The State Of Karnataka vs M Gopalakrishnaiah on 16 June, 2010

[Cites 0, Cited by 16]

Karnataka High Court

The State Of Karnataka vs M Gopalakrishnaiah on 16 June, 2010

Bench: Subhash B.Adi

IN TH E HIGI---I COU RT 013' KAI'ZNA"I'AKA AT BANGALORE

DATEI) THIS TI"iE 16"? DAY OF J UNE 20 E O

B E F O R E

'1'1~»11; 1-»101\s'131..1.~: .MR.J L.:s3';'1£: 1:: SUI-31----IASH '~-- " '

CRIMINAL APPEAL No.79/2oo_2v  ..  ]}_   V'

B I3'.i'V\r' E {E N :

The State of Ka11'1'1a.1EaRa.

(By S:'i.S.G.R21je11c1ra Redcly, Adv.) 

AN D:

. Sr1.':\/I.G0palakrish1'121i21.h

S/0 Megl1z11*1at.E1a1"a1}  H

Aged 62 yea1"s; '   =i 
I)y.Rev€m,1C.OfHiic:éi1f_{--.ReId'.)  _  ,
Gym 111'i1'1z1g?:11'/ M ah 2xI22ksI"1ﬁ.'1vi 3;). {T1-311111 "Rzt'1'1g€ .

1.

331I'I§i&11V(1ITﬁ},VCjify'_€3'f).i;§}Q1'_&-1L~i.(5I'2__ ' I"%a11'1.;_,f,a1:]<'):"c>. ' " "

M..Sidda-i.aE'1.«. V S/0 I\/Iataéia 1'\?agaip;3éL » V Ageci 58 yc%2i'1=¢3. R{"7}'.C1'11,I'~';T Ii'i§Sp&'C'1T(.)1' (_}21y;{11 Ii. 1'i1'1a1g211'}' M33121}a.ii.s}.1i.;'_)1.1ram R:-1 ngc-. 'V V' E-3z1.ij1_ga!g).17&? City Cnr1.3{-->--:=e11i<)Ia E3.g1r1g?1lc)re._ ' N €51-jifij '~11 cfi"'G\."'<1~1'1T1 V ' V V S / o"Sham1'.}7:;}iziI'1 Agt:-«.r_:1 'yc:.;;1.:~'s. T2-ix C()"t.'.('1,() 1"

(T}2«1yai..i'11"i a:1aga11' / 1.\/1211121121 ksh mi p 1: 111 m Ra1T1.g€:

Ba1'1g,aE@.;'e City Co1'p<)rat,io1'1

1. » E3a1::g21E()1*e.

. . RESPOND ENTS

--1.{i_E3;}'-$i?a.'M.rmda-as;-m. Aciv. for R-2 .S_1ji_.__CI.G.Su11dz'11'. ;'\(1\='. for R3) 7%, :g>1i§1;L1.z§;N;r This Cz'imi1'12'11 Appeal is filed unde1* Senior} 378(1) and E3] CR.1'.'-'.C by the s1,a1'e PP. 191' Em: State against' the: jucignleni dated 26.9.2001 passed by the Spk. Judge, Bz1ngaE()1'(;' Urban and Rural} Dist. ii3zmga}L)re City in Sp1.CC.N().84/97. ::1cqui{:1ing the 1'esp0r1de*n1's/éufcused 1 to 3 for the ()fi'er1Ce U/Ss.7 and 13{1)(d} R/W Sec. 13(2) of RC3. 2--101,. 1988.

This Ap§)ea} Corning on for lleexringg this c121y._N1._1_*1':? (3i)1.:1't;V dctivered the I0110w'ing:

%jk This a1ppe;1.1 is by the State by LVu)_}<a13,f-rgaslﬁiliéxs>P01'i{rc= .2-tf,_:1'i}.Ai11i%§§v 7 .' the E-1CC}L1iE1E?t1jtldgﬂiﬁtll. in Spectiﬁ.-11-Q.C.NcL8i1~/1997 ijZ613"'* September 2001.

