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Delhi District Court

Cbi vs . Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia Judgement ... on 19 November, 2016

CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016


     IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL JUDGE­03 (P. C. ACT) (CBI),
             PATIALA HOUSE COURTS, NEW DELHI

Case ID no. 02403R0014472015
CC No.02/15
RC No. DAI/2014/A/0038/ACB/CBI
Central Bureau of Investigation
Versus
Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia
S/o  Sh. Bhim Singh
R/o 1525/5, Patel Nagar, 
Gurgaon, Haryana.

Date of filing of charge­sheet                                                                    :             21.01.2015
Date of conclusion of final arguments                                                             :             24.10.2016
Date of announcement of judgement                                                                 :             19.11.2016

JUDGEMENT :
                            The instant RC 38(A)/2014­DLI was registered on 
the   basis   of   complaint   dated   21.11.2014   of  Sh.  Rao   Satvir 
Singh. In the complaint lodged with SP, CBI, ACB, New Delhi, 
it is alleged that Ram Niwas Yadav, made a call on the mobile 
of the complainant on 15.11.2014 but the complainant could 
not receive the said call, therefore, subsequently, he called on 
the said mobile number and the person calling from the other 
side introduced himself as Addl. SHO, PS Chhawla, Delhi, and 
informed that in the incident of 2nd  August, 2014, in which 


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 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016


employees working with MCD truck for carrying cattle were 
manhandled   due   to   which   one   person   died   in   the   scuffle, 
therefore,   a   case   has   been   registered   and   complainant   has 
been   named   as   one   of   the   accused   in   the   said   case.   It   is 
further alleged that Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia, Addl. SHO 
of PS Chhawla who was conducting investigation of the said 
case, had demanded illegal gratification of Rs. 5 lacs from the 
complainant for removing his name from the list of accused. 
It   was   further   alleged   that   on   the   askance   of   Ram   Niwas 
Yadav   @   Pawalia,   the   complainant   had   met   him   in   Hotel 
Crown Plaza, Gurgaon on 17.11.2014. In the said meeting, 
on the request of complainant, accused Ram Niwas Yadav @ 
Pawalia reduced the bribe amount from Rs. 5 lacs to Rs. 3 
lacs and asked the complainant to deliver the bribe amount 
on 21.11.2014. It is further alleged that the accused told that 
he will inform the complainant over mobile phone about the 
time and place where the bribe amount was to be delivered. 
The   complainant   did   not   want  to   pay   the   bribe,   therefore, 
lodged the complaint with CBI for taking necessary action in 
the matter.


                            Investigation has revealed that in order to verify 
the version of the complainant, the matter was marked to Sh. 

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S.P. Singh, Inspector, CBI, ACB, New Delhi for verification. Sh. 
S.P. Singh, Inspector, in the presence of independent witness 
Sh. Tikkam Singh, Assistant in MMTC Ltd., Scope Complex, 
New   Delhi   conducted   the   verification.   During   the   said 
process,  Sh. Rao Stavir Singh @ Satvir Yadav was asked to 
contact Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia, Addl. SHO PS Chhawla 
on   his   mobile   phone   no.8750871092   from   his   mobile 
no.9899755555 by keeping the mobile on speaker mode to 
record   likely   conversation.   On   doing   so,   the   complainant 
discussed the matter with the accused. The said conversation 
was   simultaneously   recorded   in   the   memory   card   through 
DVR   and   also   heard   by   all   present.   The   DVR   was   again 
replayed   in   the   presence   of   independent   witness   and 
complainant   which   revealed   that   on   the   request   of 
complainant, the demand of bribe was further reduced by the 
accused from Rs. 3 lacs to Rs. 2 lacs. The accused asked the 
complainant to hand over the bribe money on next day i.e. on 
22.11.2014.


                            The relevant portion of the recorded conversation 
during verification is as under:­
-             Ram Niwas Pawalia - Inspector - PS Chhawla
B.            Rao Satbari Singh shikayatkarta
B.            Sir wo cheque na usme payment nahi aai aaj jo aur mere ko ek  

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 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016

              baar Jaipur jana padega, laane ke liye to ek bar kal tak ki aap  
              mere ko mohalat de do
A.            Accha kal sham ke time
B.            Kal mai aapko ya to aap mere ko 11­11:30 baje phone kar lena, 
              nahi to mai aapko kar lunga jo hai
A.            Aap hi kar diyo phir
B.            Ek request hai sir ek meri haath jodkar na
A.            Bolo
B.            Thode se kam kar diyo sir kyonki paise ho nahi pa rahe cheque me 
              payment hi hani hoi, jo aapne batai hai na usme se thode kam kar 
              do sir
A.            Bhai pehle hi kam to kar diye the ab dekh lo, pachas kam kar do 
              phir
B.            Pachas kam kar do sir, dekh lo sir thoda sa aur riyayat kar do
A.            Aur, phir to bahut zyada ho jayega
B.            Aaap mere ko last bata do kitne de du mai aapko
A.            Mai wahi jo hai na bataya na ki pachas kam kar lo aur bas
B.            Mai sir utne hi le aaunga na, aap mere to bata doge to thoda sa ye 
              suvidha raheghi phir, mai sachmuch pareshan ho raha bilkul jo  
              hai. Zindagi, ab dekho na jhoote case me phans gaya hun sir
A.            Haan wo to hai, haan wo baat to theek hai
B.            Ab aapko to pata hai, jhoote case me phansa diya aap logon ne kya  
              karu batao
A.            Ab bhai ji sab cheej jaanu main, kya bataun main bhi
B.            To mere ko thoda sa last baa do taaki main karke le aaun kyonki 
              mere ko lag raha hai ki Jaipur jana padega mere ko sir wo cheque, 
              jis dost ne diya tha wo clear ho ke aaya nahi aur matlab tension ho  
              rahi hai
A.            Delhi lo na phir main to aur kya hai
B.            Nahi thoda sa last bata do na taaki main phir usi hisab se karke le 
              aaun
A.            Yaar teen bataye the, do are lena bas kya


                            Investigation   further   revealed   that   the   memory 
card   containing   the   introductory   voice   of   the   independent 
witness and the said recorded conversation was taken out of 

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the DVR, kept in an envelope and sealed with CBI seal and 
marked as Q­1. 


                            Investigation   further   revealed   that   Verification 
Memo was prepared and signed by Sh. S.P. Singh, Inspector, 
CBI,   ACB,   in   CBI   office,   the   complainant   and   independent 
witness   also   signed   on   this   memo.   As   the   verification   has 
revealed   that   accused   has   made   the   demand   of   bribe, 
therefore,   he   recommended  a case  to  be  registered against 
Ram   Niwas   Yadav,   Addl.   SHO   PS   Chhawla.   Accordingly,   a 
case   RC   38(A)/2014   was   registered   against   Ram   Niwas 
Yadav,   Addl.   SHO   PS   Chhawla   and   was   entrusted   to   Sh. 
Kailash   Sahu,   Inspector,   CBI,   ACB,   New   Delhi   for 
investigation.


                            Investigation further revealed that on 22­11­2014, 
a   trap   team   consisting   of   Sh.   Kailash   Sahu,   TLO,   Pearson 
Shadang,   S.P.   Singh,   Anand   Sarup,   Bijender   Singh,   all 
Inspectors, CBI, ACB, New Delhi and Raman Kumar Shukla, 
SI and independent witnesses Vijay Kant Sharma (from Vijaya 
Bank, Defence Colony Branch, New Delhi) and Tikam Singh, 
aforesaid was constituted.
 

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                            Investigation   further   revealed   that   the 
complainant   could   arrange   only   Rs.   1   lac,   therefore,   he 
produced   a   sum   of   Rs.1,00,000/­,   GC   Notes   of   different 
denominations.   The   said   GC   notes   were   treated   by   Sh. 
Bijender   Singh,   Inspector,   CBI,   ACB,   New   Delhi   with 
phenolphthalein powder and a demonstration in this regard 
was given. The said amount of Rs.1,00,000/­ was put in the 
right side pant pocket of the complainant by Sh. Vijay Kant 
Sharma,   independent   witness   after   ensuring   that   nothing 
incriminating   was   left   in   the   said   pocket.   Sh.   Vijay   Kant 
Sharma,   independent   witness,   was   directed   to   act   as   a 
shadow witness and the other witness Sh. Tikkam Singh was 
directed   to   remain   with   the   trap   team.   The   pre­trap 
proceedings held were recorded in the handing over memo.


                            Investigation further revealed that on 22.11.2014 
after completion of pre trap proceedings and completion of 
Handing  Over  Memo, all the trap team members including 
both independent witnesses and the complainant left for the 
spot at about 1145 hrs.


                            Investigation further revealed that on the way it 
was decided to make a call to the accused between Moti Bagh 

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area to NH­8 near CNG Station & Subroto Park, so that the 
team could reach at the spot of bribe transaction as soon as 
possible. On the way formal voice of both the independent 
witnesses  were   also  recorded in  the  Memory  Card  through 
DVR.


                            Investigation further revealed that at about 1230 
hours, the team reached at Motibagh. The complainant made 
a call to the accused on his mobile number 8750871092 from 
his mobile no. 9899755555 at about 1232 hours and the call 
was   received   by   the   accused.   The   accused   informed   the 
complainant that he would make a return call to him. The 
conversation   was   simultaneously   recorded   in   the   Memory 
Card through DVR.


                            Investigation   further   revealed   that     the   team 
reached   at   Shokeen   Petrol   Pump   Bharat   Petroleum   Village 
Chhawla   near   BSF   Camp   at   about   02.55   pm.     Soon   after 
reaching the said place, the complainant received call from 
the   accused   who   enquired   about   his   location.   The 
complainant informed him that he has reached the Chhawla 
Petrol   Pump,   on   which   the   accused   informed   him   that   he 
would   be   coming   in   a   motorcycle.   The   conversation   was 

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simultaneously recorded in the Memory Card through DVR.


