Karnataka High Court
Sri M R Manjunath vs The Authorized Officer on 28 February, 2012
Author: Ajit J Gunjal
Bench: Ajit J Gunjal
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13% THE FIIGI-I CQIIRT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE
DATED THIS THE 23TH DAY or FEBRUARY, 2Q_3;?.Q "=._ "--
BEFORE:
THE I--I(')N'BLE MR. JUSTICE 'MIT J
Writ Petition No.1 7991 of 201 I;'(EXC1;S.E;)""~ BETWEEN :
SR} M R MANJUNATH -- _ '--
8,/O RAMAPPA GOWDA _ ....
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS * " " .
R/AT MUBUGUNL.
BALEHONNUR ~ 577112 CHICKNIAGALUR :>1si1'R1c'r .---'* ' PEZTITIONER ?_:B§fs§£._: B_I;c:=_c:,¥VIac§1fi:§:&~r,"z3;ga::Ii%QV} AND:
E. THE: AUTHOIEZEDV .Q1?'FI€3F;R 82 E)E?U§'.Y-- (ilGMMISS§O»NE§%._ OE? EXCISE CHEC£i\§1Af}ALUR£§}$TR£C3'« €:~i:c§i:v:;rg:::;;3».:,,z.;§'é;_ A ' ?1s;«;E "::a:;$?EC'§@R'§? §QLE€3';'é:
E3}§:§;E;HVQ§3T§£*{ER ?{'}E;:--=f':E: sgmom
- ' .£'E::s§::::g<g;;L:;§: ms? gigg :§§}%§§E§?x§"E"§ 'V ' H Vsglkaiésiz §o:%§§:'£, z'%{§é':§ 'z%::$"%§':§3":@;%*¢ :3 FELEE UNB£R gigzficaas 225 Ai"€§ 22:7
- _G?_ TEE "<:§;1:~a:S3*:*zm§:3N GE' ENSEA 2'3Ezi':'z'E§'~afG 3%} CALL ma ' < Ei§§f§§§;1EZ4RECQR§S QM mg mg 0%' "mg :3? R3E&~:$?GNBEi§«§'E' 5:':
' ._§f;z»'§'::i:R §§'{>m:;2$@§--a§, §z?:TI:€::': 2:[email protected]@:{:s gzm Q{}'ASE§ T33 QR}'ZT2EE<Z.'"BATEB 23.{§5g.2GE§ 93183332? EN B'§CR §\§Q, 2 E §j'2{.}{%5~Q§ .3?' EEE ES'? RESE3"'fZ')E\}'B§N'E' EEREEN 1353333 &E'£N"EXE§RE 1%. mg '§E~*§§S ?§"i"ET§Qfi CGMEEQG 33% F93 PRELEMENAQRY HE§1RE?§*$u 'g' GRQEEE3, TEES '"§H€ {f2G§j§¥3."§ i¥='Li'2.§E EYES F{}LEJ£}"v¥H'~EG:-- Ex.) ORBER ?e:iti9r:€r is befare ibis court assaiiéng th<4:j"':>r_§k%f.%'4 passed by the learned Additional Ses,sim'1s--if:Juvd;§§é .a§ _"_'T V' Chiklnagalur in Criminal V on 19.4.2631} confirming the 0f'df3f--«__: 'by Authorized Officer and confiscating the vehicle. inV_quevs:iio12]j
2. Sans d€t9Li1S§ th§:"fa»-24:9 §3a.1fi'»«,b€ as under:
On pm, Ravikumar, CPL N F:fififau.§ji_rcf{§4vVie.£ig§§i«é§'€§§iiiip1aint before the PS1 3:: Baieh é 1§§:a;2:V which wag rsgisierad in Crime foii sffencs gurzishabie Lifidéf * .:<3e§é::L,":§é:*2f.3i«§i:faéffijgs Eiiéiééiaka Excise gica. };9§5 {far 859::