2. L0kayL1}.i1,ha Ir"()1i('é"LZi11211'ggr?_Vslficécieﬁi nLVh'e_a1ccu.scd N()s.1 to 3 for an ()ﬂA(';'.I1L"E?'_p'1,!.1'1iS1'EfEiVbViQY' L.v1::11(§1 (--::::s~S_Ve%('E7-iogisv 7, 13{i)(d) read with Se.(r!.i0z'1 1:3?) 44Qi?i1:}1'jc' PE'..t:"{'C"Y:'l1.'.i.i()';.ﬁ1' (J'C()ITE"i1}T)E.i()I'} Am. 1988 [in shori :'eili'1:1't?(3 'Eo.z-1s*"1:fi'1.¢;:'A(:1'f'}-,A ~- ' 3, Case (if 1.V_§'V1¢-2' ;;)1*(>sé:.(*uii<)11 is that. (:(.)n1p1aE:1a.:1L « PWWS is ét:'1, AC}v{j(i:a.'t'.{3, "CW4 bhté"Rukminiyamma was his L':1i{-3111. He 'R)_'__1.(:7V".AVJ','_{i}.f?TV"E1§T'C,=;i'SQVd;.. CWW4 had applied for change of khata 1t3eI'0r:i:_ iirltf f_3E1'l"i.:L£§£'1'Vk()I"t? M;1h21r'1a"1gz1 1'z1pz.11i.1«;e in I't'S}.)t'('.i. oi" p:"0p€1'ty bQa1*i1'1g (~)1<.1";.N0.1OE, new 110.19. 3" Cross. Ma1'ut:hi i}3xt'.er1s1'0I"1, S::'::ig1117:.'}:3.L1ram, Bz11'1ga}()1'e. '1'h0L1gi"1 saicl z1pp1ic:2'-niion was filed .__ '{')n 2,8.i2.1.994._ Li}! I'+'el31*1.za:*y 1996. no avtiorl had been t,:;11<€r1. 7I1' in this regarcl. PW~3 011 beh2111'0f CWW4 \--V€'.1'11. to the office (égfkﬁ /"P 1-"K W,

--_af(:(%1':sec} r10.1.. w}.'1.<-31'e trap 1')zm('l'1a1'1z>.111d was ].)1'epe11'ed anci On 6.11.1996, accustzd No.1 {old the Complainam that. even if he is; not in Ehe ()fﬁ(',£','. c()1'11p12.1i1'12mt 1'11:1y pay the said anmuni oE'R5.1.OOO/-- to &1C('l,lSt'.'d No.2 arld he would ('*o11ec%I E11.

4. On E5.E 1.1996. PW43 mm. m the €)I'I"i_(§* é 0£_' L()kayL1ki.112;1. lodggt-:rd 2-1 (t0111p}e;1ir1E.. as he was 1'10! pa1y bribe 2:t.1'11()L1I11.. C0n'1p1aim was 1'egist.é_1'ed:.aTs ivpﬂlf .'EZA:'>'<;'§?"?".u"-f§'h«%fi.T .' Deputy S11perim.ende1'1't' of Ponce E?_Wv8 i"e_I'eI'r'erd :ct<):111.1312:{;i11uL"