                            Investigation   further   revealed   that   Sh.   Kailash 
Sahu,   Inspr.   directed   Sh.   Vijay   Kant   Sharma,   independent 
witness   and   the   complainant   to   remain   in   the   car   of   the 
complainant   which   was   being   driven   by   the   complainant 
himself. Whereas other team members were directed to take 
suitable positions nearby in safe manner. The DVR was given 
to the complainant in switched on mode which was kept in 
left   side   front   shirt   pocket   of   the   complainant   by   Raman 
Kumar Shukla, S.I. The said DVR was given with a view to 
record   the   conversation   to   be   held   between   him   and   the 
accused.   The   complainant   was  instructed   to   hand   over   the 
bribe   money   to   the   accused   on   his   specific   demand.   The 
complainant   was   further   directed   to   give   signal   by   way   of 
giving miss call or scratching his head or moving his hands 
after transaction of the bribe.


                            Investigation further revealed that at about 03.10 
pm,   accused   Shri   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   @   Pawalia   Inspector 
came on a motorcycle Passion Pro model bearing registration 
No.DL9S AH 6450. He parked his motorcycle near the car of 
the complainant and entered into the car and sat on the back 

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seat of the car. The complainant was sitting on the driver's 
seat and whereas Shri Vijay Kant Sharma was sitting on the 
left side of Driver's seat in the front.


                            Investigation further revealed that after about 7­8 
minutes, the complainant gave pre­decided signal conveying 
transaction of bribe is over. Immediately, the CBI team rushed 
towards the complainant's vehicle and surrounded the car of 
the   complainant.   The   DVR   was   taken   back   from   the 
complainant and given to the witness Sh. Tikkam Singh for 
safe custody.


                            Investigation   further   revealed   that   Shri   Kailash 
Sahu,   TLO   after   introducing   himself   and   other   team 
members,   challenged   the   accused   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   @ 
Pawalia that he demanded and has accepted bribe amount of 
Rs.1,00,000/­ as part of demanded bribe amount of Rs. 2 lacs 
from complainant Shri Rao Satvir Singh. On this, the accused 
Ram   Niwas   Yadav   @   Pawalia   kept   mum   and   did   not   say 
anything.   It   was   ensured   that   the   hands   of   the   accused 
remain un­tampered.




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                           Investigation   further   revealed   that   the 
complainant   informed   that   at   the   spot,   accused   demanded 
bribe  by hand's gesture, upon which he took out the bribe 
amount  of  Rs.1,00,000/­  from his pant pocket  and handed 
over the same to the accused Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia. 
The said bribe amount was accepted by the accused by his 
left hand and after counting the same by his both hands, he 
kept the said amount of Rs.1,00,000/­  in his right side pant 
pocket.   The   witness   Shri   Vijay   Kant   Sharma   has   also 
corroborated the version of the complainant.


                           Investigation further revealed that left hand and 
right hand washes of the accused were separately taken in 
the   clean   water   with   sodium   carbonate.   On   doing   so,   the 
colour turned pink and the said solutions were transferred in 
two separate clean empty bottles which were duly sealed and 
marked as LHW and RHW.


                           Investigation further revealed that bribe amount 
of   Rs.   1   lac   was   recovered   by   independent   witness   Sh. 
Tikkam Singh from the right side pant pocket of the accused. 
Thereafter   witness,   Sh.   Tikkam   Singh   and   Sh.   Vijay   Kant 
Sharma were asked to tally the said recovered amount with 

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the numbers  and  denominations of GC notes mentioned in 
the handing over memo. On doing so, the denomination and 
the numbers of the GC notes tallied in toto.                                                                   The   recovered 
bribe   money   was   kept   in   a   brown   colour   envelope   in   the 
presence of independent witnesses and the envelope was duly 
sealed. The rough sketch/site map of the spot was prepared. 
Thereafter, trap team members left for the residence of the 
accused at about 04.00 pm in the office vehicle as well as in 
complainant's   vehicle   and   reached   the   residence   of   the 
accused at about 05.00 pm. The accused was asked to change 
and hand over the pant which he was wearing, thereafter, the 
wash of right side pocket of the pant worn by accused Ram 
Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia  was taken. On doing so, the colour 
of the solution turned pink which was transferred in a clean 
empty bottle, duly sealed and marked as 'RSPPW" denoting 
right side pant pocket wash. The pant of the accused was also 
duly sealed. The DVR was played which confirmed demand 
and   acceptance   of   bribe   amount   by   the   accused   from   the 
complainant.


                           The relevant portion of the recorded conversation 
during the trap­proceedings is as follows (A denotes accused 
Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia and B denotes complainant Sh. 

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Rao Satvir Singh @ Satvir Yadav):­
A.           Namaskar ji
B.           Kya haal chaal hai sir -
A.           Bas sab teek hai
B.           Ye Sharma Ji hai mere dost, ye sir apna bank me hain aur aage na 
             thoda bahut wo jo bhi kaam hoga ye dekhenge sir aur sir aapke  
             pair pakad ke ek nivedan hai ki matlab ab jaan chhod do aur koi 
             baat nahi, theek hai na sir
B.           Ye bhi to dekh raha hai ­­­­ banda dekh raha tha wo, ­­­ sir ye ek 
             lakh rupye hain aur main karke deta hun Sir lakh rupye aur theek 
             hai sir, baaki sir dekh lo matlab jaan chhod do kisi tareeke se
A.           FIR me nahi badal sakta
B.           Nahi Sir FIR ka ye wo hota hai jo usme jo finding kare jo jaanch 
             kare usme kam se kam ye to bataye ye nirdosh hai ye kasoorwar 
             hai
A.           Arey bhai meri suno
B.           Ji sir,
A.           Saaf kah raha hun
B.           Ji sir
A.           Jab mera court me bayan aayega na
B.           Ji sir
A.           Usme bahut clear aayea ye jo
B.           Ji Sir
A.           Ki ye involve nahi hai
B.           Nahi Sir main involve tha hi nahi na
A.           Main khud kar raha hun ki ye inka koi involvement nahi hai

                           Investigation further revealed that voice sample of 
both   independent   witnesses   were   recorded   in   the   said 
memory card through DVR which was sealed and marked as 
Q­2.


                           Investigation   further   revealed   that   the   specimen 
voice voluntarily given by the accused was taken in separate 
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memory   card   through   DVR   in   the   presence   of   both   the 
independent witnesses and the same was marked as S­1 and 
sealed.   Thereafter   the   said   DVR   used   for   recording   the 
conversations   during   the   course   of   verification   and   trap 
proceedings   was   also   duly   sealed   and   marked   as   "Digital 
Voice Recorder make Sony used in RC 38(A)/2014­DLI". All 
the proceedings held during the trap, were recorded/written 
in   a   recovery   memo   which   was   duly   signed   by   trap   team 
members.


                           Investigation   has   established   that   the   accused 
Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia demanded and accepted bribe 
of Rs.1,00,000/­ from the complainant Sh. Rao Satvir Singh 
as   part   of   demanded   bribe   amount   of   Rs.   2   lacs   for 
deposing/giving evidence in favour of the complainant in the 
court, in the case which was investigated and chargesheeted 
by the accused.


                           Investigation   has   established   that   the   accused 
Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia had met the complainant Sh. 
Rao  Satbir  Singh  on 17.11.2014 in the hotel Crown  Plaza, 
Gurgaon. The video footage provided by Sh. Sarabjit Singh, 
Chief   Security   Officer,   Hotel   Crown   Plaza   has   been   seized 

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 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016


which is duly supported by certificate in terms of section 65B 
of Indian Evidence Act.


                           Investigation   has   established   that   the   accused 
Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia, Additional SHO, PS Chhawla 
was investigating the case FIR No. 459/14 U/s 143, 144, 147, 
148, 149, 323, 427/307, 353 & 332/34 IPC and 3PDPP Act, 
Delhi.   This   case   was   registered   on   03.08.2014   and   the 
complainant   has   been   named   as   an   accused.   However,   the 
complainant in the said case has been named as Satbir Yadav. 
In the said case, chargesheet has been filed in the court which 
is   pending   trial   and   the   complainant   has   been   shown   as 
absconder.   It   is   relevant   to   mention   that   accused   while 
investigating the said case, has shown that he contacted the 
complainant over his mobile phone but he could not talk as 
the same was not reachable. Accused has also shown in the 
CD   that   he   also   contacted   over   the   mobile   phone   of   Sh. 
Sukhbir,   the   brother   of   complainant.   These   facts   are 
established from the case diary dated 02.08.2014 of the said 
case.
  
                           Investigation   has   revealed   that   mobile   no. 
8750871091   which   was   being   used   by   the   accused   Ram 

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 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016


Niwas Yadav  @  Pawalia is registered in the  name  of Delhi 
Police,   DCP   office,   West   District,   Sector­19,   Dwarka,   New 
Delhi   and   the   SIM   of   this   mobile   no.   was   issued   to   the 
accused for official use.


                           Investigation   revealed   that   for   the   mobile 
no.9899755555, service provider is Bharti Airtel Limited and 
and this phone is registered in the name of Sh. Rao Satvir 
Singh   s/o   Sh.   Rao   Deep   Chand   r/o   309,   Holi   Chowk, 
Ghumanhera, Delhi­73.


                           Investigation   has   also   revealed   that   the 
complainant Sh. Rao Satvir Singh is also known and called as 
Satvir Yadav.


                           In view of the aforesaid facts, a charge sheet was 
filed for the commission of offences punishable u/s 7 & 13(2) 
r/w 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 on the 
part of accused Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia,  the then Addl. 
SHO PS Chhawala, Delhi.


Charge 
                            After complying with the requirements of Section 

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 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016


207 Cr.PC, arguments on the point of charge were heard. A 
charge under Section 7 read with Sec. 13(2) r/w Sec. 13(1)
(d)   of   Prevention   of   Corruption   Act,   1988   was   framed,   to 
which accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.


