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[Cites 11, Cited by 0]

Gujarat High Court

Jayaben @ Parvatiben Daughter Of ... vs State Of Gujarat & 8 on 26 August, 2015

Author: J.B.Pardiwala

Bench: J.B.Pardiwala

                   R/CR.MA/5388/2015                                                 ORDER




                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

             CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR DIRECTION) NO. 5388 of 2015

                   In SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 3076 of 2014

               [On note for speaking to minutes of order dated 06/08/2015 in
                                       R/CR.MA/5388/2015 ]

                                                 With
                     SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 3076 of 2014
         ==========================================================
             JAYABEN @ PARVATIBEN DAUGHTER OF DAYALBHAI MANGALBHAI
                               RATHOD....Applicant(s)
                                     Versus
                       STATE OF GUJARAT & 8....Respondent(s)
         ==========================================================
         Appearance:
         MR AB MUNSHI, ADVOCATE for the Applicant(s) No. 1
         NOTICE SERVED for the Respondent(s) No. 5 , 7
         NOTICE UNSERVED for the Respondent(s) No. 2 - 4 , 6 , 8 - 9
         PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s) No. 1
         ==========================================================

                   CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA

                                         Date : 26/08/2015


                                           ORAL ORDER

1 By   this   Note   for   Speaking   to   Minutes   filed   by   the   original  petitioner,  it has  been pointed  out that  the  observation  made  by  this  Court   in   para   30   of   the   judgment   dated   06.08.2015   passed   in   the  Criminal Miscellaneous Application No.5388 of 2015 in Special Criminal  Application   No.3076   of   2014   with   the   Special   Criminal   Application  Page 1 of 2 HC-NIC Page 1 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 1 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 ORDER No.3076 of 2014 is being misinterpreted by the police. In para 30, the  following observations were made :

"30. For the reasons aforesaid, I direct the Commissioner of Police, Surat   to depute any officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police other   then the respondent No.9 of the Criminal Misc. Application to undertake   the   further   investigation   in   connection   with   C.R.   No.­I­150/2014   registered   with   the   Khatodara   Police   Station,   Surat   City.   The   further   investigation is mainly for the purpose of recovering the alleged forged and   bugus   power   of   attorney.   An   appropriate   report   of   the   further   investigation shall be filed before the trial Court."

2 Mr.   Munshi,   the   learned   advocate   appearing   for   the   petitioner  pointed out that the word "mainly" is sought to be interpreted as "only". 

It   is   clarified   that   further   investigation   is   not   restricted   only   to   the  recovery  of  power of  attorney but would also  include  involvement of  other persons in the offence, if any. The recovery of the alleged fraud  and bogus power attorney was one of the main consideration, but that  does not mean that the further investigation should be confined only to  such   recovery   of   the   documents   in   the   course   of   the   further  investigation. If it is found that other persons are involved in the alleged  offence, the police shall proceed further in accordance with law. 

3 With the above, the Note for Speaking to Minutes is disposed of. 

Direct service is permitted. 

(J.B.PARDIWALA, J.) chandresh Page 2 of 2 HC-NIC Page 2 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 2 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR DIRECTION) NO. 5388 of 2015 In SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 3076 of 2014 With SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 3076 of 2014 FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:

HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA ========================================================== 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowedNO to see the judgment ?
2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? NO 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy ofNO the judgment ?
4 Whether this case involves a substantial question ofNO law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India or any order made thereunder ?

