Gujarat High Court
Anwarbhai Ibrahimbhai Tayani vs State Of Gujarat on 25 April, 2018
Author: M.R. Shah
Bench: M.R. Shah, A.Y. Kogje
R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 988 of 2017
FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:
HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH Sd/-
and
HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE Sd/-
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1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the No
judgment ?
2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? No
3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the No
judgment ?
4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the No
interpretation of the Constitution of India or any order made
thereunder ?
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ANWARBHAI IBRAHIMBHAI TAYANI
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
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Appearance:
MR ASHISH M DAGLI(2203) for the PETITIONER(s) No. 1
MR DEVANG VYAS(2794), ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL for the
RESPONDENT(s) No. 2
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR(2) for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 1
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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH
and
HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE
Date : 25/04/2018
CAV JUDGMENT
(PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE) Page 1 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT
1. This Appeal under Section 21 of the National Investigation Agency Act read with Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is filed for regular bail in connection with the offences being NIA (Mumbai) Case No.RC-06/2017/NIA/DLI (Rajkot FCN) for the offences under Sections 406, 420, 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 489(B) and (C) the Indian Penal Code.
2. Initially a C.R. No.I-51/2017 came to be registered with Rajkot City 'A' Division Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 420, 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code wherein the informant - Nitinbhai Bavabhai who was doing business as a scrap dealer had employed one - Priteshbhai for collecting the amounts from his clients and depositing with the informant. On 23.02.2017, the informant received a call from the said Priteshbhai that they are supposed to collect money from the office of B.K. Enterprise who were granting finance as per the discussion with B.K. Enterprise and that an amount of Rs.50,00,000/= is to be given in cash after transfer of Rs.50,00,000/= by RTGS in the account Page 2 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT of M/s. B.K. Enterprise. It is averred that as the amount involved was huge, therefore, he was to remain present and reached the office of one - Ketanbhai (accused No.1). From there, the informant was given an account No. of B.K. Enterprise in whose account, the money was to be transferred by RTGS and after such transfer, the money was to be paid by Ketanbhai alongwith the co- accused Shailesh Barvadia to informant. Both the accused showed the cash amount of Rs.50,00,000/= in one bag of Rs.2000 denomination of new currency to satisfy the informant that this amount will be given to him after the RTGS Transfer. It is averred that on the ground of one excuse or the other, even after the transfer of the money in the account of M/s. B.K. Enterprise by RTGS, the informant and his men were made to wait in the office and thereafter, the accused - Ketanbhai made a phone call and within a few minutes, 6 to 7 persons entered the office of Ketanbhai and started talking to each other, referring to one - Anwarbhai (the present applicant). Thereafter, there was a commotion in the office and the people left with the money of Rs.50,00,000/= which was to be given to the informant. Page 3 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT
3. The informant thereafter, made a phone call on '100' number and in response thereto, he was taken to the police station where the First Information Report came to be registered. The investigation in connection with the First Information Report was carried out initially by the 'A' Division Police Station and thereafter, during the course of investigation, it was found that all the accused persons had entered into a conspiracy in defrauding the informant for an amount of Rs.50,00,000/= and as a part of the conspiracy, had brought the fake currency notes of newly introduced Rs.2,000/= denomination to satisfy the informant that he is genuinely going to receive the payment and thereafter, staged a drama in the office of the accused - Ketanbhai and the co-accused as if they are having a fight amongst themselves and then took away the fake currency note.
4. During the course of investigation, therefore, relevant Sections for fake currency being 489(b) and 489(c) of the Indian Penal Code were added by a separate report. In view of the involvement of fake currency of newly introduced Rs.2,000/= denomination notes, the Page 4 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT investigation was taken over by NIA and a First Information Report came to be registered with NIA Police Station on 16.03.2018, under the order from the Government of India dated 15.03.2017, Ministry of Home Affairs.
5. In connection with this investigation, the applicant came to be arrested on 27.02.2017 and the chargesheet came to be filed under Sections 120B, 406, 420, 489A, 489B and 489C of the Indian Penal Code against these six accused persons.