seaéésn E'??? Sf ihé Endiam $6113} C,§§§;'=._ fE'§:e.u..:" gi3§ sf éha campiaém was Iithai filfi Wag 81': his bsarii dégzéy ii} s6::::ecti9a with 'Eéfichagfaé 911$ Taiaii §a.'{}Chf&:€8;t 6163:1935 331$: ha VT ' §%$g;s7Ec@::3i§:g {rem {RE 3 Fisra iEe3Wa§'e:E3 Baiehmszzur géda 0:1 'iéafiagggé £ K :*sg:§§ a §§€2"$€s2 had pafiisd Eiéaxaii {fzizmé Vafi bsariag §€ff:i$§.'£'3,E§{}§f; E'§z:a§<:§; §8g'§\»'§~%4~§2. GE} . ,,.,_M_,....W...,wM_v.,:g<MA««»s.¢~»~»»»~» §1*_}§i*€'i_31.'§iifis:;i' Qarzfissatigzz ;:::"@€e€d§::gs. :_,,_) suspicianfi the Cemgéainani Checlieci the said V€1":iC}.E _a_.::é fsund that 1:116 person whe was in the Car anfi a:;*i»%;;*;:.1:1*«3j**,_ were fllegaily distributing arrack packets V 1 "
questioned it was found that the --'i;vv'g:s..pef.$01f1s "d'i_d':16: have permit for selling of arrac1 i;;_ disclased his name was M. V»£V'I§r;jun2hifi1.a;."
persen with him was -- "R/Iiifiiiugini Viiiage. The CPI seized 33 packets of arrack contegi.z1:%€g:-_. Jvboth accusad were broughf_:fi<gfli$é' handed over to the PSI and the vehicle invsived further actiané A cage was §°$g:Z--s.tsred 'a$ against the getitiamsr and 0:36 anetheé afzzfi. ifié ciéiatéaband articiea 3:26 vehécig were pmduesd ,{:é;1f§é0r§zed Qffigsgr 811$: ihg fiayuiy '€730::1::*:§._ssé<;;i":::+_:f«~"" £55 Exéisiig Chikmagahér §§,$§::"i{:'§, H The fiuiharizsd Gfficzssf éhereafésy "SE36 §€f§'§i$i"§€§ : .§;T§'p%<:é:6é bsfeya {ha Auihsyizgé Qéfiger azié $€$:3r€:i1 Ezzitasrzrizzé aggéedjg <3? éhs asaéizéaie gexzéifig €z'}?1fi$:3a€§€%§:
grsceaééngg. E2": gzipyefii sf ':§§ gyessauiészag 316}; Eaav Egg €}§}§}"E§{3E"E wag .ssm3.gh'é $23 '$6: prafiueafi §€§§£§§'°€3 13:6 L».
examinsd fans' zvitngsses and Sifii deeumentswsre marked as E:>§.hibits.P1 :0 P6 and the Vehicie in as MO N<:s.L Durimg the marge of V' petitioner did not adduce any .«:»v'idem:c*j e§:fiér-- cv>i:;3.I; Ci; documentary. The Autherized i}ffi c.¢f wa's., (:>f,:h<§ ihat there was clear violation-..V»g:§:7.t»he 1£}'I'£)Vi'Si'()f1_1SAV'€}f!V§'§V€3Cti(}I1 V 34 cf the Act, hence v,{;£:}1fisQat6:{in..:€§?i§.yghi%§ié""i11"'fiuestian and recalled the order'4"0Vf'._gr$$L;1£Zir'::g custody. The carrsctness question/ed by tbs Judge. The 1<i'e:rr1€§fi"S'"Vés;iV».::i.§;:jr:;:s:': with the finding resardévii. Qfficar and has éismissfid the agj:;3€a§, "' ' "2 ._SfiEf1§fiii§€§ by Mr. Lseiafihar: isafneé $a:::£::.s€§:'V§'<;;39'_j§3fi's2VVéstitéezzer féhsfig éhs imszim cugtofiy Gf 'E126 ".éJe%:§é,Ze éaniifiues is $6 23211223': the peitiiisner.
'}Ch5 Esamszi f3€}i11!Z%S€§; €93' fiéfi §€?i§l'§i§:E€1" gmbméig ' " ifisézfi mg: {sf 33 pafiieis zvhiah avsra s:e§;:e§.., @323; SE16 paékssi sf MEQ mi zafzazg 35%: :9 '$525 €%:$m§{:s::§ aisiaifgsi §j'.'%;;§ /2?"