========================================================== JAYABEN @ PARVATIBEN DAUGHTER OF DAYALBHAI MANGALBHAI RATHOD....Applicant(s) Versus STATE OF GUJARAT & 8....Respondent(s) ========================================================== Appearance:

MR AB MUNSHI, ADVOCATE for the Applicant(s) No. 1 NOTICE SERVED for the Respondent(s) No. 5 , 7 NOTICE UNSERVED for the Respondent(s) No. 2 - 4 , 6 , 8 - 9 PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s) No. 1 ========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA Page 1 of 17 HC-NIC Page 3 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015

3 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT Date : 06/08/2015 CAV JUDGMENT

1. By this writ­application under Article 226 of  the   Constitution   of   India,   the   petitioner   has  prayed for the following reliefs:­ "40. (a) Your Lordships be pleased to admit and  allow this petition;

(b)   Your   Lordships   be   pleased   to   transfer   the  investigation from respondent nos.2, 4 and 6 to  an independent agency such as Range I.G. Of South  Gujarat   Zone   and/or   Special   Investigating   Team  under   the   supervision   of   Director   General   of  Police and/or to Central Bureau of Investigation  (CBI)   and   register   an   FIR   by   arraigning   the  accused  named  in  the   written  applications  which  are   annexed   at   Annexure­A   colly   in   the   fact  stated herein above (bb)   Your   Lordships   be   pleased   to   grant   police  protection   to   the   petitioner   and   her   family  members   forthwith   as   per   the   application   dated  29.7.2014   annexed   at   Annexure:P/1   to   this  petition.

(c)   Pending   the   admission,   hearing   and   final  disposal of this petition, this Hon'ble Court be  pleased to call for the progress report from the   respondent nos. 2, 4 and 6 and to report to this   Hon'ble   Court   as   to   what   sort   of   investigation  has been carried out by them till date;

(d)   Your   Lordships   be   pleased   to   issue   an   appropriate writ in the nature of mandamus or any  other   appropriate,   writ,   order   or   direction   by  directing   the   respondent   no.2,   to   submit   an  action taken report pursuant to the order dated  13­02­2014 passed in Special Criminal Application  No.199 of 2014;

(e) Your Lordships be pleased to grant such other  and   further   relief/s   as   are   deemed   fit,   in   the  interest of justice."

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2. The case of the petitioner may be summarized  as under:­

3. The   petitioner   along   with   her   brother  Dhansukhbhai   Dayalbhai   Rathod   had   addressed  various applications dated 11­07­2013, 17­08­2013  / 24­08­2013, 29­11­2013, 13­02­2014, 15­02­2014,  26­02­2014, 25­04­2014, 10­07­2014 and 28­08­2014  to   the   respondent   no.2   to   4   and   7   respectively  disclosing commission of the cognizable offences  punishable   under   Sections   406,   420,   465,   467,  468,  471,  504,  506(2),  120(B)  read  with  Section  34 of the I.P.C. and sections 3(1) and 7 of the  Prevention of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe  (Atrocity Act). 

4. The respondent no.2 being the highest officer  of   the   rank   of   IPS   has   failed   to   perform   his  duties and is favouring the persons against whom  allegations   have   been   levelled.   The   respondent  no.2   is   supporting   the   influential   persons   who  are alleged to have grabbed the valuable land of  the   petitioner   and   her   family   members.   The  persons   concerned   have   gone   to   the   extent   of  threatening   and   forcing   the   poor   adivasi   people  to put their signatures and/or thumb impressions  on blank papers on the grounds of settlement. 

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5. Therefore,   this   petition   is   filed   for   the  transfer of the investigation from the respondent  no.2   to   the   Range   I.G.   of   South   Gujarat   Zone  and/or   Special   Investigating   Team   under   the  supervision of the respondent no.7 and/or Central  Bureau of Investigation (CBI). 

6. The petitioner is a member of the Scheduled  Tribe. She is completely dependent upon the land  and   if   she   is   made   to   part   with   her   land   she  would suffer huge hardship. The petitioner's only  source of livelihood is the land. 

7. The land bearing Old Revenue Survey No.194/2  which   is   given   new   Revenue   Survey   No.116/2  admeasuring  1500  sq. meters  of  lands  of village  Vesu   was   possessed   by   grandfather   of   the  petitioner   as   a   tenant.   The   land   of   the   above  survey number was originally owned by one Narsinh  Prabhu   and Gemal  Keshar  who  will  be hereinafter  referred to as the "Original Owners". Pursuant to  the   proceedings   which   were   initiated   by   the  grandfather   of   the   petitioner   under   the  provisions of section 32­G of the Bombay Tenancy  and Agricultural Lands Act, he became the tenant  of the said survey number by an order passed by  the Mamlatdar dated 6­2­1963. 

