Bombay High Court
Jaywant Balkrishna Sail vs State Of Maharashtra on 25 June, 2012
Author: V.M. Kanade
Bench: V. M. Kanade, P.D. Kode
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(WP 1006.2012)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 1006 OF 2012
1. Jaywant Balkrishna Sail, )
Indian, Adult, aged 78 years, )
residing at 6, Casa Sabina, 3, )
Gundavali Lane, M. V. Road, )
Andheri (E), Mumbai 400 069 )
2. Vijay Narayan Gandhi, )
Indian, Adult, residing at )
A016, Vihang Darshan )
Society, Koldongri, Galli No. 1 )
Andheri (E), Mumbai 400 069 )
3. Govind Shreepad Deshpande )
Indian adult, aged 75 years, )
residing at Flat No. 1, )
Ramjharoka Tower, Ground )
Floor, S. V. Road, Andheri (W) )
Mumbai 400 058. )
4. Avinash Manohar Prabhu )
Indian adult, aged 63 years, )
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residing at 6, Rohini Mahindra )
Nagar, haji Bapu Road, Malad )
(E), Mumbai 400 097. )
5. Kishanlal Maganlal Mistry, )
Indian, adult, aged 65 years, )
residing at A/2, Aditya )
Apartment, Old Nagardas )
Road, Andheri (E), )
Mumbai - 400 069.
ig )
6. Vilii Kari Wadia, Indian adult, )
aged 72 years, residing at )
G/003, Vishal Apartments, Sir )
M. V. Road, Andheri (E), )
Mumbai - 400 069. )
7. Daulatrai Paragji Desai, )
Indian, adult, aged 72 years, )
residing at 3, Anand, Azad )
Road, Andheri (E), Mumbai 69 )
8. Adrian Castelino, Indian, )
adult, aged 42 years, residing )
at A-1, Hemratan, Old )
Nagardas Road, Andheri (E), )
Mumbai - 400 069. )
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9. Bina Sushil Gharat, Indian, )
adult, aged 65 years, )
residing at Room No. 1403, )
Blue Mountain, Shastri Nagar )
Andheri (W), Mumbai 400053 )
10. Manohar Damji Saparia, )
Indian, adult, aged 40 years )
residing at Shree Trippati
ig )
Balaji Society, 3/G/8, Sahar )
Andheri (E), Mumbai 400 069 )
11. Ashwin Dhirajlal Parmar, )
Indian, adult, aged 47 years, )
residing at Shatrunjay, B-2-203 )
Rajendra Complex Society, )
Road No. 5, Anand Nagar, )
Dahisar (E), Mumbai 400 068 )
12. Sanat Pranlal Upadhyay, )
Indian, adult, aged 62 years, )
residing at D/003, Vishal )
Apartment, Sir M. V. Road, )
Andheri (E), Mumbai 400 069 )
13. Prakash P. Oza, Indian, )
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adult, aged 52 years, )
residing at 10 Hari Om Society )
Old Nagardas Road, Andheri )
(E), Mumbai 400 069. )
14. Pandurang Govind Kangaonkar )
Indian, adult, aged 75 years, )
residing at Ramesh Mahal, A.B. )
Nair Road, Juhu Vile Parle (W) )
Mumbai 400 058.
ig )
15. Deepak Nathalal Dave, )
Indian adult, Aged 60 years, )
residing at 18/402, Evershine )
Millennium Paradise, Thakur )
village, Kandivali (E), )
Mumbai 400 101. )
16. Shirish Purshottam Shah, )
Indian adult, 57 years, )
residing at D-6, Aditya )
Apartments, Old Nagardas )
Road, Andheri (E), )
Mumbai 400 069. )
17. Sanjay Kashiram Ghadigaonkar )
Indian adult, aged 44 years, )
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residing at Mahakali )
Gruhnirman, 3/564, Gundavali )
Andheri (E), Mumbai 400 069 ) ..Petitioners
Vs.
1. State of Maharashtra, )
through Addl. Chief Secretary )
Home Department Mantralaya )
Mumbai. ig )
2. Commissioner of Police, Mumbai )
Mumbai, Police Commissionerate )
Crawford Market, Mumbai - 400 002 )
3. Prakash Wadkar, A. C. P., )
Andheri Division, Andheri (East) )
Mumbai - 400 069. )
4. Shivaji Deshmukh, Senior P. I. )
Andheri Police Station, Andheri, )
Mumbai - 400 069. )
5. Shekhar Bhalerao, P. I. )
Andheri Police Station, Andheri )
Mumbai - 400 069. )
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6. Ravindra Kadam, P. S. I., )
Andheri Police Station, Andheri, )
Mumbai - 400 069. )
7. Rahul Rakh, P. S. I., )
Andheri Police Station, Andheri, )
Mumbai - 400 069. )
8. Subhash Chandrakant Ungale, P.C. )
Andheri Police Station, Andheri.
ig ) ..Respondents
----
Mr. Tejas H. Bhatt i/b Amit H. Yadav for the Petitioners.
