AI Structured Summary
Not yet generated for this judgment
Judgment
A.C. Arumugaperumal Adityan, J.—The order passed in Crl.M.P. No. 197 of 1997 in E.O.C.C. No. 341 of 1989 on the file of the
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Economic Offences No. 1 Egmore, Chennai is under challenge before this Court.
The grievance of the revision petitioner, who is cited as witness No. 2 in E.O.C.C. No 341 of 1989 is that in a similar case in C.C. No. 766 of
1987 filed by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for an offence u/s 120(B) of IPC and Section 132, Section 135(1)(a) and 135(1)(b) of the
Customs Act, wherein he has been arrayed as A15 and that if he is allowed to depose as a witness in E.O.C.C. No. 341 of 1989 which has been
filed by Deputy Chief Controller of Imports and Exports for an offence u/s 120(B) of IPC and under Sections 5 and 6 of the Imports and Exports
(Control) Act wherein he has cited as prosecution witness. According to the revision petitioner, if he deposes as a witness in E.O.C.C. No. 341 of
1989 that will affect his case in C.C. No. 766 of 1987 wherein he is arrayed as an accused.
Mr. V. Gobinath, the learned Senior counsel appearing for the revision petitioner would contend that if the revision petitioner is allowed to
depose as a witness in E.O.C.C. No. 341 of 1989 that will in a way contrary to the provision contemplated under Article 20(3) of the Constitution
of India.
Per contra, Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, the learned Special Public Prosecutor for CBI Cases would state that u/s 132 of the Indian Evidence Act
every protection will be given to a witness as per the proviso to Section 132 of the Indian Evidence Act and if this revision is allowed that will
amount to bad precedent for other cases pending before the Subordinate Courts.
The learned senior counsel in support of his contention has relied on a decision reported in Nandini Satpathy Vs. P.L. Dani and Another,
wherein the passage relied on by the learned Senior counsel is at Paragraph 19, 37, 38, 52 and 53. The learned Special Public Prosecutor in
support of his contention would rely on the principles laid down in Shri Janardan Subrao Pai Vs. Shri Chandra Kamalaksha Pai and The State of
Maharashtra, wherein it has been held that as per proviso to Section 132 of the Indian Evidence Act, deposition of an accused as a prosecution
witness in another criminal case in pursuance of Court''s summons cannot be termed as voluntary statement and cannot be used as evidence in
pending prosecution against him except for limited purpose of giving false evidence. The learned Special Public Prosecutor would also rely on a
decision reported in State (Delhi Admn) v. Jagjit Singh 1989 L.W. (cri) 430 wherein while dealing with the evidence of an approver it has been
held by the Apex Court that it is the duty of the prosecution to examine an approver as a witness even if he resiles or does not comply with the
condition imposed upon him while treating him as an approver.
Instead of passing any order in this revision in favour of the revision petitioner or against him, I am of the view that to unravel this problem, it is
better a direction can be given to the trial Court to proceed with C.C. No. 766 of 1987 first in which the petitioner is an accused and after the
disposal of C.C. No. 766 of 1987, only E.O.C.C. No. 341 of 1989 is to be proceeded with. I am of the view that if this Course is taken up then
that will put an end to the present controversy in which the revision petitioner is placed with.
In fine, the learned Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Economic Offences No. 1, Egmore, Chennai is directed to proceed with C.C.
No. 766 of 1987 in which the revision petitioner is arrayed as A15 first and after the disposal of C.C. No. 766 of 1987, he shall proceed with
E.O.C.C. No. 341 of 1989 pending on his file. Both the learned Counsel appearing for the accused as well as the learned Public Prosecutor
appearing for prosecution are requested to extend their utmost co-operation for an early disposal of C.C. No. 766 of 1987. With the above
direction, the revision is disposed of.