8. The   tenant   i.e.   the   grandfather   of   the  Page 4 of 17 HC-NIC Page 6 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 6 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT petitioner   paid   the   purchase   price   in   8  periodical installments and subsequent thereto, a  32­M   certificate   dated   30­01­1974   under   the  provisions of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural  Lands   Act,   1948   was   issued   in   the   name   of   the  grandfather of the petitioner. 

9. The name of the grandfather of the petitioner  Shri   Mangalbhai   Bhulabhai   was   reflected   in   the  revenue records from 1955­56 as a tenant of the  said   land   and   the   petitioner's   grandfather   was  earning   his   livelihood   by   cultivating   the   said  land. 

10. One Rajeshbhai Gijubhai Patel and his family  members had an evil eye on the land in question.  They entered into a registered sale deed dated 3­ 11­2010 with the original owners of the land by  way   of   a   power   of   attorney   dated   2­2­1985.  Although   the   petitioner's   grandfather   Shri  Mangalbhai Bhulabhai Rathod became the tenant of  the   said   land   in   the   year   1963   and   subsequent  thereto  32­M  certificate  was  also issued   in the  name   of   the   grandfather   of   the   petitioner,   the  head strong people who are well known builders of  the   Surat   City   got   the   sale   deed   executed   in  their   favour   as   if   the   original   owners   i.e.  Narsinh Prabhubhai and Gemalbhai Kesharbhai were  the   owners   of   land   in   question   through   their  Page 5 of 17 HC-NIC Page 7 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 7 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT power  of  attorney  holder.  The power  of  attorney  holder   of   Shri   Narsinhbhai   Prabhubhai   and  Gemalbhai   Kesharbhai   is   one   Dahiben   who   happens  to   be   the   mother   of   Rajubai   Gijubhai.   Dahiben,  the  widow  of Gijubhai  Chhaganbhai  and  mother  of  Rajubhai Gijubhai is also shown, as the purchaser  in  the said  sale  deed.  In the sale  deed,  it is  mentioned that in 1988 the possession receipt and  power of attorney was given by the original owner  in   favour   of   Dahiben,   mother   of   Rajubhai  Gijubhai.

11. Although   Narsinh   Parbhu   and   Ghemal   Keshar  ceased to be the owners of the land in question  by virtue of the order passed under Section 32­G  of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act,  1948 and the 32­M certificate issued in favour of  the   grandfather   of   the   petitioner   Mangal   Bhula  yet created a bogus power of attorney of the year  1985   and   got   the   land   transferred   by   way   of   a  registered sale deed. 

12. Both the original owners had passed away in  the   year   1959   and   1969   respectively.   Narsinh  Parbhu   expired   on   25­08­1969   and   Ghemal   Keshar  expired on 14­01­1959. 

13. Although Narsinh Parbhu and Ghemal Keshar had  expired  in the  year 1969  and  1959 respectively,  Page 6 of 17 HC-NIC Page 8 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 8 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT yet a forged power of attorney in the year 1985  was created in the name of dead persons and the  property   was   also   transferred   by   way   of   forged  power of attorney in favour of the family members  of Dahiben Gijubhai Patel. 

14. The   petitioner   belongs   to   a   backward   class  community  i.e.  Adivasi.  The land  in question  is  governed by the provisions of section 73AA of the  Gujarat Land Revenue Code, 1879. When transfer is  by a tribal to a non­tribal, the permission from  the   Collector   is   a   condition   precedent.   Only  after   a   valid   permission   the   land   can   be  transferred   by   a   tribal   in   favour   of   a   non­ tribal. In the present case, the land came to be  transferred   by   virtue   of   a   bogus   power   of  attorney   in   favour   of   a   non­tribal.   The  petitioner's   grandfather   was   a   tribal   and  therefore   these   lands   could   not   have   been  transferred unless the requisite permission under  Section   73AA   of   the   Gujarat   Land   Revenue   Code,  1879 was obtained. 