6. The petitioner thereafter, filed an application for regular bail being NIA-Criminal Miscellaneous Application No.18/2017, which came to be rejected by an order dated 30.06.2017.
7. Learned Advocate for the applicant submitted that the application deserves consideration as no role is attributed to the applicant by the investigating agency and the incident reveals the involvement of accused Ketanbhai and other co-accused. There was only a reference to the name of the applicant. Otherwise also, Page 5 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT no cogent role was played by the applicant in the offences. It is further submitted that the main accused persons have already been granted bail and therefore, on the ground of parity, the application deserves consideration. It is submitted that during the course of investigation, there is no recovery or discovery.
8. It is submitted that considering the amount and offences being under Sections 420, 406 etc, and therefore, considering the period of maximum sentence that can be inflicted, the case of the applicant deserves consideration.
9. Against this, learned Assistant Solicitor General, appearing on behalf of the NIA, submitted that the offence is of a serious nature. The time of commission of such offences was during the period of demonetization, during which all old currency notes were declared as invalid by the Government of India and Rs.2,000/= currency notes were newly introduced. It is submitted that it was a well designed plan to dupe the informant by showing the newly introduced notes of Rs.2,000/= denomination and that it was of approximately of Page 6 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT Rs.50,00,000/=. It is submitted that the claim of parity can also not be considered as the co-accused who were granted bail were not granted on merits but on account of delay in filing the chargesheet within the prescribed time limit.
10. Having considered the rival submissions and perused the case papers, it appears that after the due investigation, a chargesheet is filed by the NIA wherein following details have emerged on record of the investigation : -
a) It appears that the incident taken place on 23.02.2017, in respect of the transaction of Rs.50 lakh by RTGS from the account of Balaji Enterprise to that of B.K. Enterprise, was a part of the conspiracy to cheat the complainant, who was in need of cash for business purpose.
b) The accused persons were known to each other and their main motive was to show the Fake Indian Currency Note (hereinafter referred as FICN) as genuine and after the party is satisfied and the RTGS is done by him, divert Page 7 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT the said FICN with the assistance of other conspirators and project the party who had come for the delivery that he had cash with him, but the same has been robbed. Thereafter, the intention was not to handover the cash to the party and to misappropriate the said money received in the designated bank and also the party who would come for delivery may not approach police as they may not be able to account for the transaction of such huge amount.
c) It transpires that after demonetization, in November 2016, the conspiracy was hatched between accused and it was decided that, Ketan Dave (A-1) will arrange for fake Indian currency notes for showing to the party coming for the deal, accused Kishorbhai Ranpariya will register a firm and open a bank account for facilitating RTGS and accused Anvarbhai Tayani will provide manpower for taking away the FICN after showing it to the party. As per the conspiracy, accused Ketan Dave (A-
1) purchased one HP colour printer on 01.12.2016 from Croma Showroom, Rajkot. Accused Ketan Dave (A-1) and accused Umang Adiyecha (A-5) scanned legal tenders of Indian rupees in the denomination of 2000 Page 8 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT and printed Fake Indian Currency notes by using printer, scanner and laptop in their office at Nakshatra-6 building itself. Subsequently, they started printing the FICN at the Sadhu Vaswani house of accused Ketan Dave and found that the printing speed of the printer was slow and was consuming more ink. As the cartridge was costly and was not readily available, another colour printer of Canon Company was purchased on 06.12.2016 from a shop named Printer House, Rajkot and ink bottles required for refilling were purchased. JK Bond white papers, paper cutting machine, scale, packing clips, packing machine, plastic packing tapes etc. from different shops located in Rajkot required for printing, cutting, packing of FICN.
d) Thereafter, to maintain the confidentiality, the accused took a flat No.102, Prayag Apartment, Rajkot on rent of Rs.10000/- per month and started printing the FICN. After completion of printing of FICN of face value of Rs.5 crore, accused Ketan Dave (A-1) started searching for people who were interested in exchanging their unaccounted demonetized currency notes or wanted hard cash against transfer of funds by RTGS. Page 9 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT Accused Ketan Dave (A-1) in order to gain the confidence of customers and show it to them, that he is really in possession of hard cash, took photographs of 25 bundles of FICN in his mobile phone, as a token of assurance of having cash in new currency of 2000 denomination.