Prosecution Evidence
                                                LIST OF WITNESSES
 Sl. No.                PWs                                                 Name of Witnesses
      1.               PW­1               Sh. Vijay Kant Sharma, Asstt. Manager, Vijaya Bank, 
                                          Defence Colony Branch, New Delhi
      2.               PW­2               Sh. Tejender Singh Luthra, joint Commissioner of Police, 
                                          South Western Range, PHQ, MSO Building, ITO, New 
                                          Delhi
      3.               PW­3               Sh. Tikam Singh, Clerk in MMTC, 6th Floor, Scope 
                                          Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
      4.               PW­4               Sh. S. P. Singh, Inspector, CBI/ACB/New Delhi
      5.               PW­5               Sh. Sarabjeet Singh S/o Sh. Swarn Singh, Chief Security 
                                          Officer, Hotel Crown Plaza, Sec­29, NH­8, Gurgaon
      6.               PW­6               Sh. Rao Satbir Singh S/o Sh. Rao Deep Chand, 
                                          Complainant
      7.               PW­7               Sh. Pawan Singh S/o Sh. Kishan Singh, Nodal Officer, 
                                          IDEA Cellular
      8.               PW­8               Inspector Kailash Sahu, CBI, ACB, ND
      9.               PW­9               Sh. Chander Shekhar S/o Late G. B. Tiwari, Nodal 
                                          Officer, Bharti Airtel
     10.              PW­10               Inspector Ram Nivas, No. D­760, PS Sarita Vihar, ND
     11.              PW­11               Dr. Subrat Kumar Choudhury, Sr. Scientific Officer, 
                                          CFSL, CBI, ND
     12.              PW­12               Inspector Shitanshu Sharma, CBI, ACB
     13.              PW­13               Sh. V. B. Ramteke, Sr.Scientific Officer, Grade­I, 
                                          (Chemistry) CFSL, CBI, ND


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 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016


Statement under Section 313 Cr.PC of the accused
                            Accused denied all the allegations and stated that 
complainant   bears   grudge  against  him and  wanted to  save 
himself   from   the   case   of   murder   and   rioting.   Therefore, 
complainant in connivance with CBI falsely implicated him in 
this case.


Defence Evidence
                                   LIST OF DEFENCE WITNESSES


 Sl. No.              PWs                                                  Name of Witnesses
      1.             DW­1              Sh. Ombir Singh, Record Moharar, Police Station 
                                       Chhawla
      2.             DW­2              Sh. Mukund Mahdav, Assistant Section Officer in Co­
                                       ordination­I, Central Vigilance Commission, Satarkata 
                                       Bhawan, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi
      3.             DW­3              Sh. Bhim Singh, Sub­Inspector, Posted in Confidential 
                                       Branch, Delhi Police Hqs., ITO, Delhi
      4.             DW­4              Sh. Ajay Dutt, Assistant Sub­Inspector, Establishment 
                                       Branch, Delhi Police Hqs., ITO, Delhi
      5.             DW­5              Sh. Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Regional Technical 
                                       Incharge(North), M/s Sony India Pvt. Ltd.
      6.             DW­6              Sh. Hemant Kumar Yadav, TGT in Govt. Boys Sr. 
                                       Secondary School, JJ Colony, Raghubir Nagar, New 
                                       Delhi­27
      7.             DW­7              Sh. Amit Shokeen, Agriculturist and Social Worker
      8.             DW­8              Sh. Laxmi Narayan Rao, Retd. DCP, Delhi Police




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 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016


Whether   the   sanction   was   accorded   by   an   incompetent 
authority?

                            Ld.   Defence   counsel   has   referred   to  Ashok  
Rangshahi Vs. State of MP, 1996 (2) 39 MP, State Inspector  
of   Police   Vs.   Surya   Sankaram   Karri,   2006   (4)   RCR  
(Criminal) 53 SC  and  Gopalbhai Mohanbhai Nagoda Vs.  
State   of   Gujrat,   IV   (1993)   CCR   3288   (DB)  and   has 
specifically drawn my attention to Devender Singh Vs. State,  
ILR (1974) II 400 (Delhi DB) wherein Delhi High Court held 
that   where   promotion   and   notification   passed   by   DIG   was 
signed   by   SP,   such   SP   does   not   become   the   competent 
authority to remove the public servant.   It was argued that 
the   Commissioner   had   appointed   the   accused   as   Inspector 
and   therefore,   Joint   Commissioner   was   not   competent   to 
remove   him   from   service.   Thus,   the   sanction   by   Joint 
Commissioner is invalid. 


                            The   accused   has   examined   DW­3   to   prove   the 
promotion   list   Ex.DW3/A   and   the   promotion   order 
Ex.DW3/B. 


                            I would like to produce the relevant portion of the 
promotion list Ex.DW3/A, which is as under :

CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 18 of 63
 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016

                       "(FOR PUBLICATION IN DELHI POLICE GAZETTE)
                     (ORDERS BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE :DELHI)

                                                                                                          DATED 24/4/2014

           No.23771/CB­I/PHQ:   ADMISSION   OF   NAMES   TO   PROMOTION 
           LIST 'F' (EXECUTIVE):­ In pursuance of judgement dated 24.12.2013 
           passed  by  the Hon'ble  Central  Administrative  Tribunal in  O.A.  No. 
           2009/2013 - Vijender Singh & Ors. Vs. Commissioner of Police, Delhi 
           &   Ors.,   the   names   of   following   Sub­Inspectors   (Executive)   are 
           admitted to Promotion List 'F' (executive w.e.f. 15.04.2014 in terms 
           of   rule   17(i)   of   Delhi   Police   (Promotion   &   Confirmation)   Rules, 
           1980 :­


 Sl.No. NAME                                                           RANGE NO.                              PIS NO.                   CAT.
     ...                                 ....                                           ....                             ...                       ...
     9.        Ram Niwas Pawalia                                                 D­898                      16920088
     ...                                 ....                                           ....                             ...                       ...
          ........

........

.......

This notification is subject to the final outcome of W.P.(C) No.  6309/2007­U.O.I (through Commissioner of Police, Delhi) V/s Suman  Pushkarna & Ors.

(DEPENDRA PATHAK) JOINT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE:

HEADQUARTERS : DELHI."
Now,   I   reproduce   the   relevant   portion   of  Ex.DW3/B, as under :
"(FOR PUBLICATION IN DELHI POLICE GAZETTE) (ORDERS BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE :DELHI) DATED 09/05//2014 CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 19 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 No.   26767/CB­I/PHQ   :  PROMOTION:­  The   following   Sub­ Inspectors   (Executive)   whose   names   stand   on   Promotion   List   'F'  (Executive) w.e.f. 15.04.2014 are promotion to officiate as Inspector  (Executive)   with   immediate   effect   and   placed   on   probation   for   a  period of two years :­ Sl Name   of   Sub­ Range  PIS NO. CAT. C.G.No. .N Inspecor No. o.
 ...                     ....                           ....                   ...                   ...                          ....
 9. Ram Niwas Pawalia                            D­898            16920088                                P­090514­143­0021
 ...                     ....                           ....                   ...                   ...                           ...

          ......
          ......
          ......
This   notification   is   subject   to   the   final   outcome   of   W.P.(C)  No.6309/2007 - U.O.I. (through Commissioner of Police, Delhi) V/s  Suman Pushkarna & Ors.
(DEPENDRA PATHAK) JOINT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE:
HEADQUARTERS : DELHI."

I   may   mention   that   the   aforesaid   Gazette  notifications  were  published in the Gazette of Delhi Police,  which is proved by DW­4, Assistant Sub Inspector Ajay Dutt  as Ex.DW4/A. I   may   mention   here   that   Ld.   Defence   counsel  admits  that   the   appointing  authority of  Inspectors of  Delhi  Police is Joint Commissioner. However, it is submitted that in  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 20 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 the case of the accused, the appointment was made by the  Commissioner   of   Police.   Therefore,   as   per   Article   311   of  Constitution of India, no person less than the Commissioner  of   Police   can   remove   the   accused   from   his   service.   My  attention   is   drawn   to   Ex.DW3/A   and   Ex.DW3/B   (relevant  portion of which have been reproduced as above), in which it  is specifically written that the promotion of the accused along  with others to the post of Inspector was made by the orders  of   Commissioners   of   Police.   Ld.   Defence   counsel   submits  that it is true that Joint Commissioner of Police has signed the  said orders, but, he is only an issuing authority in the present  case and had issued the said promotion orders on behalf of  the Commissioner of Police and not in his capacity as a Joint  Commissioner   of   Police.   Therefore,   even   if   the   orders   of  promotion are  signed by Joint Commissioner, the same are  actually   made   by   the   Commissioner   of   Police.   Ld.   Defence  counsel   argues   that   since   the   appointment   is   made   by   the  Commissioner of Police, the accused is not removable from  his office by any authority below the rank of Commissioner of  Police. Therefore, pursuant to Section 19(1)(c) of Prevention  of Corruption Act, 1988, only Commissioner of Police could  have accorded sanction to prosecute the accused. 

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CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 I   have   considered   the   submissions   and   I   have  perused the orders Ex.DW3/A and Ex.DW3/B. The heading of  both the orders mentions "ORDERS BY THE COMMISSIONER  OF POLICE DELHI". However, by this heading, it cannot be  presumed   that   appointing   authority   is   Commissioner   of  Police. The perusal of the order does not mention anywhere  that the said order is being issued by the Commissioner of  Police. The language which has been reproduced by me as  above clearly shows that the same had been issued by Joint  Commissioner of Police himself in his own capacity and not  by the Commissioner of Police. Therefore, I disagree with the  submissions   of   Ld.   Defence   counsel   that   in   case   of   the  accused, Commission of Police was the appointing authority.  Rather,   as   per   the   orders   Ex.DW3/A   and   Ex.DW3/B,   the  promotion orders had been issued by Joint Commissioner of  Police.     The   conjoined   reading   of   The   Delhi   Police  (Punishment   and   Appeal)   Rules   1980   and   Delhi   Police  (Appointment   and   Recruitment)   Rules   1980   show   that  appointing authority of Inspector is Additional Commissioner  of   Police.     Therefore,  I   hold   that  PW­2  Sh.  Tejender   Singh  Luthra,   the Joint Commissioner of Police, (which is a rank  higher   than   Additional   Commissioner)   was   competent   to  accord sanction under Section 19 of Prevention of Corruption  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 22 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Act, 1988 for prosecution of the accused.

Whether the sanction under Section 19 of Prevention of  Corruption   Act,   1988   suffers   from   non­application   of  mind?

PW­2 Sh. Tejender Singh Luthra  has testified that  he   was   working   as   Joint   Commissioner   of   Police,   South  Western Range Delhi at the relevant time and after examining  the   facts  and  circumstances of the case  and going through  statements   of   witnesses,   documents,   etc.,   he   accorded  sanction under Section 19 of Prevention of Corruption Act,  1988 for prosecuting accused Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia,  the then Additional SHO, PS Chhawla, Delhi for the offences  punishable   under   Section   7   &   13(2)   r/w   Sec.   13(1)(d)   of  Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. He proved the sanction  order as Ex.PW2/A. In cross­examination, he stated that in a  police station, three Inspectors used to be posted, one was  SHO,   another   was   Additional   SHO   and   third­one   was  Inspector Investigation. He also stated in cross­examination  that   Additional   SHO   and   Inspector   Investigation   are  frequently   interchangeable.  He   also   stated  that  he  had  not  gone through the Duty Roaster of PS Chhawla to see as to  whether accused was Additional SHO or not. He volunteered  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 23 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 that   the   accused   was   working   as   Additional   SHO   and   was  also Inspector Investigation in PS Chhawla.