15. The   great   grandmother   viz.   Chitliben,   widow  of Bhulabhai Kalabhai of the petitioner was also  a   tenant   of   a   part   of   the   land   bearing   old  Revenue   Survey   No.194/1   and   new   Survey   No.116/1  which   is   adjoining   to   the   present   land   in  question.   In   that   case   also   the   very   builders  Page 7 of 17 HC-NIC Page 9 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 9 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT i.e.   the   family   members   of   Rajeshbhai   Gijubhai  Patel   who   are   beneficiaries   of   that   land,  pursuant to a forged 32­M certificate as well as  forged   will   of   Chitliben   showed   that   Chitliben  had died in 1977 whereas in fact she had passed  away   on   18.11.1959.   In   that   case   also,   a   false  family pedigree of Chitliben was produced, false  statements   were   recorded,   false   consent   letter  and false affidavit were produced by them. In the  said   case,   the   petitioner   herein   had   filed  written complaints to the present respondent nos.  2   and   3   later   on   the   FIR   was   lodged   by   the  Mamlatdar,   Surat   City.   Only   one   person   was  arraigned   as   the   accused   in   the   said   FIR   who  happened to be the Talati of Vesu village at that  particular   point   of   time.   Although   various  documentary   evidences   were   produced   before   the  respondent   nos.   2   and   3   herein   the   persons  concerned were not arraigned as accused. In that  case also, there was an opinion from the District  Government   Pleader   that   cognizable   offence   was  made out against the persons concerned, but even  then  the  City Mamlatdar,   Surat,  who happened  to  be the complainant did not arraign the family of  Rajeshbhai   Gijubhai   Patel   as   accused.   The   said  FIR   came   to   be   registered   before   the   Khatodara  Police   Station   being   C.R.   No.I   240/2013   dated  30.08.2013.

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16. Since Rajubhai Gijubhai Patel and his family  members   were   not   arraigned   as   accused   by   the  respondent   nos.   2   to   4   herein   the   petitioner  herein had filed a petition before this Court for  transfer   of   investigation   of   C.R.   I   240/2013  lodged with Khatodara Police Station investigated  by   the   Assistant   Commissioner   of   Police,   SC/ST  Cell, Surat City to Range I.G. of South Gujarat  Zone   and/or   Central   Bureau   of   Investigation  (CBI).  

17. Although the offence is made out prima facie  against   the   concerned   persons,   yet   the  respondents nos. 2 to 4 have failed to register  the   F.I.R.   as   provided   under   the   provisions   of  Cr.P.C. 

18. Though the petitioner's complaints which were  earlier  referred   to at Annexure­A colly  did  not  culminated   into   FIR,   the   petitioner   was  constrained   file   a   Special   Criminal   Application  before this Hon'ble Court being Special Criminal  Application No.199 of 2014. When the matter came  up for hearing before this Hon'ble Court on 13­ 02­2014, this Hon'ble Court (Coram : Hon'ble Mr.  Justice G.R. Udhwani) vide his order dated 13­02­ 2014   was   pleased   to   dispose   of   the   petition  pursuant   to   the   statement   that   was   made   by   the  public   Prosecutor   that   the   Deputy   Police  Page 9 of 17 HC-NIC Page 11 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 11 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT Commissioner, Zone­II, Surat i.e. respondent no.6  herein   was   on   the   verge   of   registering   an   FIR.  Even   then   till   date   no   FIR   has   been   registered  which   itself   would   go   to   show   that   how   head  strong   people   these   Raju   Giju   and   his   family  members are. 

