousand only) was

seized from his residential premises. The Appellant was

apprehended on 10.01.2020. He moved an application

for bail in the Court of Judicial Commissioner-cum-Special

Judge, National Investigation Agency at Ranchi. The

submission made on behalf of the Appellant that he was

a victim and he was forced to pay the levy as demanded

by the organization was not accepted by the special

4 | P a g e

court. The Special Court was convinced with the

contention of the prosecution that apart from the

meeting with the members of the terrorist organization,

the Appellant had also paid huge amount of money to

them.

6. The appeal filed against the judgment of the special

court was dismissed by the High Court on 24.06.2020.

In view of the admissions of the Appellant that he had

been paying extortion money, it was held that he

contributed to funding of the terrorist organization. The

High Court observed that there is material on record to

show that he was in constant touch with the members of

the terrorist organization in order to run his business.

Prima facie, the High Court was satisfied that it is a case

of terror funding. Referring to Section 43-D (5) of the UA

(P) Act, and relying upon the judgment of this Court in

National Investigation Agency v. Zahoor Ahmad

Shah Watali

1

, the High Court concluded that the

accusations against the Appellant are prima facie made

out disentitling the Appellant for grant of bail.

1 (2019) 5 SCC 1

5 | P a g e

7. We have heard C. A. Sundaram, learned senior

counsel for the Appellant and Mr. Sairica Raju, learned

Additional Solicitor General for the Respondent. It was

submitted by the Appellant that the only accusation is

payment of illegal levy to TPC for the smooth functioning

of the business. The Appellant is not a member of TPC

and cannot be accused of terror funding. On the other

hand, there was no way he could carry on smooth

transportation of coal without meeting the demand of

the terrorist organization. The meeting that the

Appellant had with the members of the organization

could not have been avoided and it was only for the

purpose of his complying with the demand made by the

members of the organization. It was submitted on

behalf of the Appellant that a perusal of the chargesheet and the other material on record would not

disclose any offence under Section 17 of the UA (P) Act

as it cannot be said that by any stretch of imagination

that the Appellant has raised funds for the terrorist

organization.

8. According to the prosecution, the Appellant was

providing financial support to TPC and the material

6 | P a g e

gathered during investigation discloses that the

Appellant has committed offences under Section 17 of

the UA (P) Act. Huge amount of money that was paid by

the Appellant to protect his business which amounts to

raising funds to the terrorist organization. It was

submitted that the judgment of the High Court does not

warrant any interference as the Appellant was in

constant touch with the members of the organization

(TPC) which shows his involvement with the terrorist

gang.

9. Section 43-D (5) mandates that a person shall not

be released on bail if the court is of the opinion that

there are reasonable grounds for believing that the

accusations made are prima facie true. Apart from the

other offences, the Appellant is accused of committing

offences under Section 17, 18 and 21 of the UA (P) Act.

The Appellant is accused of providing funds to a terrorist

organization. According to the prosecution, he has

entered into a conspiracy with the other members of the

organization to strengthen and promote the activities of

the organization. Further, an amount of Rs. 9,95,000/-

(Rupees Nine Lakh and Ninety-Five Thousand only) was

7 | P a g e

seized from the Appellant’s house, making him liable for

punishable under Section 21 of the Act.

10. In National Investigation Agency v. Zahoor

Ahmad Shah Watali (supra), this Court considered the

parameters for exercise of the power under Section 43

(5) D, held as follows:

“23. By virtue of the proviso to sub-section (5), it

is the duty of the Court to be satisfied that there

are reasonable grounds for believing that the

accusation against the accused is prima facie

true or otherwise. Our attention was invited to

the decisions of this Court, which has had an

occasion to deal with similar special provisions in

TADA and MCOCA. The principle underlying those

decisions may have some bearing while

considering the prayer for bail in relation to the

offences under the 1967 Act as well. Notably,

under the special enactments such as

TADA, MCOCA and the Narcotic Drugs and

Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, the Court is

required to record its opinion that there are

reasonable grounds for believing that the

accused is “not guilty” of the alleged offence.

