DIPESH CHANDAKversusUNION OF INDIA

                          DIPESH CHANDAK                                      A
                                 v.
                           UNION OF INDIA

                         SEPTEMBER 17, 2004

              [S.N. VARIAVA AND A.K. MATHUR, JJ.]
                                                                              B

     Criminal Procedure Code, 1973-Sec.306(2), 308-Grant ofPardon-
Under Income Tax Act for offence of misappropriation offunds-Held, not
applicable to offences under Income Tax Act for filing false return.

     The Appellant an accused in a number of cases pertaining to the
                                                                              c
Fodder Scam in the Animal Husbandry Department of Bihar, was
accused of misappropriation of the funds and of fraudulent withdra~als
from the State Exchequer by issuing fake bills for supplies.

      He was granted a pardon by the Special Judge, CBI, on condition         D
that he makes a full and complete disclosure. On the basis of the statement
made by him, the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle-
1, Patna issued a show-cause-notice as to why prosecution should not be
initiated against him, under the Income Tax Act, for having filed false
returns of income tax.                                                        E
     The Appellant replied stating that he has been granted a pardon
under Sections 277 and 278 of the Income Tax Act. The Commissioner
of Income Tax, who opined that the pardon was restricted only to offences
under the Indian Penal Code and registered a Complaint Case under
Sections 277 and 278 of the Income Tax Act The Court of Economic              F
Offences, Patna, took congnizance and issued summons.

     Appellant's petition for quashing this complaint was dismissed, on
the ground that as yet the terms of the pardon have been fulfilled. It was
held that till full evidence is given by the Appellant and the trial of all
cases is concluded he continues to be an accused and, therefore, cannot
                                                                              G
claim immunity from prosecution.

     Before this Court the Appellant contended that he has been granted
pardon under Section 306 of the Criminal Procedure Code, that under
Section 306(2) Criminal Procedure Code the pardon is, amongst others,         H
                                   493
    494                 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A   in respect of any offence punishable with imprisonment which may extend
    to seven years or more, that such a pardon would operate not just for
    offences under the Indian Penal Code but would also cover offences
    under other statutes, that for an offence under Sections 277 and 278 the
    sentence may extend to seven years, that by virtue of the pardon no
B   prosecution could have been launched against the Appellant under these
    Sections, that the High Court was not right in stating th:tt as yet the
    Appellant was accused, that the pardon would continue to operate unless
    and until it has been revoked under Section 308 of the Criminal Procedure
    Code, that the pardon must necessarily mean that nc prosecution can be
    based in respect of the same offence, and that the offences for which the
c   Appellant was being tried were the same in respect of which he was
    being sought to be prosecuted under Sections 277 and 278 of the Income
    Tax Act.

         Respondents contended that prosecutions in respect of which pardon
D   was granted were for misappropriation of funds of the Animal Husbandry
    Department by raising fake bills in respect of supplies never made to the
    Animal ~usbandry Department, and that the prosecution had nothing
    to do with the filing of false returns and making a false statement in the
    Income Tax Returns.

E         Disposing of the Appeal, the Court

          HELD : 1. The pardon has been granted for the offence of
    misappropriation of funds. This offence has nothing to do with filing of
    false returns by the Appellant. The prosecution under Sections 277 and
F   278 of the Act of 1961 is in respect of filing false return and making of
    false declaration. The pardon which has been granted would not cover
    those offences. (499-G, H; 500-A]

         2. To get benefit of the pardon the Appellant has to make a full and
    frank disclosure regarding the offences of misappropriation. Ifhe does not
G   make a full and complete disclosure, the pardon may be cancelled. If he
    makes a full and complete disclosure he faces the prosp.ect of being          I

    convicted in the prosecution under Sections 277 and 278 of the Income Tax
    Act. Article 20(2) of the Constitution enjoins that no person can be
    compelled to be a witness against himself. To continue with the prosecution
H   would thus amount to forcing the Appellant ,to give evidence against
              DIPESH CHANDAK v. U.O.I. [VARIAVA, J.]                   495