Ld.   Defence   counsel   has   drawn   my   attention   to  the   cross­examination   of   Investigating   Officer   Shitanshu  Sharma   (PW­12),   who   stated   that   he   had   seized   the   Duty  Roaster, which is Ex.PW10/C. He also admitted that in the  column   of   SHO,   name   of   Inspector   Ravinder   Singh   is  mentioned. In the column of Additional SHO, name of Ram  Niwas   is   mentioned.   And   in   the   column   of   Inspector  Investigation, the name of Ram Niwas Yadav is mentioned.  Ld.   Defence   counsel   argues   that   PW­2   has   testified   falsely  when he volunteered that accused was working as Additional  SHO   as   well   as   Inspector   Investigation.   This   duty   roaster  shows that Ram Niwas Yadav was Inspector Investigation and  some   other   Ram   Niwas   was   Additional   SHO.    Ld.   Defence  Counsel points out that Sh. Ram Niwas, the Addl. SHO has  been examined by CBI as PW10.   Therefore, it is argued by  Ld. Defence counsel that the sanction has been given by PW­2  to   prosecute   Ram   Niwas,   the   Additional   SHO   and   not   the  present   accused,   who   was   only   working   as   Inspector  Investigation. Ld. Defence counsel submits that it is due to  non­application of mind that the sanctioning authority could  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 24 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 not understand as to against whom the sanction was being  granted.

I have considered these submissions and I am of  the opinion that PW­2 might be confusing between the posts  of Additional SHO and Inspector Investigation, but he had no  confusion about the person against whom the sanction was  accorded by him. The perusal of the sanction order Ex.PW2/A  (D­23) makes a specific mention of Ram Niwas Yadav. The  perusal of the Duty Roaster (D­16) Ex.PW10/C mentions the  name   of   Inspector   Ram   Niwas   and   Inspector   Ram   Niwas  Yadav. Therefore, when the sanction order is being issued in  the   name   of   Ram   Niwas   Yadav,   it   cannot   be   said   that   the  sanctioning authority was having some confusion regarding  the   person   against   whom   the   sanction   is   being   issued.  Therefore,   I   disagree   with   the   submissions   of   Ld.   Defence  counsel that the sanction order suffers from non­application  of mind.

Electronic Evidence Ld. Defence counsel has referred to Ram Singh &  Ors.. Vs. Col. Ram Singh, AIR 1986 SC 3; Subhash Chand  Chauhan Vs. CBI, 2005 (2) RCR (Criminal) 151; PV Anwar  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 25 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Vs. PK Basheer & Anr. 2014 (10) SCC 473; Kundan Singh  Vs. State, I (2016) DLT (Criminal) 144 DB and Acchey Lal  Yadav Vs. State, 2014 (8) LRC 236 (DHC). It is submitted  by Ld. Defence counsel that certificate under Section 65B of  Indian Evidence Act in support of the CCTV video footage is  defective,   therefore,   it   is   argued   that   the   CCTV   footage  should not be taken in consideration. Moreover, it is argued  that this CCTV footage Ex.PW5/E was not sent for CFSL for  examination. 

I have considered the submissions. Although, I do  not find any problem with certificate under Section 65B of  Indian Evidence Act in support of the CCTV footage, however,  I deem it necessary to point out that in the present case the  CCTV   footage   were   run   in   this   court   before   my   Ld.  Predecessor and I had no occasion to see the same. Therefore,  before delivering this judgement, I watched the CD Ex.PW5/E  containing the CCTV footage  on 17.11.2016 and the CCTV  footage   of   CD   Ex.PW5/F   on   18.11.2016,   on   a   laptop.   The  complete details of the same have been given by me in the  order sheets of the said dates. CD Ex.PW5/E depicts the entry  gate   from   inside   the   hotel   and   CD   Ex.PW5/F   shows   the  scenario   of   the   porch   of   the   hotel.   Although,   PW6   has  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 26 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 identified   the   accused   in   the   same   during   recording   of  evidence, however, on seeing the same I found that it was not  possible to recognize face of the persons entering the hotel.  Therefore,   I   discard   the   CCTV   footage   from   consideration.  Hence, the objections of the defence regarding defects in the  certificate U/s 65­B would only be academic in nature and  would not serve any practical purpose for the determination  of fact in issue. 

Ld. Defence Counsel has drawn my attention to  the testimony of DW6 Hemant Kumar Yadav, the son of the  accused, who testified that on 12.11.2014, when he reached  his home, he found that CBI officials had attached a device  with laptop and were doing some work.  Ld. Defence Counsel  argues that this proves that CBI officials had manipulated the  electronic   evidence   in   the   conversation   recorded   in   the  memory   cards   inserted   in   the   DVR.     I   disagree   with   the  submission.  There is no reason as to why CBI would do any  alteration in presence  of accused himself.   Moreover, when  such hectic activity is being carried out, it is not possible to  carry out such a delicate work.  

CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 27 of 63

CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Ld.   Defence   Counsel   argues   that   DW5   Sandeep  Kumar Sharma, the Regional Technical Incharge (North) in  M/s Sony Indian Pvt. Ltd., has testified that all the DVRs of  Sony company come with a software named sound organizer  including the DVR, which is used in the present case.   It is  argued   that   DVR   itself   can   be   used   for   editing   in   the  recording.  I have perused the testimony of DW5 and he has  stated that in a DVR, a recording can be partly deleted and  erased.  In view of evidence, I would agree with Ld. Defence  Counsel   that   deletion   of   some   part   of   the   conversation  recorded in DVR should be possible.   But I do not find any  reason as to why CBI should do so.  I may point out that the  recordings   are   only   corroborative   evidence   in   the   present  case.  The substantial evidence in this case is coming through  the eye witnesses/independent witnesses namely PW1 Vijay  Kant   Sharma   and   PW3   Tikam   Singh,   apart   from   the  complainant PW6 himself.  

CFSL Report PW­13   V.   B.   Ramteke   has   proved   report  Ex.PW12/C,   which   shows   that   the   sealed   glass   bottles  containing pink liquid of left hand wash and right hand wash  and right side pocket wash were examined and gave positive  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 28 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 test for presence of phenolphthalein. 

PW­11   Dr.   Subrat   Kumar   Chaudhary,   Senior  Scientific Officer proved his report Ex.PW11/A and testified  that the auditory, waveform and spectographic examination  of  Q­1   and  Q­2   (which  are  micro SD  cards  containing the  questioned   audio   recordings)   and   S­1   an   micro   SD   card  containing   the   specimen   voice   of   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   @  Pawalia revealed that the voice in Q­1 and Q­2 matched with  the specimen voice of accused.  I may point out that Inspector  Kailash   Sahu   (PW8),   who   is   the   TLO,   has   testified   on  26.8.2015 that during the course of investigation, he had also  recorded   the   specimen  voice  of   Ram  Niwas  Pawalia   in  the  memory card Ex.PW6/A.   Contradictions It   is   submitted   by   Ld.   Defence   Counsel   that  prosecution   failed   to   prove   beyond   reasonable   doubt  regarding the existence or use of DVR in the present case.

Ld. Defence Counsel submits that as per the case  of the prosecution only one DVR was used on both days i.e.  21.11.2014   &   22.11.2014   whereas   perusal   of   cross  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 29 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 examination of PW8 Inspector Kailash Sahu, he used a new  DVR on 22.11.2014 which was sealed in a company packing.  I am of the opinion that Ld. Defence Counsel is reading the  cross   examination   out   of   context.     In   examination   in   chief  itself   PW8   has   testified   that   "Thereafter,   a   DVR   make   Sony   which was in possession of independent witness Tikam Singh   was   produced   by   me,   which   was   handed   over   to   him   after   carrying   out   the   verification   proceedings.     Therefore   a   new   memory   card   was   arranged   and   after   breaking   its   company   seal, it was inserted in the DVR."  I may point out that PW8 is  the   leader   (Trap   Laying   Officer)   of   the   trap   team   and   the  verification of the complaint of PW6 had already been carried  out before the role of PW8 started.   The verification of the  complaint   was   done   through   recording   of   conversation  between accused and PW6 by means of the DVR.   PW8 has  testified   that   in   this   DVR,   which   was   in   possession   of  independent witness Tikam Singh, a new memory card was  inserted.  Ld. Defence Counsel submits that PW1 Vijay Kant  Sharma  has not deposed that any recording of conversation  between the accused and the complainant was actually done  or heard by him.  He only testified that one person boarded in  Tavera car with DVR and that after the raid, specimen voice  of the accused was recorded in the office of CBI.  Ld. Defence  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 30 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Counsel submits that  PW3   Tikam   Singh  has   also   not  deposed about carrying or using DVR by the trap team on the  second   day   i.e.   22.11.2014.     Ld.   Defence   Counsel   further  submits that PW4 Inspector S. P. Singh has also not deposed  about carrying or using DVR by the trap team on the second  day   i.e.   22.11.2014.     I   have   considered   these   submissions.  These appear to be minor lapses in long testimonies of the  witnesses.     PW6   Rao   Satbir   Singh   has   specifically   testified  that on 21.11.2014, he lodged a complaint and Inspector S. P.  Singh   was   directed   to   verify   the   complaint   and   that   CBI  arrange a DVR in which a memory card was inserted.   PW6  also   testified   that   the   call   between   him   and   accused   was  being simultaneously recorded in DVR.   PW4 Inspector S. P.  Singh also states that he arranged a DVR and inserted a new  memory card in which such conversation was recorded.  It is  correct   that   PW4   is  silent   in  respect   of   DVR   regarding  the  event   of   22.11.2014   but   it   must   be   kept   in   mind   that   the  leader   of  the   trap  team on  22.11.2014 was PW8 Inspector  Kailash Sahu, who has specifically testified the use of DVR on  22.11.2014.  Therefore, testimony of PW6 in respect of use of  DVR on both the dates has to be accepted.  