e) Accused Ketan Dave (A-1) approached one Pravin Thakkar resident of Ahmedabad and told him to inform names of parties who are ready to do RTGS and take back their money in cash. This deal did not materialise as Pravin Thakkar could not provide any such customer.
f) Thereafter, in January 2017, accused Ketan Dave (A-1) requested one Dipen Dave resident of Rajkot to suggest name of persons ready to do RTGS and take money in hard cash. Dipen Dave suggested to contact one Deepak Dave resident of Rajkot and said that he might have some party for the same. Accordingly, Ketan Dave (A-1) contacted Deepak Dave, who suggested name of one Manish Trivedi from Ahmedabad. Thereafter, Ketan Dave (A-1), Dipak Dave and Deepak Dave visited Ahmedabad and as referred by Mahesh Trivedi, they met Page 10 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT his friend Shailesh Trivedi at Ahmedabad. Accused Ketan Dave (A-1) told Shailesh Trivedi to give reference of any person ready to do RTGS and take money in hard cash. Shailesh Trivedi replied that he does not have any such reference and will revert back if any person approaches them.
g) Accused Ketan Dave (A-1) assisted accused Kishorbhai Ranpariya (A-3) in opening a current bank account in the name of B.K. Enterprise by providing address proof of one Pratik Dave from Ahmedabad. A rent agreement in the name of Pratik Dave and Kishorbhai Ranpariya (A-3), for renting office premises of Pratik Dave was prepared which was signed by Umang Adiyecha (A-5) on behalf of Pratik Dave and instead of Pratik Dave's photo, he had put his own photo on the said rent agreement and got it notarized from Ahmedabad.
h) Accused Ketan Dave (A-1) was constantly making efforts but, he was not getting any customer ready to take cash in new currency in lieu of exchange of unaccounted demonetized old currency. So, he started Page 11 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT searching for people who would transfer money by RTGS through banking channel, however take back the said money in cash. Accused Ketan Dave (A-1) contacted Sanjay Sorathiya resident of Rajkot and requested him to suggest any party to the said purpose. Sanjay Sorathiya referred name of one Bhaveshbhai Harsoda, partner of Balaji Enterprise, Rajkot. Initially, in order to gain confidence, Ketan Dave (A-1) told Bhaveshbhai, partner of Balaji Enterprise through Sanjay Sorathiya to transfer Rs.10 Lakh by RTGS in the bank account of Poonam Industries owned by accused Kishor Ranpariya (A-3). After receiving RTGS of said Rs.10 Lakh, Ketan Dave (A-
1) returned the said amount in cash on 17.02.2017. Similarly, Ketan Dave (A-1) told to transfer Rs.10 lakh each on 18.02.2017 and 21.02.2017 in the bank account of Poonam Industries. Every time, accused further transferred said amount in bank account of some other firm without their knowledge and after withdrawing it from their accounts, returned the said amount in cash to Bhaveshbhai Harsoda, partner of Balaji Enterprise against the RTGS made by them, in fair manner.
i) Meanwhile, Ketan Dave suggested name of one Nitin Page 12 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT Bumtaria working as manager in Jamnagar Distt. Co- operative Bank Rajkot who is ready to do RTGS and take money in cash. In the morning of 23.02.2017, Ketan Dave (A-1) showed them hard cash in his office. Nitin Bumtaria called another person viz. Mukeshbhai Soni to office of Ketan Dave (A-1) to check the cash. Accused Ketan Dave offered him to take the cash against RTGS. Mukeshbhai Soni said that he will do RTGS only after receiving money in angadia (private money transfer channel). When Ketan Dave (A-1) did not agree for the same, the said deal could not be executed.