1.0 the fI1Spf3(.'L()I' W PW--10. I'W~}O'VL"c;1 i'ied t.h{*'~péirIc§11:1$§ P'/VSW1 and 2. prepared the e11I'.rus:€_f1i'1t",111 .'fn21hai}:a11'.,E?:X:Pl, went in 21 Cal' z:t1c)'1'1g with PW-- i0 'at. about 5.35 p.n .'_f11: A<.:(§£.;$f'ed.V--~§\I0.1 was not them in 1,116? {)ETI("TC'.;." é1f"§'l;1SCd:1N()S.2:x£1I.i'dA3'-£15?-KS3 fhe (:0n1}')121inar11 as to \K»'hE?1'.hCfI'€h€ _.h'a_s"v}jF0:..1gj'ii'in I.l'1'£..'__I-11€);I_1t'.y. They came out of the office V:.1,.A1'1d-- t.L)<)}V.{ i,~}§'c" 4(:oT:»14r1"1."--,\_}_a'iinzimi a}o1"1g with PWW1 to Hotel Ir{1'is}1na {"3hEi'x1.E:1I1"\VhVCE'(f 'fZi'££.?'y '"hE.iC1 c()E"i'<;'t--'. while 1'ei".L11'11i1[1g I"mm hotel, e1£;:c--L:sed NC?-,S.2"i~L1I"1d 3 denlanded money. ACC01'ClingIy, VI3".'\/';3 ';i).;;1:}'ci'i';'e';'. Rs. 1 ,OOO/-- payable to accused No.1 énflti .R$.~v2,()~QO'/ ;¥'vI§<§";1_(7(:1.1sL=c'} No.2 2:11'1d he kept: that n10n<--*.y in his p()<'rk«ﬂ"--s1u1ci p£iiLd VRs§;2.OO0/~ 1.0 E-1.('.CLlS€d No.3, 1,h<:1'eafEer gave 2-1 :sigI1e;1}"1~() 1:'he'f"b}i.(t€ by wiping his fact'. i1'nme:ciiai.e1y PWWIO ' -IﬁE.V133i'1f;Td 1.0 i}.:1ir 5 ml and ciisc}0.='sc(i U10 icieI11.Ei. L0 8.(',.(."t.¥.'i-Etfd No.92 A V .A 1 Y took accuseci N0s.2 and 3 to the (ﬁfice of the %'r':~3 .,v eompieted the other l"()m121iii.ies. Accused No.2 washed his hand 2-md it turned imo brown in colour and the hand of accused No.3 also separately washed, which turned Sei"/.u1'e nlahazar was drawn as per 13x.I-'2.

seized per I*3x.P3 series. Currency 1.1JqIMes were M.Os.9 and El and recovery at a:j1d'..

accused N052 and 3 were sef'ze'd__ as get M.O§'1'5:v.a_nd].7d respectively in sealed eoxzers at M.Os';=1_4» ;--1und 16. d I

5. PW-10 on <:ornpEe't3.tef._i' filed the eharge sheei l"m'.v f'.-t:I:i Sections 7.

13(1){d} read -of t'-?}.ef Ae1__.

6. I:?1*0seeiiEdi[Q11_Ainorder 'top-rove the offence. examined PWs~1 to ]0,Vn'1a1'kerjV 'E3:d;f's..I"i._t."(')'.F-3"}6 and produced M.Os.l to 2. 1*-leweven no e\r£dt:_11cre.01ea ii-efevnee side was led. 'A PWs- 17a_.:1d 2 are the par1e.h witnesses to the trap. PW~ 3193 'Ehed c:<)1:*1-":pVlai.ii.e*;.'r1t, PWA4 is an Assistant imgineer. PWD4 who p«re;);;'r&,d'.:'~"fhe spot sketch per Ex.P8. PW-S is d 3.4"-séi1'3g?E i<)1'1i1'1g 'aL1t:110rit'y for p1'()seeut.i0n. PW~6 is the nephew of RhkmjIjyiyamma. PW-'2' is the M-a1'1.21ge1* 01' City C01'p0raLion in office Eli G21ya1i.11ri1'1ag{a11'. PW~8 is the Iravesiigatixlg " .. .~Ol'l'iee1'. who ent'1'u-sted the iI'I\='('SLigE11i0i'l 10 PW ~ 10. PW~9 is the he has not stated as to how 'c'.1(.'('L1S€d 1\i0s.2 and 3 are coiinected with the file 01' t.m1*1si'e1" ()f7ki.1z11a.

14. In support. of his co111.e11t.i011. he reiied E'.\»'i.d€I"t(.'t'3 of PW~3 and subniitted that. I"W'f'I§. examiiriat.ion--in--chief itseii" has st:a1t'ec1;..i.h_ait., g1'}§]'j'E.'i(iii1_vi<ii'1v pmiciiiig with the s;t(r(?11s€:%d N0.% and Rs.25.000/--. 'I'h0ugh he 1'ei'<21's":t_I*'1-aft 11E1VT'i'A1('?5;' of and 3. bui has not stmiecijas 1.0 with the Hie of CW4. in turn. i]"L?.F(:':c"i_1'€§L%(31'§'t1(i.H};I §l.gi'I}iﬁE.S that, accused N052 and 3 exp1'ess.ecE had gone for iegai opinion. (:m:ss-examiiiation of PW~3 zinc} s;L11::3s1.1Vit::t4."c*q:i 't.lié.t.«::iVi'i.:.x_i'.iié"C§1'(i§fs;éx21111ination at para-