Mrs P.H. Kantharia, APP for the Respondents -State.
---
CORAM: V. M. KANADE &
P.D. KODE JJ.
Judgment reserved on 10/05/2012
Judgment pronounced on 25/06/2012
JUDGMENT:(Per V.M. Kanade, J.)
1. Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith. Respondents waive service. By consent of parties, Writ Petition is taken up for final hearing.
2. By this Petition which is filed under Articles 226 and 227 6/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 7 (WP 1006.2012) of the Constitution of India read with Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Petitioners are seeking appropriate writ, order and direction for quashing the FIR which is registered vide C.R. No.SPL LAC 28/2011 dated 10/08/2011 against the Petitioners and others at the Andheri Police Station for the offence punishable under sections 4 and 5 of the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887 (Hereinafter referred to as "Gambling Act") and they are also seeking appropriate writ, order and direction, directing G.B.C.B. C.I.D to register an FIR against Respondent Nos. 5 to 8 for falsely implicating the Petitioners in criminal case. They are also seeking further writ, order and direction to award compensation of Rs 1,00,000/- each to the Petitioners to be paid by Respondent No.1 after recovering the said amount from salaries of Respondent Nos. 5 to 8. They are also seeking direction, directing Respondent No.2 to take action against Respondent Nos. 5 to 8 for victimizing innocent citizens by holding a departmental inquiry against them.
3. Brief facts giving rise to the present Petition are stated hereinbelow:-
4. There is a Gymkhana situated at Andheri, Mumbai and it is known as Andheri Gymkhana which is an Association registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act and also under the Societies Registration Act. It is in existence since more than 25 years and the Petitioners are members of the said 7/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 8 (WP 1006.2012) Association. The Petitioners are all senior citizens. Petitioner No.1 is 78 years of age, Petitioner No.2 is 73 years of age, Petitioner No.3 is 75 years of age, Petitioner No.4 is 63 years of age, Petitioner No.5 is 65 years of age, Petitioner No.6 & 7 are 72 years of age etc. The average age of all these Petitioners is about 60 to 65 years. Two to three Petitioners are between the age group of 40 years to 50 years. There is a Card Room in the said Gymkhana and the Rules prescribe that the said Card Room is to be used only for playing Bridge and Rummy. The Gymkhana files its balance sheet and audited accounts with the Office of the Charity Commissioner, Mumbai. Most of the Petitioners who have already retired use the premises of the Gymkhana for the purpose of playing Bridge and Rummy, both of which are games of skill.
5. According to Petitioners, they visited Gymkhana on 10 th August, 2011 for the purpose of playing Bridge and Rummy and, at about 8.50 p.m., a Police Team from Andheri Police Station comprising of Respondent Nos. 5, 6 and 8 and other male policemen entered the Card Room and started browbeating the Petitioners who were present there and accused them of gambling and asked them to remove all the articles from their pockets. According to Petitioners, they were playing Rummy and Bridge sometimes with stakes in the form of "counters" for pure amusement for last number of years. Out of the Petitioners, most of them were senior 8/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 9 (WP 1006.2012) citizens and some of them were house wives. According to Petitioners, they were not allowed to make any phone calls and they were not permitted to call their family members.
They were also not permitted to take their medicines for diabetes and blood pressure etc. or even to use toilet facilities.
6. Respondents claimed that they received information that illegal gambling was going on in the Card Room and the Respondents, after they raided the said Card Room, called the Secretary of the Gymkhana and and asked him whether they had a gambling license and the Secretary informed them that there was no question of obtaining any gambling license since members were playing games of skill. This explanation was not accepted by the police and they proceeded to seize the counters, playing cards and the cash which was found in the pockets of the members. The Petitioners, thereafter, were taken down-stairs where Outdoor Broadcasting Vans of television channels, TV 9, India TV and Zee News which were called by Respondent No.6 were present. Thereafter, Petitioners were taken in police van and for two days the said channels kept on broadcasting footage in which it was claimed that 25 gamblers have been arrested and recovery of Rs 7 lacs has been made.