j) By returning cash after doing RTGS on three instances, Ketan Dave (A-1) had gained the confidence of Bhaveshbhai Harsoda, partner of Balaji Enterprise. Now, Ketan Dave (A-1) planned for RTGS transaction of big amount to accomplish his plan of cheating by using FICN and for the said purpose he convinced Bhaveshbhai Harsoad, partner of Balaji Enterprise to do RTGS of big amount, in a meeting held in his office on 22.02.2017 in presence of Sanjay Sorathiya. Finally, it was decided that first cash will be shown to the representative of Balaji Enterprise and then RTGS of Rs.50 Lakh will be done from the account of Balaji Page 13 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT Enterprise to that of B.K. Enterprise.
k) Accordingly, in the morning of 23.02.2017, Ketan Dave (A-1) contacted Sanjay Sorathiya and told him that cash will be brought by the representative of his Ahmedabad party and told him to come to his office to verify the cash. Accordingly, Ketan Dave (A-1) first showed three bundles of hard cash to Sanjay Sorathiya and then to Nitinbhai Ajani, partner of Balaji Enterprise and convinced them for the deal by projecting that he has hard cash of Rs.60 Lakh with him, and told them to do RTGS of Rs.50 Lakh in the account of B.K. Enterprise. Primafacie, Nitinbhai Ajani, the complainant got convinced that Ketan Dave (A-1) is in possession of hard cash in denomination of Rs.2000 so, he directed his employee to transfer Rs.50 Lakh from the account of Balaji Enterprise to that of B.K. Enterprise through RTGS. Ketan Dave (A-1) was informed that RTGS has been done, but he kept on delaying on one or the other pretext. Even after confirming about receipt of Rs.50 Lakh in the account of B.K. Enterprise, through the local branch of Central Bank of India, Ketan Dave (A-1) did not hand over the said cash, which was shown by him to Page 14 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT the complainant, prior to doing RTGS. Ketan Dave (A-1) sought time by saying that his Ahmedabad party had to receive payment of Rs.10 Lakh from another party and till the same was received he had been told not to hand over the cash to complainant. Meanwhile, as per plan accused Ketan Dave (A-1) sought help of accused Anvarbhai Tayani (A-4), who came to office of accused Ketan Dave (A-1) and made an attempt to take away accused Shailesh Barvadiya (A-2) from the spot alongwith the bag containing FICN under the pretext that he had to receive payment of Rs.10 Lakh and he was taking the said cash alongwith Shailesh Barvadiya (A-2) to settle the said matter. However, complainant Nitinbhai Ajani and his men did not allow them to do so and sought police help. Thus, the instant case was registered.
l) Thereafter, during investigation, FICN of face value of Rs.57.16 Lakh was recovered from the office of the accused. The provisions of sections 489B and 489C of IPC 1860 were also invoked in the said crime on 25.02.2017. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that Kishorbhai Kanjibhai Ranpariya (A-3) and Page 15 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT Anvarbhai Ibrahimbhai Tayani (A-4) were involved in the said crime. Accordingly, both were arrested on 28.02.2017.
m) It appears that during the course of investigation, it was revealed that Umang Bipinbhai Adiyecha (A-5) and Parth Jagdishbhai Teraiya (A-6) were involved in the said crime. Accordingly, both were arrested on 28.02.2017. On 01/03/2017, at the instance of accused Umang Adiyecha (A-5), the material used for printing the said fake notes were seized from a Ritz Car of Ketan Dave (A-
1) parked near Mahadev Temple, Punit Nagar, Rajkot. On 01.03.2017, accused Parth Teraiya (A-6) revealed the location of places where he had burnt 2-3 bundles of fake currency notes as per the direction of accused Ketan Dave (A-1), three to four days prior to the incident on 23.03.2017 at Open Area, Near Sandhiya Pul, Jamnagar Road, Rajkot. Subsequently, provisions of Sections 201 of IPC were also invoked in the said crime on 01.03.2017.