himself or to risk pardon being cancelled as he cannot make a full and         A
complete disclosure for fear of being convicted in the other case. Thus,
even though the pardon ma:r not extend to these offences, this is a fit case
where the Government should consider not· prosecuting the Appellant
under these Sections. To insist on so prosecuting may result in valuable
evidence being lost in the fodder scam cases. [500-B, C, DJ                    B
     [The Court directed that the prosecution under Sections 277 and
278 of the Income Tax Act will stand stayed till trial of the cases in
which pardon granted is over. If the Appellant makes a full and complete
disclosure, then, the prosecution under Sections 277 and 278 should not
be allowed to proceed, and the appellant granted liberty to apply for          C
quashing that prosecution at that stage.) (500-E)

     CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION                 Criminal Appeal No.
1032 of 2004.

     From the Judgment and Order dated 21.3 .2002 of the Patna High Court
                                                                               D
in Crl. M. No. 6300 of 2001.

     M.L. Lahoty, Paban K. Sharma and Himanshu Shekhar for the Appellant.

      K.P. Pathak and B. Datta, Additional Solicitor Generals, Ms. Sandhya     E
Goswami, B.V. Balaram Das, Ms. Revathy Raghavan and P. Parmeswaran
for the Respondent.

     The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

     S. N. VARIA VA, J. : Leave granted.                                       F

     This Appeal is against the Judgment of the High Court of Patna dated
21st March, 2002.

     Briefly stated the facts are as follows:
                                                                               G
     The Appellant is an accused in a number of cases pertaining to the
Fodder Scam in the Animal Husbandry Department of Bihar. He has, along
with others, been accused of misappropriation of the funds of the Animal
Husbandry Department and of fraudulent withdrawals from the State Exchequer
by issuing fake bills for supplies never made to the Animal Husbandry          H
    496                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A   Department. The Appellant has been, on 28th August, 1998, granted a
    pardon by the Special Judge, CBI, on the condition that he makes a full and
    complete disclosure.

          On the basis of the statement made by the Appellant, the Deputy
    Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle-I, Patna, issued a show-cause-
B
    notice to the Appellant as to why prosecution should not be initiated against
    him, under Sections 277 and 278 of the Income Tax Act, for having filed
    false returns of income tax. The Appellant replied to the show-cause-notices,
    inter alia, stating that he has been granted a pardon under Section 306 of
    the Criminal Procedure Code and thus the show-cause-notice was not
c   maintainable for an offence· under Sections 277 and 278 of the Income Tax
    Act. This contention was not accepted by the Commissioner of Income Tax,
    who opined that the pardon was restricted only to offences under the Indian
    Penal Code. Accordingly, a Complaint Case No. 157(C)/2000 has been
    registered under Sections 277 and 278 of the Income Tax Act. The Court
D                  .
    of Economic Offences, Patna, has taken cognizance and issued summons.

          The Appellant filed a Petition under Section 482 of the Criminal
    Procedure Code for quashing this complaint. By the impugned Judgment that
    Petition has. been dismissed, inter alia, on the ground that as yet the terms
    of the pardon have not been fulfilled. It is held that till full evidence is given
E   by the Appellant and the trial of all cases is concluded he continues to be
    an accused and, therefore, cannot claim immunity from prosecution.

          Mr. Lahoty, on behalf of the Appellant, submitted that the Appellant
    has been granted pardon under Section 306 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
F   He submitted that under sub-section 2 of Section 306 the pardon is, amongst
    others, in respect of any offence punishable with imprisonment which may
    extend to seven years or more. He submitted that such a pardon would
    operate not just for offences under the Indian Penal Code but would also
    cover offences under other statutes. He submitted that for an offence under
    Sections 277 and 278 the sentence may extend to seven years. He submitted
G   that by virtue of the pardon no prosecution could have been launched against
    the Appellant under these Sections.