19. The petitioner therefore being aggrieved and  dissatisfied by the inaction on the part of the  respondent nos. 2, 3, 4 and 6 herein prefer this  petition   under   Article   226   and   300A   of   the  Constitution of India and section 482 of Criminal  Procedure   Code,   1973   for   transfer   of  investigation   from   Shri   Rakesh   Asthana,  Commissioner   of   Police   Surat   to   Range   I.G.   of  South   Gujarat   Zone   and/or   Special   Investigating  Team   under   Supervision   of   Director   General   of  Police   and/or   Central   Bureau   of   Investigation  (CBI).   

20. Mr.   S.V.   Raju,   the   learned   Senior   advocate  assisted   by   Mr.   A.B.   Munshi   for   the   petitioner  submitted   that   the   Investigating   Officer   has  carried out a very perfunctory investigation and  the   most   important   and   vital   document   i.e.   the  power of attorney dated 12th January, 1985, which  is a forged and bogus document purported to have  been executed by one Shri Narshiprasad and Ghemal  Keshar although both had passed away in the year  Page 10 of 17 HC-NIC Page 12 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 12 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT 1959 and 1969 respectively was not recovered and  collected from Dahiben Patel or any of her family  members.   Mr.   Raju   submitted   that   the   power   of  attorney is on a stamp paper bearing the name of  one   advocates   Shri   M.K.   Rana.   According   to   Mr.  Raju,   there   is   no   advocate   by   the   name   of   Shri  M.K.   Rana.   This   aspect   has   also   had   not   been  investigated by the respondent No.9 herein.

21. Mr.   Raju   submitted   that   although   the   said  bogus   power   of   attorney   on   1985   was   used   again  for canceling the sale deed of the year 2010, in  the   year   2014   no   offence   in   that   regard   was  registered against the accused persons. Mr. Raju  submitted   that   although   in   the   course   of   the  hearing of the matter an oral statement was made  by the learned APP appearing in the matter that  the   investigating   officer   would   not   file   the  charge­sheet   without   collecting   the   necessary  document yet the Investigating Officer proceeded  to file the charge­sheet making the case of the  petitioner   weak   in   the   absence   of   the   forged  document.

22. It   appears   that   the   sudden   filing   of   the  charge­sheet by the respondent No.9 on 9th March,  2015   led   to   the   filing   of   the   Criminal   Misc.  Application   No.5388   of   2015   with   the   following  prayers:­ Page 11 of 17 HC-NIC Page 13 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 13 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT "(a)   Your   Lordships   be   pleased   to   admit   and   allow  this application;

(b) Your Lordships be pleased to declare the charge  sheet filed by the respondent no.9 on 9­03­2015 and  produced   before   the   learned   7th  Additional   Senior  Civil   Judge   and   Judicial   Magistrate,   First   Class,  Surat   on   10­03­2015   as   illegal,   null   and   void   and   set aside the same;

(c)   Your   Lordships   be   pleased   to   initiate  appropriate   proceeding   against   the   respondent   no.9  for illegally filing charge sheet and for violating  the oral directions of this Hon'ble Court;

(d)   Pending   the   admission,   hearing   and   final  disposal   of   this   petition,   this   Hon'ble   Court   be  pleased to stay the further proceedings of Criminal  Case   No.13355   of   2015   pending   in   the   Court   of   7th  Additional   Senior   Civil   Judge   and   Judicial  Magistrate,   First   Class,   Surat   pursuant   to   the  Charge   sheet   filed   by   the   respondent   no.9   on   9­3­ 2015 and produced before the Court on 10­3­2­15;

(e)   Your   Lordships   be   pleased   to   grant   such   other   and   further   relief/s,   as   are   deemed   fit,   in   the  interest of justice."

23. Mr. N.J. Shah, the learned APP appearing for  the   State   respondents   submitted   that   the  allegations   levelled   by   the   petitioner   are  baseless.  He  submitted   that despite  best  of the  efforts   made   by   the   Investigating   Officer   the  alleged   forged   power   of   attorney   could   not   be  recovered in the course of the investigation, and  therefore,   without   such   document   the  investigating   officer   had   to   file   the   charge­ sheet.   Mr. Shah  denied  any  statement   being  made  before the Court by his colleague at the relevant  point   of   time   in   charge   of   the   matter   that   the  Page 12 of 17 HC-NIC Page 14 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 14 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT charge­sheet would not be filed without the vital  document i.e. a forged power of attorney. 