n) During the investigation, all the suspected fake indian currency notes recovered from the accused persons Page 16 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT were sent to the Currency Note Press (CNP), Nashik, Maharashtra for expert opinion. Their reports have since been received confirming that the notes are counterfeited. At the instance of accused Umang Adiyecha (A-5), fake Indian currency notes of face value of Rs.3.92 Crore and other material used for printing/packing the said fake notes were recovered from a Skoda Car no.GJ-1-KA-8551 parked in open space in front of Akhil-A Apartment, Sukhsagar, Behind Punit Nagar, Rajkot on 03.03.2017, by using key provided by Mrs. Kiranben (mother of accused Ketan Dave). The duplicate copies of invoices and entries made on register related to sell of printers to accused were taken over from the owner of shop viz. 'Printer House', Rajkot. Similarly, duplicate copies of invoices related to sell of one printer of HP company was taken over from the Manager of Croma Showroom, Rajkot. The said printers have been seized on 0103.2017 from above said Ritz car used by accused Ketan S. Dave (A-1) and one printer was taken over under Production cum seizure memo from the owner of shop viz. 'Printer House', Rajkot.
o) The accused Ketan Dave (A-1) had informed that a Page 17 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT photograph of bundles of FICN was taken in his mobile phone alongwith his right hand fingers showing three rings worn by him and so that he can show the said photo to prove that he has so much of cash with him to gain confidence of the person ready to do RTGS. The said thee rings were handed over to family of accused Ketan S. Dave (A-1) after his arrest by arrested officer. However, for for further investigation, as directed by I.O., Mrs. Kiranben, mother of accused Ketan Dave (A-1) produced the said three rings & the same were seized under panchanama on 11.03.2017. After taking over the above three rings, a panchnama taking sample photographs of accused Ketan Dave (A-1) after wearing said three rings was drawn in presence of independent witnesses on 18.03.2017. Subsequently, printout of the photographs was taken from Colour Lab, Rajkot on 18.03.2017.
11. At this stage, it is required to be noted that other co-accused also preferred the appeals against the order passed by the learned Special Court rejecting their bail applications and after elaborate submissions were made and the Court was not inclined to release them on bail Page 18 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT considering the nature of offences, the gravity and impact on public, learned Advocates appearing on behalf of the co-accused withdrew the said appeals and while permitting some of the other co-accused to withdraw the appeals, this Court has directed the learned Special Court to frame the Charge at the earliest and to conclude the trial at the earliest. Therefore, as such, an order is already passed by this Court for expeditious trial.
12. In view of the evidence appearing on record during the course of investigation against the present applicant and the nature of evidence against the applicant, the Court is not inclined to exercise the discretion in favour of the applicant. The Court has taken into consideration the gravity of the offences and the direct impact in general public of the offences which affects the roots of the country's economy. Hence, also discretion need not be exercised in favour of the applicant.
13. The submission of learned Advocate for the applicant claiming parity that the accused - Ketan Dave who is enlarged on bail need not be entertained on the Page 19 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT ground that the accused - Ketan Dave was enlarged on default bail and also more particularly in view of the decision of the Apex Court in the case of Abdul Basit @ Raju v/s. Md. Abdul Kadir Chaudhary reported in (2014) 10 SCC 754 wherein the Apex Court in Paragraph 13 has held as under :-
"13. It is trite that Section 167(2) creates a deeming fiction whereby the release of a person is equated to his release under Chapter XXXIII of the Code. However, an order for release on bail under proviso (a) to Section 167(2) is not an order on merits but an order-on-default of the prosecuting agency. Such an order could be nullified for special reasons after the defect/default has been cured. The accused cannot, therefore, claim any special right to remain on bail. If the investigation reveals that the accused has committed a serious offence and charge-sheet is filed, the bail granted under proviso (a) to Section 167(2) could be cancelled on an application by the prosecuting agency."
Therefore, the case of the co-accused not having been examined on merits for the purpose of bail, parity cannot be given to the applicant herein.
14. Considering the nature of offence, the gravity and impact on public, the role played by him in hatching the conspiracy in commission of the offence and the Page 20 of 21 R/CR.A/988/2017 CAV JUDGMENT evidence on record in this regard, the Appeal therefore, deserves to be dismissed and is hereby dismissed. Rule is discharged.
Sd/-
(M.R. SHAH, J) Sd/-
(A.Y. KOGJE, J) Caroline Page 21 of 21