7. It is further alleged that the Petitioners were illegally detained in Police Station from 9.30 p.m to 6.00 a.m. and it 9/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 10 (WP 1006.2012) is also alleged that, during this time, they were not permitted to take medicines and they were constantly threatened with arrest. They were not offered food and not even allowed to go to the toilet though the Respondents were informed that some of the Petitioners were diabetics and needed regular medication and had to answer nature's call frequently. It is alleged that one of the Petitioners viz S.P. Upadhyay aged 62 years had his leg in a plaster and needed crutches to walk was not even allowed to sit during the entire period from 9.30 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. It is alleged that one Shri Prithvi B. Mhaske who was also playing cards as could be seen from the television footage was not arrested and his name did not appear in the copy of the FIR since he was related to the leader of NCP. Similarly, one Shri Pravin S. Narvekar and Shri Mohinder Singh who were also playing cards in the Card Room were let off at the instance of Shri Sanjay S. Narvekar the brother of Shri Pravin S. Narvekar, who was attached to Andheri Police Station. It is contended that, therefore, two different yardsticks were used in dealing with the ordinary senior citizens and women and the persons who were related to Police Officers and other dominant leaders. According to Petitioners, they were released on bail on the next day at 6.00 a.m. on 11/08/2011. They, thereafter, applied for copy of the FIR under the Right to Information Act and were supplied with copy of the FIR together with statement of the first informant - Respondent No.8. The Petitioners, therefore, have filed this Petition for quashing the FIR which 10/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 11 (WP 1006.2012) has been registered against them. An affidavit-in-reply has been filed by the Police Inspector attached to Andheri Police Station and affidavit-in-rejoinder has been filed by Petitioner No.1 dated 10/4/2012.
8. The learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners submitted that the Petitioners were playing games of skill viz. Bridge and Rummy which are expressly excluded under section 13 from the purview of the Gambling Act and, therefore, it is contended that the Petitioners could not have been arrested and detained in the Police Station throughout the night. He submitted that, on this ground alone, the entire complaint is liable to be quashed. He further submitted that even if the averments in the FIR are accepted at its face value then also, no offence under sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act is made out and, therefore, on that ground also, the complaint is liable to be quashed. He further submitted that there is no material on record to show that Gymkhana is a "gambling house" within the meaning of section 4 of the Gambling Act and, as such, the said provisions of sections 4 and 5 are not applicable to the facts of the present case. He further submitted that the police had acted in a highhanded manner and had not followed the guidelines laid down by the Division Bench of this Court and also directions which have been given by the Apex Court in several cases from time to time. He submitted that the Apex Court on several occasions had held that 11/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 12 (WP 1006.2012) playing Bridge or Rummy cannot be termed as gambling since both are games of skill and fall outside the purview of the provisions of the Gambling Act. He submitted that it had been held in number of cases that merely because counters are found on the table where cards are played that by itself cannot be termed as proof of any gambling activity within the meaning of the provisions of the Gambling Act. He submitted that it has been specifically laid down in the Act that women cannot be arrested after sunset. He submitted that some of the Petitioners who are senior citizens and women were detained in the Police Station throughout the night till 6.00 a.m. He submitted that this is a fit case not only for quashing the complaint but also for awarding compensation to the Petitioners for illegal detention. He submitted that directions may be given to the Police either to register a criminal case against Respondent Nos. 5 to 8 or to direct the Commissioner of Police to hold departmental inquiry against them for their highhanded action and for defaming the Petitioners by inviting news channels who had illegally broadcast on their TV channels that Petitioners were gamblers who were arrested by the Police.
9. The learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners in support of his submissions relied upon the following judgments:-
12/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 13(WP 1006.2012) (1) State of Andhra Pradesh vs. K. Satyanarayana 1 (2 Robert Elangoj vs. Inspector of Police2 (3) Galib Hussain Khan vs. State of Maharashtra 3 (4) State of West Bengal vs. Swapan Kumar Guha4 (5) Madhavrao Jiwajirao Scindia vs Sambhajirao Chandrojtrao Angre5
10. On the other hand, Mrs Kantharia, the learned APP appearing on behalf of the State vehemently opposed the submissions made on behalf of the accused. She submitted that while exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and under section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, this Court should be slow in entertaining such Petitions for the purpose of quashing the FIR. She submitted that there is sufficient material on record to show that gambling activity was going on and, therefore, no case is made out for quashing the FIR at this stage. She submitted that it is always open for the Petitioners to file applications for discharge after the charge sheet is filed in the present case. She denied that the Petitioners were illegally detained throughout the night and she further submitted that since it took a long time to fill in the forms before releasing them on bail, the Petitioners had to wait for some time. It is contended that Petitioners were told to 1 AIR 1968 SC 825 2 2004 ALLMR (Cri) 1040 3 2004 CrLJ 4896 4 1982 AIR (SC) 949 5 1988 MAD.LJ (1) 339 13/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 14 (WP 1006.2012) leave after formality of filling of their forms was completed. However, it is submitted that all the Petitioners insisted that they would remain in the Police Station to give company to other accused whose forms were not filled up and the formality of completing their forms was not over and it is, therefore, submitted that the allegations that they were detained in lockup is totally incorrect. Reliance is placed on certain photographs to show that the Petitioners were in the Office of the concerned Police Officer and not in the police lockup.