/ /' ,;€,«r'.
" sf {ha ' CL§§fé33%f%£'i:3 Cenfiseztaiing Officer. Znsafar as the: remainimg. '32 paciiets are csncerned, they were not Sen: far examinaticn, He further submits that was tried for the offenceg Karnataka Excise Act, 1965; u4fAé'£1 " as» COC16 and the criminal court héé' albeit: an extending the _ »»»» H
5. The the orders as well as Iihs Sessgoris " {hat notwithstanding the fact WaS gen': for chgmical sxamingijefiwg s;§:aé'§i§§é;l9s€s thai mere is violatisn .i§ns:,; %é§""%h€ ;5:CTz:,, hegee CGfif§SC3Ii¢Z}I"§ is §fi$§fi€é:A "
{Elia §xi,§'§§'i{}E'i§Ed Céffécfif $8 232%} 33 fiise L - vVE'é:a::f:*';€::%._§éV$s§<3:3.$ Juvfigs have miéé ifiaé {fie §&'€i':i:3n€:* §:i.3wsA"'g:ié§--aé:$§V £19 pravigggng Qf aeciéeizg éfi 333$ «£3 sf 'E136 V' '?:.<:?:_ 9?'; 33$ §j;*§'Q$§C°f;E'€i%{3iE hag éxaméfisé fez}? '£%S§':;f}i3&«S€S if; if:
PW} epeaks abeut the said seizure, B11': however? he weuid state that he does not ktzew what is wri:t:e~z:; é:_1 EXSP1 and he also does not know what _ pursuant ta EX.P1. PW2~Ver1katesh__is a:12jfi1e::":
te the seizure mahazar~E3x. P1 :"an(i_"f§:e hae _.:alsu(;.:"'e'-:1.5i.]_: supported the case of the ...b:0t1"i have turned hostile, hae ts fall back upon PVVS 8 Wimesees inasmuch as r{;;«;'fius"tered the ease and sent the fiepert to the Court and seized :"'i}§g>3~.. the statement of witiieeevesg and handed ever the seized _mat'erieiie_€-3 ihe""'EXeise Department, §eR,Pura$ '"--?§?%i'3.:£si,{vhee----poéieeefiieer whe has seized the vehicle iii 1 ---q:L:.e.s'i:i:}1§};;.._A " .%M'§;_ieE1 was etamééng in eusgeieieus eir<:~*a;:::e?:e;:}:§?:eAe. He Speaks ebeu": ihe {We peysens in me egg? 311$ 93:2. 'iferiféeetiezz, ii wee fezggzfi Eheé t:f?1€E"€:
22g%ie':*eA'*'i'33 Eiqzzer geekeie ef Efifimi. each 8:: €§1(§1};:I'§i} 'ihe ' " ~~::w£:eu§a:':%ie ef éihe ear eiaieé fghaé: iiaefz bee me ffiaeenee 0:' gsertxzii: when {fie saié saeheis were eeizede 'FEES is 'the evééeeeee zxirsieéi aeee: §3§'{}€§Ei€23i'i ire; iifée aéerzfieeaiizzg K1 praceedingg. Undoubtedly Easiion 4Q of the Karnataka Excise AC: raises a presumptien as is the e:om:nis.55i€23;i Q_f Qff€':1"1C€ in certain Cases. Section 40 \&70u1d§V_:A..f€5€iii"---- . under: _ "Pr<=:sumpt110n as '[C) CQ4InII1'iSSi.(}31 of T<::>£féA1.fii'cé in certain cases. »~ in"'-v§:fasecfiti.Qn3.T:€,if§:éJV§f"' Section 32 and...Sectjr3nV: 'L3éi',--».._ it éifxall presumed, until' }§I"QV€d, that the accused i§:>1?11'1:Iii--ti:ed the offence ;p'1fi;:qj?3ha'ft)1eg '.;%;i'1(i{'x":?,'*t:'.. 'fh2fL :'S€CtiOH in respecf 'V A V. 4' '
(a) éir1j;f_..ir;téxicaiiii'or {$3-§L'an§,: Siiifi. "*:;:fe:r1§i1, impiement G1' a pp3.faias" whaisaéver in 1316 "Vma;:u:£«5a§C'ti:r5 sf an}? éntaxisani other ieddy 0:
_.{z;i% a::y matsrigés which 323% §ifid€Fg8§€ any §}3Sf}C€SS imxgayds ihfit m3,z:.u:f3€t:;:€ Sf 33: igéozficant gr fmm which 21??