61. ('.0mpI'eii1'1z-1.1'1t.vad'bi'i-{sitL11éitt._I5'W?3 is not (?0mpet.e1:it. authority to change t'.I1?~:~.i._i{1'1:{it,2i' i_l1 B€U1§;£¥.10l'€ Mahanagara Palike and he .. ad1nit:~?}§}1at'~z1(t£7uS€d. N0.3Vis 21 Tax Coiiecttion inspeC1'.01' and he Vi_m.¢{1«i.,<,)_ {I(}_II'ip(;?:1,'('.'.'I'}(.7_'y to ('rh211ige the khata of the property. He §"1l1'.'i'~hVé}T_1'E§Ii€T€i'».t)I'1.:.Vlhﬁ (.'i'0ss--t3xamination of PW~3 at para-73 rm"

_w1ie1'eii.'i I-'=7W~.;' E'u1't',he1' ztclmiis that z-.1(:t;:1.1sed No.3 21 bill "ur,jl}e(?1'.§>1' attic} he had no c0n11<i:Ct'i<:)11 with the File and in the _ cf21j:.;1t%it.y oi" bili c*01i€.<':10r. accused No.3 has not done anything .. wivti'i 1'efe1'enL:v3 to the COI'}(I'€:'l'I'}€:'C1 €116. and he \«V&1.'f-5 working in 21 V ' "se;)z'»1ra11'.e office arid not under acctused N0. 1.. '$3/{ki 4'.

in item of c'.r)11e(*.I"i0r1 of bribe. h(')\V("."v"("E'. the c*\»'iden<?e of PW--3 (?}ez11'1y shows that a(',(:used N052 and 3 were not hoiding the file: nor they were walking for accused No.1 in (T()I1I1€(.'1iQItﬂwﬂh <.iC:*11'12:1nd of alleged bribe. ii" the ('1C'11L'%1I'}C1 itseit' is _:ji'(5't"px'-:)_tv'éri and if tiwre is :10 official favotsr to be shown by .21r:*C:H~svéd--.V:N<)s.2t "

and the a=1<:c*.e.pt.z';111c#e ()§'1'i'1('.', alleged £:_1I11()L_1__I'}"t':vftﬁl. "b¢mg--.m__111;:T A' office and beitig in the public? pia-re wit.i1'r'-:1 the vissihhitittfy of 10 ~« Investigming OffEce1*, it is tﬁghly irnp1*.(_)b'ab-le that the a<rc:used N032. and 3 11'1.*.,<[_ih_§'t'x~t&%12:1«t»?e. tiollucttfed said "E1.Ii'"1OLtI1l in cor1nec:tic)11 with ch23.r1ge of R113'-1,23 LWCVV t

16. Prose(::_t1t:tC§;:3;:.'haé. u1.1'e"r1y"'1f;:i1}:tt--...t5 prove tzhe said aspectt as 1"ega.}'d t.:o"'_the thy':-rsr41$éi.if21t,'itun'()tV"gt.r*é1;) rnahazeli'. Hie also pointed ovut from c5f'I-'W--7 and submitted that.

PW-7 in her éIL<;1i11i:12it4i_()115i1'1;t:'j:':iet'at pa1*aw2 has sstrated that. on 'office "\ﬁvv::1s closed at 5.30 p.m., however, trap '~1;1ai1'a«2:a1r was p41'e}')e11'ed in the officte between 6.15 p.m. and 8 p.1i;, V'"E'--}f;e1"Vé' té{*vv:f1_0'~§§Viden(?e to Show whether the office was open at t.h21t"'tim..¢ ztrtil pa1't.iCt11arty Whﬁll PW-7' ad.mit,t.ed that office K '\'m;6V1's;~.r?,'t1)__s;cé<1VV'é;:t, 5.30 pm. P1*0se(:ut,ion has not led any evi.dence '_t<'_) $hVcj'w'Atl1e1t. Office was kept' open tiii 8 13.11"}. (a 'X app1i(rz11:i01'1 was given by CW4. CW~4 2.1 witness in the charge Sheet, however, there is no explanation as to why CW4 is not exami1'1ed. PW~3 has also not p1'0du(..'.e<:i any d()(t_L.ime1.1j.' to show that. he has been 2-1uE'.horised to work on be-__fiiéiii"