11. We have heard the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners and the learned APP appearing on behalf of the State at length and we have given our anxious consideration to the submissions made by both the Counsel.
12. It is not in dispute that Petitioners are retired senior citizens and most of them have worked in multinational companies. Some of them are businessmen and consultants. Few of the Petitioners are house wives and many of them have worked in responsible positions before their retirement and, in the evening of their life, they spend their time in the evening some time at Andheri Gymkhana playing games of skill ie Rummy and Bridge.
13. The Apex Court has, from time to time, laid down the guidelines regarding the scope and power which can be 14/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 15 (WP 1006.2012) exercised by this Court while exercising its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and under section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code and it has further held that, normally, this Court should be very slow in interfering with the investigation after FIR is registered disclosing the cognizable offence and only if the case falls under the categories mentioned in the said judgments in order to avoid abuse of process of law this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and under section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code can quash the complaint. The Apex Court in R.P. Kapur vs State of Punjab1 has very succinctly summarized the said power and observed that the said power can be exercised in three categories of cases viz -
(i) Where it is manifestly appears that there is a legal bar against the institution or continuance of the criminal proceeding in respect of the offence alleged. Absence of the requisite sanction may, for instance, furnish cases under this category.
(ii) Where the allegations in the First Information Report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety, do not constitute the offence alleged; in such cases no question of appreciating evidence arises; it is a matter merely of looking at the complaint or the First Information Report to decide whether the offence alleged is disclosed or not.
(iii) Where the allegations made against the accused person do constitute an offence alleged but there is either no legal evidence adduced in 1 AIR 1960 SC 866 15/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 16 (WP 1006.2012) support of the case or the evidence adduced clearly or manifestly fails to prove the charge. In dealing with this class of cases it is important to bear in mind the distinction between a case where there is no legal evidence or where there is evidence which is manifestly and clearly inconsistent with the accusation made and cases where there is legal evidence which on its appreciation may or may not support the accusation in question. In exercising its jurisdiction under S. 561-A the High Court would not embark upon an eqnuiry as to whether the evidence in question is reliable or not. That is the function of the trial magistrate, and ordinarily it would not be open to any party to invoke the High Court's inherent jurisdiction and contend that on a reasonable appreciation of the evidence the accusation made against the accused would not be sustained."
The Apex Court, thereafter, in State of Haryana vs. Bhajan Lal1 has expanded the said power and has summarized it in para 108 which reads as under:-
"108. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various relevant provisions of the Code under Chapter XIV and of the principles of law enunciated by this Court in a series of decisions relating to the exercise of the extra-ordinary power under Article 226 or the inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above, we give the following categories of cases by way of illustration wherein such power could be exercised either to prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice, though it may not be possible to lay down 1 AIR 1992 SC 604 16/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 17 (WP 1006.2012) any precise, clearly defined and sufficiently channelised and inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein such power should be exercised.
1. Where the allegations made in the First Information Report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused.
2. Where the allegations in the First Information Report and other materials, if any, accompanying the F.I.R. do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers under Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within the purview of Section 155(2) of the Code.
3. Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR or complaint and the evidence collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case against the accused.
4. Where, the allegations in the F.I.R. do not constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only a non-cognizable offence, no investigation is permitted by a police officer without an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under section 155(2) of the Code.
5. Where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that 17/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 18 (WP 1006.2012) there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused.
6. Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific provision in the Code or the concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved party.
7. Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge."
14. Keeping in view the aforesaid guidelines laid down by the Apex Court, it will now have to be seen whether the case of the Petitioners falls under any of the aforesaid categories mentioned hereinabove.
15. It has been urged by the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners that, in the present case, even if the averments made in the complaint are accepted at its face value, no case is made out. Therefore, it will be necessary to see what are the averments made in the FIR.
16. Perusal of the FIR discloses that the complaint was registered on 10/8/2011 vide FIR No. 28 of 2011 for the 18/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 19 (WP 1006.2012) offence punishable under sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act and it is alleged that the offence was committed between 9.00 p.m and 9.20 p.m. In the complaint, it is alleged that at about 9.00 p.m, on 10/8/2011, Assistant Police Commissioner Shri Prakash Wadkar, Andheri Zone, Andheri (East) received a reliable information that few women and men were carrying on gambling activity on the second floor of Andheri Gymkhana and, therefore, in order to ascertain the correctness of the information, the first informant Shri Subhash Chandrakant ig Ungale, Police Constable, Police Inspector Shri Shekhar Bhalerao and Police Sub-Inspector Ravindra Kadam formed a raiding party and this information was given to the Senior Inspector Shri Deshmukh and under his guidance the said raiding party alongwith two panchas proceeded at the said place along with laptop and printer and they found that few women and men were playing cards.