Ld.   Defence   Counsel   submits   that   evidence   on  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 31 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 record  support   the   version  of the  defence  that  after  sitting  inside   the   car   of   the   complainant,   the   accused   directed   to  take   the   car   towards   the   police   station   chhawla   and  while  they   were   travelling   towards   the   police   station,   after   a  distance   of   1.5   kilometer,   their   car   was   intercepted   and  accused was falsely apprehended and involved in the present  case.

It is argued by Ld. Defence Counsel that as per the  evidence of PW1 Vijay Kant Sharma, PW3 Tikam Singh and  PW4   Inspector   S.   P.   Singh,   the   post   raid   proceedings   were  conducted   at   the   distance   of   1.5   kilometer   away   from   the  Shokeen  Petrol  Pump whereas as per the evidence  of PW6  Rao Satbir Singh and PW8 Inspector Kailash Sahu post raid  proceedings were conducted at Shokeen Petrol Pump only.  I  have   perused   the   statement   of   PW1,   who   has   stated   in  examination in chief that in order to avoid the gathering of  crowd, CBI officials took the vehicles at some distance where  CBI officials got the hands of accused washed in water.  PW3  has also testified in cross examination that after apprehension  of accused Ram Niwas Yadav, he was taken by CBI officials at  about 1½ kilometer away from Shokeen Petrol Pump.   PW4  Inspector S. P. Singh also stated in  examination in chief that  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 32 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 since public had started gathering at the petrol pump, it was  decided to go 1½ kilometer away from the petrol pump.   I  disagree   that   there   is   any   contradiction   between   the  testimonies   of   PW4   and   PW8   on   this   point.     PW8   in   his  examination   in   chief   itself   testifies   that   as   crowd   gathered  near the petrol pump, it was decided to leave that place and  accordingly   the   trap   team   left   that   place   and   went   ahead.  PW8   has   further   explained   in   his   cross   examination   dated  1.2.2016   that   they   had   stopped   at   a   place   about   1   ½  kilometer   away   from   Shokeen   Petrol   Pump   to   check   the  exhibits.  Therefore, I find no contradiction in the testimonies  of the witnesses.  

It is argued by Ld. Defence Counsel that as per the  prosecution   case,   on   demand   of   bribe   by   the   accused,  complainant   took   out   the   tainted   GC   bribe   amount   of  Rs.100,000/­   from   his   pant   pocket   and  extended   the   same  towards the accused and the accused accepted the same with  his   left   hand   and   after   counting   for   a  while   with  his   both  hands, he kept the bribe amount in his right side pant pocket.

It is argued that none of the witness has testified  that accused counted the tainted money from his both hands. 

CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 33 of 63

CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Thus both hands washes turning pink is highly doubtful and  points towards the plantation of hand washes on the accused.  I have perused the testimony of PW6 Rao Satbir Singh and  PW1   Vijay   Kant   Sharma.     PW6   testified   that   accused   has  accepted the bribe money in his right hand and kept the same  in   right   side   pocket   of   his   pant.     Though,   none   of   these  witnesses has testified that the accused counted money, but it  is natural that  accused might  have used the other hand to  handle the said amount.   That is why hand washes of both  the hands turned pink.  

On the point of acceptances, it is argued by Ld.  Defence   Counsel   that   there   are   major   contradictions   on  record.  Ld. Defence Counsel has pointed out that PW1 Vijay  Kant   Sharma   has   not   testified   as   to   in   which   pant   pocket  money   was   kept   and   from   which   pant   pocket,   the   tainted  money   was   recovered   from   the   accused.     Moreover,   PW3  Tikam Singh in his examination in chief deposed that before  leaving for trap, the tainted notes were kept in an envelope  and sealed.  On cross examination by Ld. PP, he admitted the  suggestion that the money was not sealed.  However, he has  not clarified as to why he deposed previously that money was  sealed.     It   I   argued   by   Ld.   Defence   Counsel   that   one   fact  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 34 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 remained unchallenged and that is that money was kept in  the  envelope  before  leaving for trap.   Ld. Defence  Counsel  further submits that PW1 Vijay Kant Sharma also deposed in  his   examination   in   chief  that  "then  complainant  Rao  Satbir   Singh handed over the packet containing GC notes in the hands   of Insp. Ram Niwas."   Ld. Defence Counsel further submitted  that PW3 Tikam Singh deposed that when Rao Satbir Singh  was   giving   Rs.1   lac   to   accused,   in   that   moment,   when   he  received   the   amount,   he   was   immediately   apprehended   by  the CBI officials.  Though PW3, cross examination by Ld. PP,  has again admitted that the accused kept the bribe in his right  side   pant   pocket   but   not   clarified   as   to   which   part   of   his  deposition   is   correct.     I   am   of   the   opinion   that   these   are  extremely   minor   contradictions   and   do   not   affect   the  substantial evidence on record.

It is argued by Ld. Defence Counsel that as per the  prosecution   case,   the   pant   pocket   wash   was   taken   at  Gurgaon, at the residence of the accused, but his this fact was  also not proved beyond doubt on record by the prosecution  rather prosecution has given different versions on record in  this regard.   Ld. Defence Counsel submits that except PW8  Inspector   Kailash   Sahu,   all   other   witnesses   deposed  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 35 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 differently and none of them has testified that pant pocket  was of the accused was taken at Gurgaon.  I have considered  the submissions and I am of the opinion that the wash of pant  pocket could be taken only when accused removes it from his  body.   For this purpose, it is reasonable to believe that the  wash of the pant worn by accused was taken at the residence  of the accused.  Therefore, I find the testimony of PW8 to be  reliable   when   he   testifies  that  at   about  5:00  pm,  he  along  with   trap   team   and   the   accused   reached   the   residence   of  accused, trouser was arranged and the pant, which was worn  by the accused, got changed.  PW8 testifies that the wash of  the   right   side   pant   pocket   of   accused   was   taken   in   freshly  prepared solution of sodium carbonate, which turned pink.  

Ld.   Defence   Counsel   points   out   that   PW1   Vijay  Kant Sharma deposed that pant pocket wash of the accused  was   taken   at   the   place   where   hands   wash   was   taken   and  thereafter   they   proceeded   towards   Gurgaon.     Ld.   Defence  Counsel further submits that PW3 Tikam Singh also deposed  that pant pocket wash of the accused was taken at the place  where hands wash was taken and that thereafter they came  back to CBI office and that the factum of going at Gurgaon on  22.11.2014 is missing in the testimony of PW3 Tikam Singh. 

CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 36 of 63

CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Ld.   Defence   Counsel   has   further   pointed   out   that   PW4  Inspector S. P. Singh also deposed that pant pocket wash of  the accused was taken at the place where hands wash was  taken.   Ld. Defence Counsel further submits that PW6 Rao  Satbir   Singh   also   deposed   that   pant   pocket   wash   of   the  accused was taken at the place where hands wash was taken  and   that   thereafter   they   came   back   to   CBI   office.     I   have  already   mentioned   that   testimony   of   PW8   appears   to   be  trustworthy.   The testimonies of remaining witnesses on the  point as to at which place the wash of the pant of accused  was   taken   appears   from   suffering   from   loss   of  memory   on  account of lapse of time.  Therefore, there is a contradiction  between   the   testimonies   of   PW8   and   remaining   witnesses  regarding the place where the wash of pant was taken but the  same is required to be ignored because as discussed earlier,  the   evidence   of   PW8   appears   to   be   reasonable   and  understandable.  I may point out that all these witnesses are  sure about one fact i.e. the wash of the pant was taken.  

It   is   argued   by   Ld.   Defence   Counsel   that  prosecution case deserves to be discarded on the perusal of  the site plan Ex.PW1/D.   It is argued that no such point is  shown   in   the   site   plan   where   alleged   transaction   of  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 37 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 bribe/crime took place.   I have perused the site plan and  I  find   that   place   of   bribe   of   accused,   car   of   complainant,  placement of accused, PW1 and PW6 in car have been clearly  shown.  Hence I find no defect in the site plan.

In view of the above stated discussion, I find no  major   contradictions   in   the   testimonies   of   the   witnesses,  which   have   an   effect   of   shaking   the   foundation   of   the  prosecution case.

The antecedents of the complainant Ld.   Counsel   for   complainant   has   led   a   scathing  attack   on   the   character   of   the   complainant.   Ld.   Defence  counsel   has   drawn   my   attention   to   the   statement   of   Head  Constable Ombir Singh (DW­1), who is a Record Moharar in  Police Station Chhawla. He produced Register No. 9 Part­III,  Beat Book Gumanhera, PS Chhawla and testified that as per  record Satbir Singh son of Deep Chand , President of Village  Gumanhera had involvement in following cases :

(i)   FIR   No. 6/88, u/Ss 324/326/34 IPC, PS Jafarpur  Kala
(ii)   FIR No. 97/97, u/Ss 147/148/149/440/452 IPC, PS  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 38 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 City Gurgaon, Haryana.
(iii) FIR No. 148/2001, u/Ss 419/170 IPC, PS Khairthal,  District Alwar, Rajasthan.
(iv)  FIR   No.   33/2008,   u/Sec   3   West   Bengal   Act,   PS  Chhawla.
(v)   FIR   No.   459/14,   u/Ss   302/307/143/147/148/  149/186/353/332 IPC, PS Chhawla.

The   accused   had   filed   along   with   his   written  arguments   a   copy   of   a   newspaper   cutting   in   which   it   is  written   that   Satbir   Singh,   son   of   Deep   Chand   Yadav,   r/o  Ghumanhera, Najafgarh, Delhi was arrested for the offence of  impersonating SDM. Along with it a copy of an appeal filed  by Satbir Singh challenging his conviction under Section 419170,   120B   IPC   has   also   been   filed.   Although,   the   actual  certified copies were not proved as per law, however, I have  no   hesitation   in   accepting   the   submissions   of   Ld.   Defence  counsel   that   Satbir   Singh   had   been   convicted   under   the  aforesaid provisions of laws. 