4. N0 d0:,1bL., PW~6 witness has been examined 1.31211. PW-3 was working for them. hLn:,iT. islhje. usspe-ci1'i.<" 'c.:.21se c}_1_'_' PW"v3 'E.hz11'.. CW»~4 ent1'usl.ed the wcJ'_1u'3:; :5' the PWm3 is mvealed in his 21; he ad1'n1'1,s i.ha1,. he has filed' SL115-Y§xegist:ra1', Bangalore North 'i'211j.1k 1.0 the §'ili1'"1g of 'B' 1*epo;"1C."gfile with the e\ride11('te of 1'\2\i;'gV1 who zlwompanied z1:'(.'11se('i that the PWME was E31-esem. imd acceptance. PW»: in his €\='idCI'I(.'(.'~ :j1ci111i1.s t._ha-11». The "E12-161 pa1'1sic:ipaI'.ed in seven E1:-1;) cases i1';\rest"ig2i:,6:£i: bye. i,<)ka1yi£Ri.i1z1 Police. In this regard. learned CQLinse} =:1ppezi1V*i13._L_{"for €tC(_'.U.S<i'd No.3 reliecl on the judgment of the [«\,*:)_e ><: C01£i'Ii--}'ei.)()1'ted in 19955 CRL.l,.J. 3623 in the maller of .._sirATE Off' GLJJARA7' '1'HROUGH 013.1. --us- KUMUDCHANDRA SHAH and pointed out Ehat, paneh witness acting 1?)01i(:(:' witness in 1'11.1mbe1' 01' cases being ph'2.1b}e and res 1') p1"oVi11g the cieiiienid and z1eee1.11'ai1ee is not prm-'e.d. the presu1'11pti(1:1 L.111c1er Seet'i0:'1 20 of A01; does 11.01.. arise. PW-3 does 1.101 st.a1.e 1.112-It. accused N052 and 3 had deliizmded money for %''he pL1i*p0se Of' s110wi11g official fav()1.1i' 1101' the e\:"ide1.1-ﬁfe» of PWA3 shows Thai' they were zieiiiig on behalf of ziccttised ..

23. E'~'u1't.her. in the siatemem. of PWVS bejif()_re_:

he has 110E. st.a*:'ed as 1'ega.rc1 to accused. as regard is PWA1 eEii.e1ji11g :'ae.e1.f-se'dV'V N0s.2 and 3 a1ski:1é.'§ I11oi1eY~ all sL1'c'E"}*3..:§iaLe111e131:_s for the first time in the e\r'ic1ei1ee olﬁiw; t§r1eiy a're"Vi;nateria1 in1pr0vm11e11ts. w]1.ieh CTaI'1V1'i~(')A1:. ii proper (*()1'r0iJo1"2-it i11g e\*i:r:Ee>'.11ee.

24. {Eve-:1 as .i*e_gz_ii*L'..__ is .-(to'r1du.eii11g of trap maha7,ar bet.wee1'1_15 pzrii. and 8§'{)(V)"p.111. in the o§Tiee. oi' aleeusecl N0s.2 '21.~1iId 'é1_3r~S()*dAOLlbEi'LI}""i'1'1'V\«'i€W of the evidence of PWA7. PW-7 'i=:(1_ the "exé1'1<1j1'ii11éi;'ijT_<V)i1§irvehief has slated Lhai. office was ekosed at 5;3OVi 1:).I11."w}1e';1,f1e1~ tk1ereai'1.er the office was open or 1101.. Elie p_mse<:u'Lei0r1;. case is sileni on the said aspect.