         Mr. Lahoty ·relied upon the case of Bipin Behari Sarkar v. The State
    of West Bengal reported in [1959] SCR 1324, wherein it has been held as
H   follows:
                 DIPESH CHANDAK v. U.O.L [VARIA VA, J.]                      497

-           "Section 339(1) of the Code provides that "where a pardon has been        A
            tendered under s. 337 or s. 338, and the Public Prosecutor certifies
            that in his opinion any person who has accepted such tender has,
            either by willfully concealing anything essential or by giving false
            evidence, not complied with the condition on which the tender was
            made, such person may be tried for the offence in respect of which        B
            the pardon was so tendered, or for any other offence of which he
            appears to have been guilty in connection with the same matter".
            The proviso to this sub-section prohibits the trial of such person
            jointly with any of the other accused and that such person shall be ·
            entitled to plead at such trial that he had complied with the condition
             upon which such tender was made. The provisions of this section          c
            clearly pre-suppose that the pardon which had been tendered to a
            person had been accepted by him and that thereafter that person had
            willfully concealed anything essential or had given false evidence
            and therefore had not complied with the condition on which the
             tender was made to him. Section 337 of the Code, under which a           D
             pardon is tendered, shows that such tender is made on the condition
             that the person to whom it is tendered makes a full and true
             disclosure of the whole of the circumstances within his knowledge
             relative to the offence and to every other person concerned whether
             as a principal or an abettor to the commission thereof. Sub-section
             (2) of this section requires that every person who has accepted a        E
             tender shall be examined as a witness in the court of the Magistrate
             taking cognizance of the offence and in the subsequent trial, if any.
             It is clear, therefore, that a mere tender of pardon does not attract
             the provisions of s. 339.        There must be an acceptance of it
             and the person who has accepted the pardon must be examined              F
             as a witness. It is only thereafter that the provisions of s. 339
             c;ome into play and the person who accepted the pardon may be
             tried for the offence in respect of which the pardon was tendered,
             if the Public Prosecutor certifies that in his opinion he has, either
             willfully concealed anything essential or had given false evidence
             and had not complied with the condition on which the tender was          G
             made."

          Relying on this case, Mr. Lahoty submitted that the High Court was not
    right in stating that as yet the Appellant was an accused. He submitted that
    the pardon would continue to operate unless and until it has been revoked         H ,
    498                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A   under Section 308 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

          Mr. Lahoty also relied upon the case of State v. Hirala/ G. Kothari and
    Others reported in (1960] 2 SCR 355, wherein it has been held that the person
    to whom pardon is tendered is expected to state the whole truth including
B   details of any other subsidiary offence which might have been committed in
    the course of the commission of the offence for which pardon is tendered.
    It has been held that the pardon tendered must include the subsidiary offence,
    even though if the subsidiary offence alone was committed no pardon could
    have been tendered for the same. He also relied upon the case of Harumal
    Paramanand v. Emperor reported in A.LR. (1915) Sind 43, wherein it has
c   been held that if there are more offences than one and if anyone of them is
    an offence exclusively triable by the Sessions Court, then pardon could be
    granted even though the other offences alleged or charged are not triable by
    the Sessions Court. He further relies upon the case of Shiam Sunder v.
    Emperor reported in AIR ( 1921) Allahabad 234, wherein an approver in a
D   dacoity case also disclosed where arms possessed by the gang were kept.
    After he was released from the dacoity case he was prosecuted under the
    Arms Act for possession of arms. It was held that the illegal possession of
    arms and ammunition was an offence in connection with the matter of
    docoity. It was held that arms were the implements of his trade and crime
    and that it was impossible to separate the posse_:;sion of the arms from guilt
E   as a dacoit. It was held that he could not make a full and true disclosure
    relating to the offence of dacoity without referring to the arms possessed by
    the gang. It was held that he could not be prosecuted as the pardon covered
    even this act .. In this case, it has also been pointed out that if, however, he
    had made disclosure- in respect of some other felony which was not connected
F   with the felony for which he has been prosecuted, even though that would
    not be covere!f by the pardon, the Court should recommend to the prosecution
    not to proceed against him in respect of that other offence.

         Mr. Lahoty also rel_ied upon the case of State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi)
    v. Prem Raj reported in [2003] 7 SCC 121, wherein this Court has discussed
G   the power of pardon and the power to commute sentence. This authority,
    in our view, is of no relevance to the question in issue.