When inquiry was made as to who is the Manager and who is conducting the gambling activity, one person got up and said that he is a General Secretary and informed his name as Jaywant Balkrishna Sahil, aged 77 years. Thereafter, police made inquiries with the counter-boy Sanjay Kashiram Ghadigaonkar as to whether they had any permit for carrying on the gaming club and when they were asked to produce the permit, police were informed that they did not have any such permit and, therefore, women and men were informed that in view of this under the provisions of the Gambling Act, they were being prosecuted and they were searched and 19/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 20 (WP 1006.2012) during their personal search certain cash amount ranging between Rs 100/- to Rs 1400/- approximately was found from each of them and an amount of Rs 16340/- was found from one Pandurang Kandgaonkar, aged 75 years. Alongwith money, counters were also found with them. Thirteen counters of various colours were seized. Police also seized from the said place 10 packets of playing cards and six receipts issued by Andheri Gymkhana on which the names of the the customers and the amounts received from them were mentioned. The statement of the first informant Subhash Chandrakant Ungale was recorded on the laptop and the FIR was registered.
17. It has to be seen whether the averments which are mentioned in the complaint even if they are taken at their face value would constitute an offence under sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act.
18. Before taking into consideration averments in the FIR, it would be necessary to take into consideration the relevant provisions of the Gambling Act. The word "Gaming" has been defined under section 3 of the Gambling Act. Similarly, the said section defines "Instruments of gaming" and "Common gaming-house" The said definition reveals that wagering or betting upon a horse-race or dog race is excluded from the definition. Similarly, under the definition of "Instruments of gaming", any article used as a subject or 20/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 21 (WP 1006.2012) means of gaming is included in the said definition. The word "Common gaming-house" is defined as any house, room or place in which such gaming takes place or in which instruments of gaming are kept or used for such gaming.
19. Perusal of definition of the word "Gaming" reveals that when two or more persons play together a game of chance for a stake or wager which is to become the property of the winner, would fall within that definition. A distinction has to be drawn between the money which is used for gaming and the money which is found on the persons in the premises. In Emperor vs. Pyarelal Gokalprasad 1 it has been held that combined reading of sections 3 and 8 of the Act does not suggest that all moneys are instruments of gaming. Similarly from definition of "Common gaming-house", it reveals that in order to constitute a house a common gaming house, there must be materials to indicate that the owner or occupier takes a fixed commission which is irrespective of result of gaming. Taking into consideration the aforesaid definitions, it will have to be seen whether the offence under sections 4 and 5 viz gaming in common gaming house is made out from the averments which are made in the FIR.
Sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act read as under:-
"4. Keeping common gaming house.-[(1)] Whoever,-
1 ILR 56 Bom 192 21/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 22 (WP 1006.2012)
(a) [opens, keeps as uses any house, room or place] for the purpose, of a common gaming house,
(b) being the owner or occupier of any such house, room or place knowingly or wilfully permits the same to be opened, occupied, kept or used by any other person for the purpose aforesaid, (c ) has the care or management of, or in any manner assists in conducting the business of, or any such house, room, or place opened, occupied, kept or used for the purpose aforesaid,
(d) advances or furnishes money for the purposes of gaming with persons frequenting any such house, room or place, [shall, on conviction, be punished] with imprisonment [which may extend to two years] [and may also be punished with fine].
Provided that ,-
(a) for a first offence such imprisonment shall not be less than [three months and fine shall not be less than five hundred rupees;]
(b) for a second offence such imprisonment shall not be less than six months and fine shall not be less than one thousand rupees ; and
(c) for a third or subsequent offence such imprisonment shall not be less than [one year and fine shall not be less than two thousand rupees].22/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 23
(WP 1006.2012) (2) Nothing contained in the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 (XX of 1958) or in sub-sections (1), (4), (5) and (6) of Section 360 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) shall apply to any person convicted under this section."]"
5. Gaming in common gaming-house [Whoever is found in any common gaming-house gaming or present for the purpose of gaming [shall on conviction punished] with imprisonment which may extend to six months [and may also be punished with fine] :
Provided that.-
(a) for a first offence such imprisonment not be less than one month and fine shall not be less than two hundred rupees;
(b) for a second offence such imprisonment shall not be less than three months and fine shall not be less than two hundred rupees; and (c ) for a third or subsequent offence such imprisonment shall not be less than six months and fine shall not be less than two hundred rupees.]"
Any person found in any common gaming house during any gaming therein shall be presumed, until the contrary [is proved], to have been there for the purpose of gaming."