' O11 21pp1'e(:ia1i0i1 of the e\-'ic1e:1(;:e of PWs~3. E and 10. ' "ii.33ee(')I1':es highly im1,)1'()1)'c1b1e 111211. moiiey could have been paid "111 21 busy public place i.e.. the payment niacle by PW~3 to £4111 Bi} amiiseci N0s.2 and 3 aiftei' they (fuming ()ul' of the hotel and PW--iO ad1i'1i1's that ii'. was Visible to him. 11. also improbable as 10 VVHQ1-]"1C'.i' they went to the (?iTi(',('. 10 prepare n'1a.11z.i7.ar when PW-7 state that the office was pm. It is also impmbabalize to aceepi the eVide1.}e,e'_:§:i"_ "

hs 21C.iI'I1iﬁS that: he was witness in 7 tI':.'é%F} witness is a p:'()[essi0iia1 wi{.siei:,«:sa. 1'1is=A.eiivide11(?Ve7-.eai"ii"i()i"; e01isic!ei*ed an iiideperident arid 1.0 whether the evidence of --*~i_ not (t()1'1'0b0i'aied with the There is material c()iii.1'aidii%ﬁ.i«sri- 311:2': :PW»10. as the S1.£.11C:'1I€*.11i. of not reveal material

1.}'1i11f.-2}} 2:': ;l'(.',gEil'(i "iC,QEc=.:1'3i'e11'icI izémci ac<'epta:i1('e.

26. Frsni iit.he"'--abc1i?-3. €Ti~I:Cii,iI"I1S1'.2U"lC€S it is Clear that the El('t(TLES€C::'T\¥()S.2 a:'1d_3 had not shown any offictiai favour and v"._d€'I'T{IE111x'd iS1"Ii()i"'}_3T_OV{3(i. in my opinion. just because the 211110111/H. \K;'(9"i-S ij("_')'L11'iLiv,i'ii...1j(Jf§S5*f393SiO1'1 oi' the accused N0s.2 and 3 caimoi be ai11*ib1'.--:..1__edas bribe ainoum. and particiiiarly taking into ' '4''.eUiisidei*a'ii.V(311 the cir(:L1nisi.a.n(:es and the placte at which the séiiiAAc1'i2111_1En,:111' has been paid. it. aiso creates a doubt, in the mind pi' Liie coiiri as 10 whether the said amount was paid in ~ , :.{%c)i'1r1(.%(:i.i0n. with the file of CWW4 lying" with acxrused No.1,. 11 has-; to be a.ppreeiaEed in the (',()I'11CXE. $11211 PW--3 no'; an applicam. PWMB is an Adv()eate and he says that he had other worii will': accused N0. .1 and in such Ci1'eu..ms1:anees. even if as 2-111 Ad\I0(*.at.e he had made payment 10 accused N052 z11j.vd__ 3. just beczmase fhat. payment is made and 21 trap is (fondL}.c:;'ieci:'.~_ii~. is diffieuil. LO beiieve. as to whether l:.he said 'c-L11IOLl:3f"%'1:"

{.0 get the olﬁctial f'z"1v0ur. 'I'1i1ere is 21 111i§ssii1§;- agaplication filed by CW4; and the :bi1':)VIe7'.AeA'i)A1"'Tv missing nexus between a(tCL1sedV::"N_c3.1. A."en__ ind aeeused N032 and 3 on ;_.1..he ar.1'(:1"'{.3<1erei§is also Inissiilg nexus as to why in the public place. visible to PW-V_10. h'e.ii*re.:_L1mf.stﬁriees have been 11}(f1,i('.L,kI()L,:SIy (rciraeidered I3y.*t:he {rm} eouri. and trial Court 011 z1;)p1*c:(:ia1tI.i()i:of {he ,e\'i§de_:1(:'::'_ $12153' ibzmd that. {he pr0se(':u1.i01'1, which is.rVequired_i0Vp1fovexit':§ case beyond reasonable doubl on p"-ar wit,-.hV' aisfiy 0"*;her C.n'§iﬁ'1f1a1 Case. has failed to prove the same. Ije§1i*:j1e,€'i --C(3..!'.V.!'I'1v5"'V'C1_ fer the appeilelnt has; not p0i'I11,ed out any perver_$it.y. iI.Ie%g§;iiiy in the judgment of aequiual or has shown thal, it has f"esL1I1,ed in miscarriage 0I'jus'i,iCe.

" < Hence. I am of the opinion {.1131 no grounds are made .Q11E_._:i() ini.erfere with the_judgme1'11 of the triai court. r%%:':fi-:

31.

Ac:('0a'cii.ugIy. the 2:1p;)c2-1} i'2.1ils'--3 and 83.1116' is dismissed. :u¢ge. _%% KNM/~

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