Ld. Defence counsel has argued that complainant  in a bribery case is an accomplice and where the complainant  is of poor moral fiber or criminal background, it would be  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 39 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 safe to discard his testimony. While referring to Arjun Bajirao  Kale Vs. State of Maharashtra, 2009 (4) Crimes Bombay  HC;  Sat Paul Vs. Delhi AdministrationAIR 1976 SC 294  Prem Singh Yadav Vs. CBI, 2011 (2) JCC 1059; Shri Ram  Vs. State of Punjab, 1980 CCC (P&H) 169  and  Ravinder  Mahadeo   Kothamkar   Vs.   The   State   of   Maharashtra,  Bombay High Court vide judgement dated 09.10.2015 in  Criminal Appeal No. 1152/2014, it is argued by Ld. Defence  counsel that a doubt in the prosecution case can be created if  accused   is   able   to   show   that   complainant   might   have   a  grudge against the accused. Hence, it is argued that it would  not   be   safe   to   convict   the   accused   on   the   testimony   of  complainant. 

I have considered the aforesaid case laws cited by  Ld. Defence counsel. 

Question is as to whether the aforesaid criminal  background   of   Satbir   Singh   (PW­6)   would   disentitle   this  witness  to  be   considered from  being a credible  witness. In  this regard few facts are required to be considered. First is  that, it is not uncommon that a public servant makes demand  of   bribe   from   the   persons,   who   are   involved   in   criminal  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 40 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 activities. Due to this reason, a good number of criminals are  enjoying immunity from criminal prosecution. Some corrupt  police officers are also demanding bribes in lieu of obliging  the criminals in future in a criminal proceedings.  Therefore,  if   a   person   of   criminal   background   makes   a   complaint   of  corruption   against   a   public   servant,   testimony   of   such   a  complainant cannot be thrown out. However, as a matter of  abundant caution, the court would like to seek corroboration  of his evidence on material facts. 

Mobile phones of the accused and complainant.

PW­9   Chander   Shekhar,   the   Nodal   Officer   of  Bharti Airtel Ltd. has proved the Customer Application Form  of   mobile   phone   no.   9899755555,   which   shows   that   this  mobile phone number is in the name of Rao Satbir Singh. The  complainant also identified his photograph and signatures on  the Customer Application Form, which is Ex.PW6/B.  Prosecution   has   also   examined   PW­7   Pawan  Singh, the Nodal Officer, Idea Cellular Ltd., who proved the  Customer   Application   Form   in   the   name   of   Jile   Singh,   an  Officer   of   Delhi   Police,   in   the   Office   of   DCP   Office,   South  West   District,   Sector­19,   Dwarka,   Delhi,   vide   which   Delhi  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 41 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Police   had   obtained   42   mobile   numbers/   SIM   cards   for  various officers of Delhi Police. He proved the list of phone  numbers and SIM card numbers, which is Ex.PW7/C (D­12). I  have perused this list and it includes the mobile phone no.  8750871091.   PW­10   Inspector   Ram   Niwas,   the   Additional  SHO   in   PS   Chhawla   proved   a   letter   by   MHC(M)   Omkar  Singh, Ex.PW10/D to show that the aforesaid mobile phone  number was issued to police station Chhawla and was issued  to Inspector Ram Niwas on 08.06.2014. Thus, it is proved b y  prosecution that this mobile phone number was allotted to  the accused officially. The perusal of arrest memo Ex.PW1/C  (D­6), shows that this mobile phone was recovered from the  possession of the accused himself. 

Thus,   it   stands   proved   that   mobile   phone   no.  9899755555  belongs to PW­6, the complainant  and mobile  phone no. 8750871091 was being used by the accused.

Call Detail Records  The prosecution examined PW­7 Pawan Singh, the  Nodal Officer, Idea Cellular Ltd., who proved the Call Detail  Records of mobile phone no. 8750871091 of the accused as  Ex.PW7/D. This is supported with a certificate under Section  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 42 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 65B   of   Indian   Evidence   Act,   Ex.PW7/E.   Prosecution   also  examined  PW­9  Chander Shekhar, the Nodal Officer, Bharti  Airtel   Ltd.,   who   proved   the   Call   Detail   Records   of   mobile  phone no. 9899755555 of PW­6 as Ex.PW9/A (D­13, pages  05 to 07). This is supported with a certificate under Section  65B of Indian Evidence Act, Ex.PW9/C (D­13, page 10).

Whether testimony of PW­6 is worthy of credence?

Complainant   Rao   Satbir   Singh   (PW­6)   was  examined   by   my   Ld.   Predecessor.   PW­6   testified   that   on  15.11.2014, he received a missed call from mobile phone no.  8750871091 on his mobile phone no. 9899755555. He made  a call on the said mobile number and the phone was picked  by a person, who introduced himself as Inspector Ram Niwas  Yadav, Additional SHO, PS Chhawla, New Delhi. The caller on  the phone told him that in an incident of 02.08.2014, MCD  people were beaten up and one MCD employee died and that  his name (i.e. name of PW­6) has been put in the said case  and that if he wanted to save himself, then he should come  and meet him. PW­6 testified that on 17.11.2014, he again  received   a   missed   call   from   the   same   mobile   number   and  accordingly he called back. The person who picked the call  asked   him   to   meet   in   the   evening   in   Hotel   Crown   Plaza,  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 43 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 situated   at   Sector   29,   Gurgaon.   PW­6,   his   younger   brother  Sukhbir   Singh   and   accused   reached   the   said   hotel.   PW­6  testified that accused told him that he had been named in a  case and that he can save him from the case, for which he  demanded a bribe to the tune of Rs.5 lacs. In statement under  Section 313 Cr.PC, accused has denied all these facts. 

The   call   detailed   record   Ex.PW7/D   (duly  supported with a certificate Ex.PW7/E under Section 65B of  Indian   Evidence   Act)   shows   that   there   is   a   conversation  between the aforesaid two mobile phones on 15.11.2014 for  about   273   seconds   and   there   is   conversation   on   the   two  mobile phone numbers on 17.11.2014 also for 214 seconds.  This is a corroboration to the aforesaid testimony of PW­6. 

PW­6 testified that accused gave him a missed call  on 20.11.2014 and he called him up on the said mobile. He  testified that accused Ram Niwas Yadav asked him as to what  was thought by him (i.e. by PW­6). On this, PW­6 told that he  is   unable   to   arrange   Rs.5   lacs.   In   statement   under  Section  313   Cr.PC   accused   has   denied   these   facts.   However,   the  testimony   of   PW­6   is   corroborated   by   the   CDR   Ex.PW7/D,  which   shows   the   conversation   between   two   mobile   phones  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 44 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 for 74 seconds.

The aforesaid allegations of demand of Rs.5 lacs  by accused is further corroborated from the fact that PW­6  testified that on 21.11.2014, he visited the office of CBI, ACB,  CGO   Complex,   Lodhi   Road,   New   Delhi   and   lodged   the  complaint Ex.PW6/A against the accused.

Perusal of the complaint Ex.PW6/A (D­1) shows  that   PW­6   has   clearly   mentioned   that   accused   made   a  demand of bribe of Rs.5 lacs for taking out the name of PW­6  from the criminal case involving murder of an MCD employee  and the accused met PW­6 in Hotel Crown Plaza in Gurgaon,  on 17.11.2014, where accused reduced the demand to Rs.3  lacs. 

The CBI, as per procedure, carried out verification  of the complaint of PW­6. PW­4 Insp. S. P. Singh testified that  on 21.11.2014, SP Sh. Anees Prasad marked this complaint of  Rao   Satbir   Singh   to   him   for   verification.   PW­4   arranged   a  witness namely Sh. Teekam Singh from NTPC.PW­4 decided  to record the conversation between complainant and accused  Ram Niwas Pawalia and accordingly PW­4 arranged a DVR  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 45 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 along with a new memory card from Caretaker, CBI. The said  memory card was inserted in the DVR and introductory voice  of   Teekam   Singh   was   recorded   in   the   memory   card   and  complainant   was   asked   to   make   call   to   the   accused   after  putting the   mobile phone in "speaker on" mode. The DVR  was   switched   on   for   recording   of   ongoing   conversation  between   the   complainant   and   the   accused.   Complainant  made   a   call   to   the   accused   and   the   said   conversation   was  simultaneously recorded in the memory card through DVR.  Thereafter, the recording of DVR was heard, which disclosed  the demand of Rs.2 lacs on the part of accused Ram Niwas  Yadav   from   the   complainant.   I   may   point   out   that   PW­4  thereafter became the part of the trap team on 22.11.2014,  after verification of the correctness of the complaint. 

I have perused the call details Ex.PW7/D, which  show   conversation   between   the   mobile   phones   of   accused  and complainant on 21.11.2014 for 156 seconds. 

Now,   I   have   perused   the   transcript   of   the  recording through DVR. The transcript is Ex.PW3/E. Perusal  of this transcript shows that PW­6 is imploring that the bribe  money should be reduced. On this accused states that he had  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 46 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 told "teen" but he will agree to "do" (teen bataye the, do kar   lena.....). It is clear that accused is referring to a bribe amount  of   Rs.3   lacs,   which   is   mentioned   by   complainant   in   his  complaint Ex.PW6/A and that accused agreed to reduce it for  Rs.2 lacs. 

Thus, the testimony of PW­6 has proved beyond  doubt   that   initial   demand   of   Rs.5   lacs   by   accused   was  reduced to Rs.3 lacs and thereafter on 21.11.2014, accused  further   reduced   it   to   Rs.2   lacs   and   this   testimony   is   well  corroborated by the CDRs as well as the recorded calls. 