          Mr. Lahoty submitted that the pardon must necessarily mean that no
    prosecution can be based in respect of the S!lme offence. He submitted that
H   the offences for which the Appellant was being tried were the same in respect
              DIPESH CHANDAK v. U.0.1. [VARIAVA, J.]                       499

of which he was now being sought to be prosecuted under Sections 277 and           A
278 of the Income Tax Act. He submitted that the High Court was thus wrong
in not quashing the prosecution.

      On the other hand, Mr. Pathak, Additional Solicitor General and Mr.
B. Datta, Additional Solicitor General, submitted that the prosecutions in B
respect of which pardon was granted were for misappropriation of funds Of
the Animal Husbandry Department by raising fake bills in respect of supplies
never made to the Animal Husbandry Department. They submitted that that
prosecution had nothing to do with the filing of false returns and making ~
false statement in the Income Tax Returns. Reliance was placed on the case
of Jasbir Singh v. Vipin KumarJaggi reported in [2001] 8 SCC 289, wherein     C
the question was whether a person to whom immunity has been granted under
Section 64(1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
could be examined as a witness even though he was an ac:cused in the criminal
case. The Trial Judge held that in the absence of any pardon having been
 granted under Section 307 or Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code D
 an accused could not be examined as a witness for the prosecution. This
 Court held that there was no conflict between the powers exercised under
 Section 307 of the Criminal Procedure Code and by t'he Government under
 Section 64. This Court held that even if there was a. conflict, the Narcotic
 Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 being a special and later ,
 enactment, Section 64 would prevail. It was held tlhat evidence could be     E
given by the accused on the basis of the immunity granted under Sectirm 64.

      In our view, the High Court was not correct in concluding that until
evidence has been given by the Appellant the pardon could not operate.
However, the fact remains that under Section 306 Cr.P.C. the pardon is             F
granted in respect of the offence for which he had been charged as an
accused. Of course, a pardon need not be only in respect of an offence under
the Indian Penal Code. A person may be charged,, in respect of the same
transaction or act, under the Indian Penal Code and under some other Act,
e.g. the Prevention of Corruption Act. The pardon would operate in respects
of all offences pertaining to that transaction. How.ever the pardon does not       G
operate in respect of a transaction or act entirely unconnected with the offence
in respect of which pardon has been granted. In this case, the pardon has
been granted for the offence of misappropriation o.f funds. This offence has
nothing to do with filing of false returns by the Appellant. The prosecution
under Sections 277 and 278 is in respect of filing false return and making         H
    500                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2004] SUPP; 4 S.C.R.
                                                                                      ...
A   of false declaration. The pardon which has been granted would not cover
    those offences.

         However, it is clear that to get benefit of the pardon the Appellant has
    to make a full and frank disclosure regarding the offences of misappropriation.
    If he does not make a full and complete disclosure, the pardon may be
B
    cancelled. If he makes a full and complete disclosure he faces the prospect
    of being convicted! in the prosecution under Sections 277 and 278 of the
    Income Tax Act. Article 20(2) of the Constitution of India enjoins that no
    person can be compelled to be a witness against himself. To continue with
    the prosecution would thus amount to forcing the Appellant to give e-i1idence
c   against himself or to risk pardon being cancelled as he cannot make a full
    and complete disclosure for fear of being convicted in the other case. Thus,
    even though the pardon may not ext~n.d to these offences, in our view, this
    is a fit case where the Government should consider not prosecuting the
    Appellant under these Sections. To insist on so prosecuting may result in
D   valuable evidence being lost in the fodder scam cases.

          We, therefore, direct that the prosecution under Sections 277 and 278
    of the Income Tax Act will stand stayed till trial of the cases in which pardon
    is granted is over. Iftthe Appellant makes a full and complete disclosure,
    then, in our view, thei prosecution under Sections 277 and 278 should not
E   be allowed to proceed. We, therefore, grant to the Appellant liberty to apply
    for quashing that prosecution at that stage.

           Accordingly, the ,Appeal is disposed off with above directions.

    V.M.                                                     Appeal disposed of.