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20. As far as provisions of section 5 are concerned, the only averment which is made in the FIR is that the raiding party went to that place on the basis of reliable information which was received by the superior officers and when they went to that place they found that certain persons were playing cards and counters were kept on the table and the Investigating Officer questioned the person who was in-charge of the establishment viz Secretary of the Club as to whether he had any gambling license and when he gave reply in the negative, all the persons were arrested and the counters were confiscated and the monies which were on the person of those who were playing card were also seized. There is no material on record to indicate that the club where the Petitioners were playing cards in the Card Room was keeping any fixed amount as its share. It has to be seen from the averments made in the complaint whether the averments even if they are accepted in totality would constitute an offence under sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act.
21. The Apex Court and this Court have consistently held that a card game of skill would not constitute an offence of gambling and that if such card game is played in a club the said club would not fall under the definition of "Common- gaming house". The Apex Court in State of Andhra Pradesh vs. K. Satyanarayana1 has, after taking into consideration, 1 AIR 1968 SC 825 24/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 25 (WP 1006.2012) the provisions of the Hyderabad Gambling Act, the provisions of which are similar to the provisions of the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887, held that the game of Rummy is not a game entirely of chance like 'three-card' game which goes under different names such as 'flush', 'brag' etc, which is a game of pure chance. It was observed that Rummy, on the other hand, requires certain amount of skill because the fall of the cards has to be memorised and building up of Rummy requires considerable skill in holding and discarding the cards. The Apex Court further observed that chance in Rummy is of the same character as the chance in a deal at a game of Bridge. In the said case, the question which fell for consideration before the Apex Court was : whether the premises of a club known as the "Crescent Recreation Club" situated in Secunderabad were being used as a common gambling house and whether the several respondents who were present at the time of the raid by the police could be said to be gambling therein. The facts were that on 4/5/1963, police raided the premises and found five persons playing a card game known as Rummy for stakes. At the time of the raid, there were some counters on the table as also money and the playing cards with the players.
The treasurer of the club was also present and was holding the stake money popularly known as "kitty". The Secretary of the Club was also joined as an accused because he was in- charge of the management of the club. The kitty which the 6th Respondent held was Rs 74.62 np and further an amount 25/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:56 ::: 26 (WP 1006.2012) of Rs 218.00 was recovered from the table of 6 th Respondent and 66 counters were on the table and some more money was found with the persons who were indulging in the game.
The case of the prosecution was that the Circle Inspector had received a credible information that the premises of the club were being used as a common gambling house and he raided it and found evidence, because instruments of gambling were found and the persons present were actually gambling. The learned Magistrate convicted all the seven respondents and sentenced them to various fines, with imprisonment in default. The High Court quashed the conviction and set aside the sentences. The Apex Court, after going through the provisions of the Act and the evidence led by the prosecution came to the conclusion that there was no evidence to show that the club was used as common gambling house. It also came to the conclusion that there was no material on record to show that the owner of the club was making profit or gain from the game of Rummy or any other games played for stake.
22. The learned Single Judge of this Court in Robert Elangoj vs. Inspector of Police1 has quashed the prosecution which was initiated against the Petitioners under the Gambling Act for keeping the video machines in their video game parlors, after taking into consideration the judgments of the Supreme Court in State of Andhra Pradesh vs. K. Satyanarayana 2, in 1 2004 ALLMR (Cri) 1040 2 AIR 1968 SC 825 26/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 27 (WP 1006.2012) Kumar A. Nadar vs. V.K. Saraf, Commissioner of Police, Greater Bombay and Others1 and in State of West Bengal and Others vs. Swapan Kumar Guha and Others 2. In para 25 and 26 of the said Judgment, the learned Single Judge has observed as under:-
"25. A judicial scrutiny has to be made before issuing a summons to such person and before going further for conducting a trial. When Court finds that no such case is made out the Court should not take cognizance and should not keep such case on its pending files."
"26. In these cases no such case has been made out even prima facie for the purpose of conducting a trial, except one, mentioned above. Therefore, there is no point in putting these persons to trial and further harassment of facing prosecution which is undoubtedly a matter of hardship. Therefore, in view of the observations of the Supreme Court made in Swapan Kumar and Madhavrao Scindias' cases (supra), this Court comes to the conclusion that the prosecutions need to be quashed in the interest of justice for keeping flow of administration of justice flawless and continuous and for avoiding likelihood of harassment and expenditure to such accused. Therefore, the prosecution indicated by these writ petitions pending before concerned Courts of Metropolitan Magistrate are hereby quashed by exercising the powers conferred on this 1 AIR 1968 SC 825 2 AIR 1982 SC 949 27/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 28 (WP 1006.2012) Court in view of provisions of Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Article 226 of Constitution of India. The bonds furnished by these accused stand cancelled.