Now, I take up the testimony of PW­6. In respect  of  demand   of   bribe,   I   would   like   to   reproduce   relevant  portion of his examination­in­chief as under :

"On   15.11.2014,   in   the   noon   time   at   about   2   or   3   p.m,   I   received   a   missed   call   from   mobile   no.8750871092   on   my   mobile   number   9899755555.   I   called   back   on   the   same   number. The person who picked up the call introduced me as   Insp.   Ram   Nivas   Yadav,   Additional   SHO,   PS   Chhawla,   New   Delhi.   He   told   me   that   the   incident   which   took   place   on   02.08.2014 near my village, in which MCD people were beaten   and one MCD employee died and your name has been put in   that case and if you want to save yourself then you come and   meet me. I said that I have no concern in that case for which he   replied that I know this fact  and stated that he can escape   me from that case if I meet him within one or two days. 
On 17.11.2014, I again received a missed call   from the mobile number 8750871092 on my aforesaid mobile   CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 47 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 number. I called back him. The person who picked up the call   said to me to meet him in the evening hours for which I stated   that if I am named in the case, how I can meet you, on which   he stated to me that he can arrive in the hotel Crown Plaza   situated at Sec.29, Gurgaon where I can meet him. Thereafter,I   made   a   call   to   my   younger   brother   Sh   Sukhbir   Singh   and   informed   him   about   the   conversation  took   place   between  me   and   the   Additional   SHO   PS   Chhawla.   Thereafter,   Additional   SHO Insp. Ram Nivas Yadav and my younger brother Sukhbir   Singh   had   already   gone   to   Hotel   Crown   Plaza   prior   to   my   reaching   there   on   17.11.2014.   I   also   reached   in   the   Hotel   Crown Plaza. At that time my brother Sh Sukhbir Singh and   Insp. Ram Nivas Yadav was present in the coffee shop of hotel   Crown Plaza. Accused Inspector Ram Nivas Yadav is present in   the court today in JC and correctly identified by the witness. My   brother   sh.   Sukhbir   Singh   introduced   me   with   the   person   present with him at that time in the Hotel as Insp. SHO PS   Chhawla Insp. Ram Nivas Yadav. My brother left the hotel after   introducing me with accused Ram Nivas Yadav.  Accused Ram   Nivas Yadav stated to me that I have been named in the   case   and   he   can   save   me   from   the   case   for   which   he   demanded bribe to the tune of Rs.5.00 lacs from me. I told   him   that   I   am   innocent   for   which   he   stated   that   if   my   name is there in the FIR, it is there. We talked to each other   in this respect for a long time. During conversation, I  stated to   accused   to   give   me   2­3   days   time   for   thinking   about   the   conversation   took   place   between   me   and   him.   Accused   Ram   Nivas Yadav remained in the hotel with me for about one hour."

Now,   I   would   like   to   reproduce   the   relevant  portion   of   his   testimony   in   which   he   explained   the  circumstances   for   lodging   the   complaint.   The   same   is   as  under :

"Thereafter,   he   again   called   gave   a   missed   call   to   me   on   20.11.2014.  I called up at his aforesaid mobile. Accused Ram   Nivas Yadav asked me as to what I have thought (maine kya   socha). I had stated that Rs.5.00 lac is too much amount and it   is difficult for me to arrange such a huge amount and requested   CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 48 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 him to decrease the amount to which he replied to arrange the   amount and then he will think about reducing the demanded   amount. 

On 21.11.2014, I visited the office of CBI ACB,   CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi and met to Duty Officer   present over there at that time. I stated to the duty officer that   Additional SHO of Delhi Police is demanding bribe from me for   which I want to lodge a complaint against him. He  took me to   the   concerned   officer   of   CBI   in   his   office.   I   explained   the   incident to the said officer of CBI. He asked me  'do I want to   lodge a complaint?' for which I replied that I came here to lodge   a complaint. Accordingly, I lodged a complaint to S.P., CBI, CBI,   New Delhi which has been written by me in Hindi. The same   bears   my   signatures   at  point   'A'.   My   complaint   is   now   Ex.PW6/A. I would like to reproduce the relevant portion of  testimony of PW­6 regarding the incident dated 22.11.2014  when PW­6 brought Rs.1,00,000/­ in the denomination of GC  notes of Rs.1,000/­ each, on which phenolphthalein powder  was applied, which proved as to how the bribe money was  accepted. 

"After   some   time,   accused   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   came   on   his   motorcycle.   After   parking   the   motorcycle,   accused   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   sat   down   on   the   rear   seat   of   my   car.   I   introduced Sh. Sharma, who is from the Bank, as my friend   and he will take care further of future transaction. Accused   Ram   Niwas   Yadav     also   gave   his   mobile   number   to   Sh.   Sharma.     I   further   said   to   the   accused   he   had   falsely   implicated   me,   for   which   he   stated   that   he   (accused)   will   depose in the court that I was not involved in this case. I   alongwith Sh. Sharma (independent witness) were talking to   the   accused   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   after   bending   our   necks   towards him (accused) from the front seat, as he was sitting   in my car on the rear seat. At that time,  accused gave the   indication from his right hand after touching his fingers   CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 49 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 with   his   thumb   and   demanded   the   prefixed   bribe   amount by gesture. On this, I took out the amount from   my left pocket with the help of my left hand and same   was   handed   over   to   the   accused   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   through   my   right   hand.   Accused   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   accepted the said bribe amount in his right hand and   then   he   kept   the   same   in   the   right   side  pocket   of   his   wearing pants."

The evidence of PW­6 about demand of bribe by  accused  is  supported by the verification  conducted by S. P.  Singh   (PW­4),   who   testified   that   when   the   complaint   was  marked   to   him   for   ascertaining   the   allegations   made   by  complainant (i.e. PW6), he arranged an independent witness  namely   Tikam   Singh   from   MMTC   and   decided   to   record  conversation between complainant and accused Ram Niwas  Pawalia. For doing so, he arranged a DVR along with a new  memory card from the Caretaker, CBI, ACB. The said memory  card   was   inserted   in   the   aforesaid   DVR   and   introductory  voices of independent witness Sh. Tikam Singh was recorded  in memory card through DVR. Thereafter, complainant was  asked to make a call to the suspect after making his mobile  phone   in   speaker   on   mode.  The  DVR  was  switched  on  for  recording   the   ongoing   conversation.   The   original   memory  card was proved by prosecution as Q­1 (Ex.P8) and I played  the same in my chamber on 18.11.2016 and compared the  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 50 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 transcript Ex.PW3/E, which matched with the same. Perusal  of   the   transcript   Ex.PW3/E   (relevant   part   of   which   has  already been reproduced in the charge­sheet - para 16.3), in  which complainant is requesting to reduce the amount and  state the last amount. Accused states that he had told three  but you may arrange for two. It clearly means that accused  was  asking  from   the  complainant   (PW­6)   for  Rs.3  lacs  but  settled for Rs.2 lacs. This conversation was recorded in the  DVR   on   21.11.2014   after   lodging   the   formal   complainant  dated   21.11.2014   by   PW­6.   In   this   complaint,   PW­6   has  specifically mentioned that the accused was asking for Rs.5  lacs from him for removing his name from the list of accused.  But   in   the   meeting   on   17.11.2014   in   Hotel   Crown   Plaza,  accused reduced the bribe amount from Rs.5 lacs to Rs.3 lacs  and   to   deliver   the   bribe   on   21.11.2014.   I   have   already  referred to the conversation (transcript Ex.PW3/E) between  complainant   (PW­6) and accused, in  which  accused admits  that he had stated the amount to be Rs.3 lacs but then he  further reduced this amount to Rs.2 lacs. 

Although, as per complaint Ex.PW6/A, the bribe  money   was   to   be   paid   on   21.11.2014,   the   conversation  (transcript   of   which   is   Ex.PW3/E)   shows   that   complainant  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 51 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 requested   to   pay   the   bribe   amount   for   the   next   date.  Therefore,   the   actual  trap took place  on  22.11.2014. PW­6  has  testified   that   he  could  arrange   for  Rs.One  Lakh  in  the  denomination of Rs.1,000/­ each, another memory card was  inserted   in   the   DVR,   in   presence   of   the   independent  witnesses,   phenolphthalein   powder   was   applied   to   the   GC  notes and on being contacted on the mobile phone, accused  Ram Niwas Yadav reached at the Shokeen petrol pump near  BSF   Camp   at   Village   Chhawla.   PW­6  testified   that   accused  Ram Niwas Yadav came on his motorcycle and after parking  it, accused sat down on the rear seat of the car of PW­6. The  shadow   witness,   namely,   Vijay   Kant   Sharma   (PW­1),   the  Assistant Manager, Vijaya Bank, Defence Colony Branch, New  Delhi was also sitting in the said car. Sh. Vijay Kant Sharma  was examined as PW­1, who fully supported the prosecution  case   and   testified   that   accused   came   on   motorcycle   and  thereafter   he   sat   on   the   rear   seat   of   the   car   of   the  complainant. PW­1 testified that thereafter Insp. Ram Niwas  gave signal/ indication to complainant Rao Satbir Singh to  hand over the money to him. Complainant handed over the  packet containing the currency notes which was kept by Ram  Niwas   Yadav   in   the   right   side   pants   pocket   of   his   pants.  Thereafter, Rao Satbir Singh gave a signal and CBI officials  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 52 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 reached   near   the   car.   Same   is  the   testimony  of   Rao  Satbir  Singh   (PW­6).   Since   in   the   car,   accused   Ram   Niwas  demanding the money by giving a signal, that is the reason  that   specific   demand   is   not   coming   in   the   conversation  recorded in DVR. The prosecution case finds support from the  fact that in the conversation recorded in the car through DVR,  the   voice   of   TLO   at   point   F­1   is   also   heard   in   which   TLO  states,   "What   is   the   position?   Haath   pakad   lo.   Where   is   recorder?". Therefore, on search, the said amount was found  in the right side pants pocket of the accused.

This discussion shows that the testimony of PW­6  is   fully   supported   from   the   Call   Detail   Records,   voices   of  mobile conversations and conversation between accused and  complainant in the car recorded in the memory cards inserted  in the DVR, testimony of verification witnesses and testimony  of the shadow witness (PW­1) fully support the prosecution  case that accused was making a demand of bribe for taking  PW­6 out of the murder case registered against him. 

Why accused had demanded bribe from PW­6?

Ld.   Defence   counsel   has   drawn   my   attention   to  the   FIR   No.   459,   dated   03.08.2014,   PS   Chhawla  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 53 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 (Ex.PW10/F),   in   which   the   name   of   accused   has   been  mentioned as one of the police officers, who reached the spot  where the culprits started fighting with the MCD staff. In this  FIR accused told that public that the assembly was unlawful  and that they should disperse. However, some of the persons  including Satbir Yadav started inciting the crowd. Ld. Defence  counsel   submits   that  this   is   the   reason   that   in   the   charge­ sheet (D­22) Satbir Yadav has been mentioned as absconder  in the list of witnesses, whereas Insp. Ram Niwas has been  shown as prosecution witness. Ld. Defence counsel has drawn  my attention to the fact that the charge­sheet was filed on  30.10.2014,   with   the   signatures   of   the   accused  herein.  Ld.  Defence counsel has also drawn my attention to the certified  copy   of   the   order­sheet   Ex.PW10/E   of   Ms.   Manika,   Ld.  Metropolitan   Magistrate­05   (South   West),   Dwarka   Courts,  New Delhi, in which the present accused had got non­bailable  warrants issued against PW­6 executable upto 11.11.2014. 