m:0:<:i$a:r:": has '$9931: magufactasaé. 8, ijiiégzgbtsééjyz any gresampfien is 3 rebuttai gresigmgiéeni Egizfifiea if aha geiétieaay E3 fssuzézi :22:/N "N 9 'M ,V '; _ £5';
y/' s ' V,"
y «£4»/' 11:: legal evidence fie ehew that each ef the sachets €OI1l:ai1'iE:*Cl arrack as allegefi. It is net disputed '€}l1€_ sachet was sent to the analyst for analysis ~ known as ':0 why the remaining,3Q.,_sa(:h.efe"'iirefe sent to him. Merely because the "'reIhe;i151ing--32. sael1§:et,$'~l:. were found along with one {he chemical examiner, it .C..1vjffic_1:-l'tll«af.§--.l:lb';*:*_1e to' :1'e--onelusi0n that the remaining 32 arracli or other View that the Confiscating" ' learned Appellate Judge that the petitioner has cezrlfnllted under Section 34 of the Ae': le;ppjé.re.r:il3};'v.f:9Gin the eviéenee ef PWSS 33$ 4 Via... beee}'m,z:':e ':::l.ear :ha;:' ihe eel}; eubeieeee, which was é3_;.§5j;eeie_é_:"»--§;e" §:sel§?eie was ihe euheieeee in {me sachet, ' 'V . W§:§el<:__ eagle ~e_e_:%i%.
AA Endeeei 3': :5 else eei: 'fake eeee ef ::§3;e ___"'§§reeeea:i§e:1 that the §"'€E}3;5;lffil:Y:§ 32 eaeheie were elee "feeifia %ie the elzemieal €X€iE'§"i;if:€3'. 3:2: §{E:3!X?£?€'%7€i', éilzey éié EEG? eheeee is exelmine him» ll; fie false eeeeééie ease ef the yreeeeeiéee aha': enlje eee eaeéaeé Wage gem; ii; is; Q 2 2 ' u *€Z§%:;=J€1j:*:::§Ic5::?: £§¥fi3z'38;€i€ agpéagifig fa? §€s§@:2é¢5::§5 is iherefare ObVi$US that {has §i"'G8€€3¥,1{.'EGfi has fa.iVi_<?;_ d is establish that Ehti' remaining 32 sachets arrack er SOH16 other kind of intoxicants. u so? I am of the View that the:-:'O'1'der' Sonfiscating Authority as mall Judge warrants interference; Vt tbcf fe).v1I:9x7L§i'%§1'"gVVV'é3§;der is passed: a A' I 5}} Peiitian is
(ii) Thfi !:~$%::»'%»?:F1€ __€i€:=f1fiscating Auf'l2._Qi°it§%j_ 'vg.g1'1_ ' the learned ____ H J 31'&..,qu§:s}1ed.
{ifi} Tfhé "imposed by izhe
-.5{u§hei*€zé'<:§ .- 7§Zi0:nfis$ai:i:1g Autherity 'iV41'u1§§,éa ':'ei€ééin§ €316 vehicie during éhe _ §;2f'£€ri::1'ic":1;'$:ié3dy stands Qisssfsveé. V _ 7{:1:2'};_"-._R:i:s§_:=:s iggizeii 322$ made absoéuéeg ""§»£:.vE9i§:?«:%§}§a§6$h Sedfiheri §ea:':'::€:t§ Afidiiéenai sw ._'§€é?::5§3:£"{€§ :9 £318 333139 of apgaaramss wiéhin 5&3: 'i%5€€}iS. fgfl §§§% 85%;'