They need not attend the said Courts in context of these cases. Subordinate Courts are to make a judicial scrutiny of the cases filed in respect of the provisions of Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887 before deciding to issue summonses to such accused. Parties concerned to act on a simple copy of this order, duly authenticated by the Court stenographer/sheristedar of this Court. Petition allowed."
23. In Galib Hussain Khan vs. State of Maharashtra 1 the facts were that the Petitioner claimed to be a social worker and was also Special Executive Officer. He made a grievance that in Ghatkopar area, there are several clubs which are gambling dens. He named certain clubs in the Petition.
According to the Petitioner, though several complaints were lodged by him, police had not taken cognizance of the said complaints and even where cognizance was taken, proper investigation was not made. An application for intervention was filed on behalf of Shalimar Club since several allegations were made against that club also. An affidavit in reply was filed by the Senior Inspector of Police Ghatkopar Police Station. The Division Bench disposed of this Petition by observing that remedy of Writ Petition should not be used to settle the private scores. The Division Bench observed in 1 2004 CrLJ 4896 28/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 29 (WP 1006.2012) para 13 and 14 of its judgment as under:-
"(13) We also feel that surprise raids should be surprise raids in real sense of the term. If on all occasions when raids are carried out clubs are found to be closed or no gambling is detected, lurking doubt is created whether raids are really surprise raids or an eyewash.
We do not mean to suggest that the police raids in this case are raids with prior intimation. But when such doubts are expressed, the Commissioner of Police should exploit the possibility of giving his job not to the police but to some independent agency. That will prevent such allegations being levelled against the police."
"(14) We must also make it clear that this does not mean that the police should go on indiscriminately raiding social clubs by misinterpreting our order. Only genuine complaints have to be properly investigated.
Raids have not to be carried out to complete a quota for public consumption. A right balance has to be struck."
24. In our view, taking into consideration the relevant provisions of the Gambling Act viz sections 4 and 5 and averments made in the complaint, there is absolutely no material on record to indicate that the Petitioners were indulging in gambling activity or that the club was used as common gambling house. It is an undisputed fact that there is no provision under the Gambling Act or any other Act for issuing a gambling license. What is mentioned in the FIR is 29/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 30 (WP 1006.2012) that the raiding party asked the Secretary and the counter- boy whether they had a gambling license and when they replied in the negative, the Petitioners were promptly arrested. The raiding party therefore has proceeded on an incorrect presumption that gambling license can be issued and only if such a license is there, card game can be played in the Card Room. The learned APP appearing on behalf of the State was unable to point out any provision of law which permitted any authority to issue a gambling license to any club. Secondly, from the averments in the complaint, it can be seen that what was found by police was that certain tokens were placed in front of each of the members and certain money was found in their pockets. It is a common ground that while playing Rummy, use of counters is very often made and, therefore, merely because counters are kept, it cannot be presumed that persons in the club are carrying on gambling activity. In the FIR, it is nowhere stated what type of card game was being played. It is not stated that the Petitioners were playing three card game such as 'flush', 'brag' etc. which is known to be a pure game of chance. Similarly, there is no material on record to indicate that the club was keeping any money out of the winning proceeds of the card game and, as such, it would not fall under the definition of a gambling house. Viewed from any angle therefore, in our view, averments in the complaint do not disclose any offence under sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act and, therefore, the complaint is liable to be 30/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 31 (WP 1006.2012) quashed.
25. A grievance has been made on behalf of the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioners that senior citizens and women were detained in the Police Station throughout the night and only those persons who had some connection either with any political party or with Senior Officers of the Police, were allowed to go and their names had not figured in the complaint. It is also alleged that women were detained in Police Station after sunset without obtaining permission of the Magistrate.
26 It is an admitted position that the raid was conducted at night after sunset and, in the FIR, it is clearly mentioned that information which was received by Senior Inspector of Police was that some women and men were carrying gambling activity. It was incumbant, therefore, for the Senior Inspector of Police to have obtained permission of the Magistrate and to have taken women constables if they wanted to arrest those women or they could have been asked to come on the next day if no permission was granted, after taking down their names and addresses. No such procedure was followed. The affidavit-in-reply does not state that permission of the Magistrate was obtained before arresting the women after sunset. Section 46(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code clearly provides that if the police intends to arrest woman after sunset, permission of the Magistrate has to be 31/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 32 (WP 1006.2012) obtained which has not been done in this case. There is, therefore, a serious lapse on the part of the Investigating Officer in detaining senior women in the Police Station after sunset. It is an admitted position that Petitioners were released on bail at about 6.00 a.m. in the morning. In our view, it is evident that the police have acted in a very highhanded manner and have not followed proper procedure before conducting the raid. They have not obtained permission of the Magistrate to to detain women after sunset in the Police Station. They have not permitted Petitioners to call their relatives and family members and it is not explained as to how reporters of TV Channels were present when Petitioners were brought in van in Police Station.