Ld.   Defence   counsel   has   drawn   my   attention   to  the testimony of DW­8 Laxmi Narayan Rao, the then DCP. He  testified that Rao Satbir Singh requested him to inquire from  Ram Niwas Yadav about the nature of case against him. DW­8  testified   that   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   told   him   that   Rao   Satbir  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 54 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Singh is  named  in  the FIR, against  whom the non­bailable  warrants had been issued and that no help can be given to  him. DW­8 further testified that due to this reason he advised  Rao   Satbir   Singh   to   surrender   before   police.   DW­8   further  testified that Rao Satbir Singh requested him  that instead of  surrendering in the police station, he would like to meet Ram  Niwas Yadav somewhere outside the police station. On this  DW­8   instructed   Rao   Satbir   Singh   to   directly   ask   to   Ram  Niwas Yadav on phone and he refused to help him further. 

Ld. Defence Counsel has drawn my attention to  the testimony of DW7 Amit Shokeen, who had testified that  he   visited   police   station   Chhawla   on   22.11.2014   at   about  4:45 pm, where accused told him that there was no official  vehicle available in the police station. Therefore he requested  to take him to Shokeen Petrol Pump and stated that he had to  arrested   the   accused.     DW7   testified   that   accused   was   in  hurry and therefore he took the accused on his motorcycle at  Shokeen Petrol Pump.  Thereafter, accused boarded one Swift  Desire car.  Before that accused instructed him to reach police  station   and   that   he   will   be   coming   there   along   with   the  person to be arrested.  

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CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Ld. Defence counsel submits that the entire gamut  of   evidence   shows   that   Insp.   Ram   Niwas   Yadav   under   no  circumstance could have not arrested PW­6. It is submitted by  Ld. Defence counsel that if accused was not in a position to  give any relief to PW­6, what for the accused would demand  bribe from PW­6 Ld. Defence counsel contended that even if  the recorded conversations in the memory cards Q­1 and Q­2  are considered to be correct and without any interpolation, it  appears that any discussion of money is just to lure PW­6 to  either surrender himself so that accused could arrest him.

I have considered the circumstances and I partly  agree   with   the   submissions   of   Ld.   Defence   counsel   that  accused had no option but to arrest PW­6. However, if the  conversation between the two is carefully perused, it is found  that the accused is not giving any relief to the accused from  arrest.   The   conversation   recorded   in   the   car   of   PW­6   on  22.11.2014 [transcript Ex.PW1/F (folder 05)] shows that PW­ 6 is arguing with the accused that he has been implicated in a  false   case   but   accused   is   telling   him   that   FIR   cannot   be  changed. Accused is telling PW­6 that when he will testify in  the court, it will come clearly that he is not involved. On  this PW­6 asks him that in the charge­sheet he can write that  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 56 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 he (PW­6) is not involved. On this accused states that unless  he (i.e. the accused) interrogates him (i.e. PW­6), he cannot  write this. This shows that the bribe has been demanded and  accepted   by   accused   as   a  motive  or   reward   for   doing   an  official act in exercise of his official functions. Therefore, the  bribe money may not have been accepted by accused for not  arresting the PW­6 but it was accepted by him for giving him  benefit at subsequent stage.  Therefore, the testimony of DW5  and DW8 are of no help to the accused.

Survey of the evidence I have already discussed above that testimony of  DW6, DW7 and DW8 provide no help to the accused.  DW5  has testified that it is possible to delete some portion of the  conversation by the DVR.  But I have already held that I find  no reason as to why the CBI officials would do so.  DW1 has  proved  the   criminal   antecedents   of  PW6,   which   are   not   in  dispute.   DW2 proved a copy of the office order of Central  Vigilance   Commission  Ex.DW2/A.    In   this  office   order,  the  CVC  has remarked  that the public servants, whose services  are  utilized by  CBI, are  turning hostile  for ulterior reasons  and that the educated responsible public servants should not  resort to such devious behaviour and therefore CVC desired  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 57 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 that whenever such misconduct by public servants is reported  by  CBI,   disciplinary action should be  initiated against  such  public servants.  It is argued by Ld. Defence Counsel that the  independent witnesses namely PW1 and PW3 are testifying  falsely under the pressure of CBI on account of the aforesaid  circular.     I   have   considered   this   circular   carefully.     This  circular aims at instilling a sense of responsibility among the  public   servants.     In   the   present   case,   PW1   is   Assistant  Manager,   Vijaya   Bank   whereas   PW3   is   a   Clerk   in   MMTC.  Both are respectable witnesses and their testimonies have to  be accepted unless the same are shaken during the trial.  

DW3   and   DW4   proved   the   promotion   list   by  which accused was promoted to the post of Inspector.   This  aspect has already been considered by me while deciding the  question of sanction.  

Now I take up the prosecution witnesses.  PW6 is  the star witness.  His testimony has already been discussed by  me.     PW3   Tikam   Singh   and   PW1   Vijay   Kant   Sharma   had  participated   as   independent   witnesses.     PW3   has  corroborated   the   testimony   of   PW6   in   respect   of   the  verification.  PW1 has acted as shadow witness when accused  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 58 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 demanded   money   by   making   a   signal   and   accepted   an  amount   of   Rs.1   lac.     PW4   Inspector   S.   P.   Singh   is   the  Verification Officer.  He also took part in further proceedings  along with PW1 and PW2 during the trap.   PW5 Sarabjeet  Singh,   the   Chief   Security   Officer   in   Hotel   Crown   Plazar,  Sector­29, Gurgaon, Haryana produced two CDs containing  video footage dated 17.11.2014 to the Investigating Officer  vide   memo  Ex.PW5/A.     He   also   gave   certificate   under  Section 65­B of Indian Evidence Act, which is Ex.PW5/B.  He  also proved the contents of the CDs containing the recordings  of the CCTV footage of the lobby, DFMD and of main porch of  Hotel   Crown   Plaza.     PW6   Rao   Satbir   Singh   is   the  complainant.     PW7 Pawan  Singh is the Nodal Officer, Idea  Cellular Ltd., who proved that they had provided 42 mobile  numbers/SIM cards including mobile no. 8750871091 (used  by   the   accused)   to   Delhi   Police.     He   also   proved   the   call  detailed records of this mobile number from 15.11.2014 to  22.11.2014   along   with   certificate   under   Section   65­B   of  Indian   Evidence   Act.     PW8   Inspector   Kailash   Sahu   is   trap  laying officer.   PW9 Chandershaikhar is a Nodal officer with  Bharti Airtel Ltd., who proved that mobile no. 9899755555  was allotted to Rao Satbir Singh and he also proved the call  detail records Ex.PW9/A (D­13) along with certificate under  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 59 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 Section 65­B of Indian Evidence Act.  

PW10   Inspector   Ram   Niwas   was   posted   as  Additional SHO, PS Chhawla at the relevant time.  He proved  the certified copies of case diary of FIR No. 459/2014, duty  roster of PS Chhawla dated 22.11.2014, letter of issuance of  mobile phone no. 8750871091 to accused, certified copy of  order of Ms  Manika, Ld. MM  Ex.PW10/E  and copy of FIR  Ex.PW10/F.   PW11 Dr. Sharad Kumar Chaudhary, PW13 Sh. V.  B. Ramteke are the Scientific Officer, whose evidence I have  already   discussed.     PW12   Sitanshu   Sharma   is   the  Investigating Officer.  

Conclusion All   the   aforesaid  witnesses   have   fully   supported  the   prosecution   case.     Despite   PW6   having   a   shady   back  background,   I   find   him   to   be   a   truthful   witness   duly  corroborated by other respectable independent witnesses and  CBI   officials.     Accordingly,   its   stand   proved   that   accused  demanded a bribe of Rs.5 lacs, which was later on reduced to  Rs.3 lacs and thereafter to Rs.2 lacs from PW6 for a motive  CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 60 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 for doing favour to him in the proceedings later on.  Accused  was caught red handed accepting an amount of Rs.1 lac from  PW6.    Therefore, I convict him under Section 7 as well as  under   Section   13(2)   r/w   13(1)(d)(i)   of   Prevention   of  Corruption Act 1988.

Announced in the open court on this 19th day of November, 2016 (Vinod Kumar)                 Special Judge­03 (PC Act)/       CBI/ PHC / ND CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 61 of 63 CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL JUDGE­03 (P. C. ACT) (CBI), PATIALA HOUSE COURTS, NEW DELHI Case ID no. 02403R0014472015 CC No.02/15 RC No. DAI/2014/A/0038/ACB/CBI Central Bureau of Investigation Versus Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia S/o  Sh. Bhim Singh R/o 1525/5, Patel Nagar,  Gurgaon, Haryana. ..... Convict ORDER ON SENTENCE 19.11.2016 Present:  Sh. Manoj Shukla, Ld. Sr. PP for CBI.

Convict on bail with counsel Sh. Sandeep  Sharma, adv. and Sh. Dharam Singh, adv.

  Arguments on sentence heard.  

Considering   all   the   facts   and   circumstances,   I  sentence   the   convict   to  rigorous   imprisonment   for   four  years and a fine in the sum of Rs.1,000/­, under Section 7  of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, in default of payment  of fine, he shall undergo simple imprisonment for one month.

CC No. 02/15                                                                                                                    Page No. 62 of 63

CBI Vs. Ram Niwas Yadav @ Pawalia          Judgement                 Dated : 19.11.2016 I   further   sentence   the   convict   to  rigorous  imprisonment   for   four   years   and   a   fine   in   the   sum   of  Rs.1,000/­, under Section 13(2) read with Section 13 (1)(d)

(i)  of  the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, in default of  payment of fine, he shall undergo simple imprisonment for  one month.

Both the sentences shall undergo concurrently.

Benefit under Section 428 Cr.P.C. shall be given to  the convict.

Bail bond and surety bond are discharged.

Convict   is   taken   into   custody   to   suffer   the  sentence.

Copy of judgement be supplied free of cost to the  convict.

Announced in the open court
on this 19th November, 2016                   (Vinod Kumar)
                                      Special Judge­03 (PC Act)/ 
                                              CBI/ PHC / ND




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