There is a degree of difference between the

satisfaction to be recorded by the Court that

there are reasonable grounds for believing that

the accused is “not guilty” of such offence and

8 | P a g e

the satisfaction to be recorded for the purposes

of the 1967 Act that there are reasonable

grounds for believing that the accusation against

such person is “prima facie” true. By its very

nature, the expression “prima facie true” would

mean that the materials/evidence collated by the

investigating agency in reference to the

accusation against the accused concerned in the

first information report, must prevail until

contradicted and overcome or disproved by other

evidence, and on the face of it, shows the

complicity of such accused in the commission of

the stated offence. It must be good and sufficient

on its face to establish a given fact or the chain

of facts constituting the stated offence, unless

rebutted or contradicted. In one sense, the

degree of satisfaction is lighter when the Court

has to opine that the accusation is “prima

facie true”, as compared to the opinion of the

accused “not guilty” of such offence as required

under the other special enactments. In any case,

the degree of satisfaction to be recorded by the

Court for opining that there are reasonable

grounds for believing that the accusation against

the accused is prima facie true, is lighter than

the degree of satisfaction to be recorded for

considering a discharge application or framing of

charges in relation to offences under the 1967

Act….”

9 | P a g e

11. While considering the grant of bail under Section 43

(5) D, it is the bounden duty of the Court to apply its

mind to examine the entire material on record for the

purpose of satisfying itself, whether a prima facie case is

made out against the accused or not. We have gone

through the material on record and are satisfied that the

Appellant is entitled for bail and that the Special Court

and High Court erred in not granting bail to the Appellant

for the following reasons:

(A) A close scrutiny of the material placed before the

Court would clearly shows that the main

accusation against the Appellant is that he paid

levy / extortion amount to the terrorist

organization. Payment of extortion money does

not amount to terror funding. It is clear from the

supplementary charge-sheet and the other

material on record that other accused who are

members of the terrorist organization have been

systematically collecting extortion amounts from

businessmen in Amrapali and Magadh areas. The

Appellant is carrying on transport business in the

10 | P a g e

area of operation of the organization. It is

alleged in the second supplementary chargesheet that the Appellant paid money to the

members of the TPC for smooth running of his

business. Prima facie, it cannot be said that the

Appellant conspired with the other members of

the TPC and raised funds to promote the

organization.

(B) Another factor taken into account by the Special

Court and the High Court relates to the allegation

of the Appellant meeting the members of the

terror organization. It has been held by the High

Court that the Appellant has been in constant

touch with the other accused. The Appellant has

revealed in his statement recorded under Section

164 Cr.PC that he was summoned to meet A-14

and the other members of the organization in

connection with the payments made by him.

Prima facie, we are not satisfied that a case of

conspiracy has been made out at this stage only

on the ground that the Appellant met the

members of the organization.

11 | P a g e

(C) An amount of Rs. 9,95,000/- (Rupees Nine Lakh

and Ninety-Five Thousand only) was seized from

the house of the Appellant which was accounted

for by the Appellant who stated that the amount

was withdrawn from the bank to pay salaries to

his employees and other expenses. We do not

agree with the prosecution that the amount is

terror fund. At this stage, it cannot be said that

the amount seized from the Appellant is

proceeds from terrorist activity. There is no

allegation that Appellant was receiving any

money. On the other hand, the Appellant is

accused of providing money to the members of

TPC.

12. After a detailed examination of the contentions of

the parties and scrutiny of the material on record, we are

not satisfied that a prima facie case has been made out

against the Appellant relating to the offences alleged

against him. We make it clear that these findings are

restricted only for the purpose of grant of bail to the

12 | P a g e

Appellant and the trial court shall not be influenced by

these observations during trial.

13. For the aforementioned reasons, the judgment of

the High Court is set aside and the Appellant is directed

to be released on bail subject to the satisfaction of the

Special Court. The appeals are allowed, accordingly.

 .....................................J.

 [ L. NAGESWARA RAO ]

 ....................................J.

 [ S. RAVINDRA BHAT ]


New Delhi,

April 09, 2021.

13 | P a g e