27 The Petitioners have also filed an affidavit-in-rejoinder.
It is contended that from August, 2011 till the present Petition was filed in March, 2012, police did not carry out any investigation on the FIR lodged by them. However, after the Petition was filed, Petitioner No.3 was informed that since last two dates of hearing of the Petition, Respondent No.5 had been contacting some of the members and guests of the Gymkhana viz Prakash P. Oza and Vijay Parekh and browbeating them with threats of retribution and directing them to come to the Police Station to record their statements.
In our view, this act of the police is not only depricable 32/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 33 (WP 1006.2012) but is also despicable. Respondent Nos. 5 to 8 have clearly violated provisions of section 46(4), section 54, section 55A read with section 60 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 and, as such, the fundamental rights of the Petitioners under Article 21 of the Constitution of India are clearly violated by the police. No medical tests were performed after arrest of the Petitioners as is now required under the Criminal Procedure Code. It has to be noted that, initially, under section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Police Officer had power to issue summons asking the witness to attend the Police Station. In section 160(1), there is a proviso which stated that woman shall not be required to attend at any place other than the place in which she resides. The said proviso, however, was restricted to attendance of woman as witness on the summons being issued under section 160(1).
However, there was no provision preventing police from arresting woman after sunset. The said restriction was specifically imposed by virtue of Amendment Act 25 of 2005 with effect from 23-6-2006 by insertion of sub-section (4) in Section 46. The said sub-section (4) of section 46 of the Cr.P.C, reads as under:-
"46 [(4) Save in exceptional circumstances, no woman shall be arrested after sunset and before sunrise, and where such exceptional circumstances exist, the woman police officer shall, by making a 33/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 34 (WP 1006.2012) written report, obtain the prior permission of the Judicial Magistrate of the first class within whose local jurisdiction the offence is committed or the arrest is to be made.] In the present case, this procedure has not been followed in respect of two women who were arrested and detained in the police custody after 9.00 p.m. till 6.00 a.m. in the morning. It was a duty of the police to have either obtained prior permission of the judicial magistrate or to have arrested the women on the next day after sunrise. We have noted that in spite of insertion of said section, there is blatant violation of the said provision and women are arrested by police after sunset without following the procedure laid down under sub-section (4) of section 46.
28. There is no manner of doubt that police have an authority under law to raid the premises where the information is received that gambling activities are going on but, before carrying out the raid, some initial inquiry needs to be made in order to ensure that innocent persons who play card games such a Rummy and Bridge which are played in renowned clubs in the City viz. CCI, Bombay Gymkhana, are not harassed and made to undergo procedure of facing criminal prosecution when there is no adequate material with the police to arrive at that conclusion. It is not necessary for this Court to lay down guidelines as to how and in what 34/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 35 (WP 1006.2012) manner investigation is to be done or raid has to be conducted. But it needs to be stated that merely because some information is received from some quarters, the said information should not be blindly followed as it could result in causing grave injustice to innocent persons. The Petitioners in the present case are mostly senior citizens and were spending the time of evening of their life and for no fault of their own, they were made to undergo not only harassment at the hands of the Police but they were also threatened because they tried to take recourse in the court of law. The Investigating Officer, therefore, should take due care and should be circumspect before conducting such raids in hurry and should take proper care to ensure that procedure which is laid down under the law is followed to the hilt. We have no manner of doubt that there are number of places in the City of Mumbai and elsewhere in the State of Maharashtra where gambling activities are carried out and it is necessary to curb these illegal practices. However, that does not mean that police should act in a hasty manner and harass the innocent citizens.
29. We must however observe that, in the present case, benefit of doubt will have to be given to Respondent Nos. 5 to 8 and we have no manner of doubt that their actions are bonafide and it does not appear from record that there was any malafide intention on their part in conducting the raid. We, therefore, find no substance in the submission of the 35/36 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:41:57 ::: 36 (WP 1006.2012) learned Counsel for the Petitioner that this Court should direct departmental inquiry or any action should be taken against them by the State Government.
30. Writ Petition is allowed in terms of prayer clause (a). State Government is directed to pay compensation of Rs 1,000/- to each of the petitioners and, in addition, to pay compensation of Rs 25,000/- each to two women viz Petitioner Nos. 8 and 9. Rule is made absolute accordingly.
31. We hope and trust that, in future, police takes extra care and caution before taking any steps for raiding any gambling dens or other places under other Acts. Police should not forget that the motto of Maharashtra Police is ^ln~j{k.kk; [kyfuxzg.kk;*-
It means that Maharashtra Police is committed to PROTECTING THE RIGHOUTOUS AND CONTROLING & ANNIHILATING THE EVIL.
(P.D. KODE, J.) (V.M. KANADE, J.)
B.D.Pandit.
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