24. Having   heard   the   learned   counsel   appearing  for   the   parties   and   having   gone   through   the  materials on record, the only question that falls  for   my   consideration   is   whether   I   should   order  further   investigation   in   the   matter   through   any  other officer. 

25. In   the   over   all   view   of   the   matter,   I   am  convinced   with   the   case   made   out   by   the  petitioner   for   further   investigation.   In   the  absence of a very vital document the prosecution  might fail despite their being other evidence on  record  prima facie making out a case of criminal  conspiracy and cheating. 

26. The   object   and   reason   for   incorporating  Section   173(8)   Cr.P.C.   is   reflected   in   the   41st  report of the Law Commission. Relevant portion is  as follows:­ "A   report   under   Section   173   is   normally   the   end   of   the   investigation.   Sometimes,   however,   the   police  officer after submitting the report under Section 173  comes upon evidence bearing on the guilt or innocence  of   the   accused.   We   should   have   thought   that   the   police officer can collect that evidence and send it  to   the   Magistrate   concerned.   It   appears,   however,  that courts have sometimes taken the narrow view that  once a final report under Section 173 has  been sent,  the   police   cannot   touch   the   case   again   and   cannot  reopen   the   investigation.   This   view   places   a  Page 13 of 17 HC-NIC Page 15 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 15 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT hindrance   in   the   way   of   the   investigating   agency,  which can be unfair to the prosecution and, for that  matter, even to the accused. It should be made clear  in Section 173 that the competent police officer can  examine   such   evidence   and   send   a   report   to   the   Magistrate. Copies concerning the fresh material must  of course be furnished to the accused."

27. The scope of further investigation by police  under   Section   173(8),   Cr.P.C.   was   considered   by  the Supreme Court in the decision reported in AIR  1979 SC 1791 : (1979 Cri LJ 1346) Ram Lal Narang  v. State (Delhi Admn.) and (Om. Prakash Narang v.  State (Delhi Admn.) where it has been laid down:­ "As observed by us earlier, there was no provision  in   the   Code   of   Criminal   Procedure,   1898   which,  expressly   or   by   necessary   implication,   barred   the  right   of   the   police   to   further   investigate   after  cognizance   of   the   case   had   been   taken   by   the   Magistrate. Neither Section 173 nor Section 190 lead  us to hold that the power of the police to further   investigate was exhausted by the Magistrate taking  cognizance of the offence. Practice, convenience and  preponderance   of   authority,   permitted   repeated  investigations on discovery of fresh facts. In our  view,   notwithstanding   that   a   Magistrate   had   taken  cognizance   of   the   offence   upon   a   police   report  submitted under Section 173 of  the  1898 Code, the   right of the police to further investigate was not  exhausted and the police could exercise such right  as often as necessary when fresh information came to  light.  Where  the  police  desired  to  make a further  investigation, the police could express their regard  and   respect   for   the   Court   by   seeking   its   formal  permission to make further investigation." However,  in paragraph 21 a guideline has been indicated for  the   investigating   officer   who   intend   to   exercise  power   under   Section   173   (8),   Cr.P.C.   It   reads   as  follows:

"Anyone acquainted  with  the  day to day working of  the criminal courts will be alive to the practical  necessity of the police possessing the power to make  further   investigation   and   submit   a   supplemental  report.   It   is   in   the   interest   of   both   the  prosecution and the defence that the police should  have   such   power.   It   is   easy   to   visualise   a   case  where fresh material may come to light which would  Page 14 of 17 HC-NIC Page 16 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 16 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT implicate persons not previously accused or absolve  persons already accused. When it comes to the notice  of   the   investigating  agency   that   a   person   already  accused of an offence has a good alibi, is it not   the   duty   of   that   agency   to   investigate   the  genuineness of the plea of alibi and submit a report  to   the   Magistrate?   After   all   the   investigating  agency has greater resources at its command than a  private individual. Similarly, where the involvement  of persons who are not already accused comes to the  notice   of   the   investigating   agency,   the  investigating agency cannot keep quiet and refuse to  investigate the fresh information. It is their duty  to investigate and submit a report to the Magistrate  upon the involvement of the other person. In either  case, it is for the Magistrate to decide upon his  further course of action depending upon the stage at  which   the   case   is   before   him.   If   he   has   already  taken   cognizance   of   the   offence,   but   has   not  proceeded with the enquiry or trial, he may direct  the issue of process to perfsons freshly discovered  to be involved and deal with all the accused, in a   single enquiry or trial. If the case of which he has   previously taken cognizance has already proceeded to  some   extent,   he   may   take   fresh   cognizance   of   the  offence disclosed against the newly involved accused  and proceed with the case as a separate case. What   action  a Magistrate  is  to take in accordance with   the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure in  such   situations   is   a   matter   best   left   to   the   discretion of the Magistrate. The criticism that is  further   investigation   by   the   police   would   trench  upon the proceedings before the Court is really not  of very great substance, since whatever the police  may do, the final discretion  in regard to further  action is with the Magistrate. That the final word  is   with   the   Magistrate   is   sufficient   safeguard  against any excessive use of abuse of the power of   the police to make further investigation. We should  not, however, be understood to say that the police  should ignore the pendency of a proceeding before a  Court and investigate every fresh fact that comes to  light   as   if   no   cognizance   had   been   taken   by   the  Court of any offence. We think that in the interests  of   the   independence   of   the   Magistracy   and   the  judiciary,   in   the   interests   of   the   purity   of   the  administration   of   criminal   justice   and   in   the  interests of the comity of the various agencies and  instructions entrusted with different stages of such  administration,   it   would   ordinarily   be   desirable  that   the   police   should   inform   the   Court   and   seek  formal permission to make further investigation when  fresh facts come to light."
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28. It appears that the alleged forged power of  attorney  purported  to have  been  executed   in the  year 1985 was once again used in March, 2014 for  the   purpose   of   cancelling   the   sale   deed.   It  necessarily implies that till 19th March, 2014 the  original   power   of   attorney   was   available,   and  therefore,   all of a sudden,  it has  disappeared.  No   efforts   seems   to   have   been   made   by   the  respondent   No.9   to   procure   the   said   original  document.

29. The petitioner before me is a rustic Adivasi  lady and the land in question is governed by the  provisions of Section 73 (AA) of the Gujarat Land  Revenue   Code,   1979.   It   appears   that   the  proceedings   under   Section   73(AA)   were   initiated  by the Deputy Collector, Surat and an amount of  Rs.7,94,25,000/­   was   ordered   to   be   recovered   by  way   of   penalty   from   Dahiben   Gijubhai   Patel   and  her family members. 

30. For   the   reasons   aforesaid,   I   direct   the  Commissioner   of   Police,   Surat   to   depute   any  officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of  Police   other   then   the   respondent   No.9   of   the  Criminal   Misc.   Application   to   undertake   the  further   investigation   in   connection   with   C.R.  No.­I­150/2014   registered   with   the   Khatodara  Police   Station,   Surat   city.   The   further  Page 16 of 17 HC-NIC Page 18 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 18 of 19 R/CR.MA/5388/2015 CAV JUDGMENT investigation   is   mainly   for   the   purpose   of  recovering the alleged forged and bogus power of  attorney.   An   appropriate   report   of   the   further  investigation   shall   be   filed   before   the   trial  Court.

31. With   the   above   observations   and   directions,  the main writ­application is disposed of. In view  of the order passed in the main writ­application  the connected Criminal Misc. Application is also  disposed of. 

(J.B.PARDIWALA, J.) Manoj Page 17 of 17 HC-NIC Page 19 of 19 Created On Sat Aug 29 02:33:55 IST 2015 19 of 19