MRS. NEERAJ DUTTAversusSTATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI)

54                      [2019]
              SUPREME COURT    4 S.C.R. 54
                             REPORTS                      [2019] 4 S.C.R.


A                         MRS. NEERAJ DUTTA
                                      v.
                    STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI)
                     (Criminal Appeal No. 1669 of 2009)
B                           FEBRUARY 28, 2019
          [R. BANUMATHI AND R. SUBHASH REDDY, JJ.]
            Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 – s.7 & 13(1)(d) r/w.
     s.13(2) – Prosecution case that Appellant-accused no.1 demanded
     and accepted illegal gratification – Complainant passed away before
C
     the trial so he was not examined – Trial court convicted appellant-
     accused no.1 and accused no.2 u/ss. 7 and s.13(1)(d) r/w. s.13(2)
     of the Prevention of Corruption Act – High Court affirmed the
     conviction of the appellant-accused no.1 and acquitted accused
     no.2 – Appellant contended that when the complainant passed away,
D    primary evidence of demand was not forthcoming and when the
     prosecution could not establish the demand by such primary
     evidence, the conviction of the appellant cannot be sustained and
     placed reliance upon P. Satyanarayana Murthy v. District Inspector
     of Police, State of Andhra Pradesh and another (2015) 10 SCC 152 –
     Respondent contended that P. Satyanarayana had not taken note
E
     of the consistent view taken by the Supreme Court – Held: In light
     of the consistent view taken by the Supreme Court in various
     judgments and a different observation and findings recorded by
     Supreme Court in P. Satyanarayana Murthy case – The issue
     requires consideration by the larger Bench – Thus, matter referred
F    to the larger bench.
           Referring the matter to larger Bench, the Court
            HELD: 1. Contention of the appellant is that mere proof of
     receipt of money by the accused in the absence of proof of demand
     of illegal gratification is not sufficient to prove the guilt of the
G    accused. It was contended that when the complainant passed
     away, primary evidence of demand is not forthcoming and when
     the prosecution could not establish the demand by such primary
     evidence, the conviction of the appellant cannot be sustained.
     [Para 5][58-B, C]
H
                                     54
 MRS. NEERAJ DUTTA v. STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI)                     55


      2. In support of his contention, the appellant placed reliance    A
upon P. Satyanarayana Murthy v. District Inspector of Police, State
of Andhra Pradesh and another. In the said case, the complainant
died before the trial and thus could not be examined by the
prosecution. [Para 6][58-C]
      3. The State has drawn attention to number of judgments           B
where accused was convicted even when the evidence of
complainant was not available either due to death of complainant
or where the complainant had turned hostile. In Kishan Chand
Mangal v. State of Rajasthan, by the time of trial, the complainant
expired and he could not be examined. [Para 8][55-G]
                                                                        C
      4. In Hazari Lal v. State (Delhi Administration), the
complainant was declared hostile and the only other evidence
was that of Inspector (PW-8) to whom the complainant made
statement when he went to lodge the complaint and another
witness who has supported the prosecution case only in some
particulars. Based on the evidence of the Inspector who laid the        D
trap and panch witness and observing that it is not necessary
that the passing of money should be proved by direct evidence.
[Para 9][60-B, C]
      5. The direct or primary evidence of demand may not be
available at least in three instances:- (i) where the complainant is    E
dead and could not be examined; (ii) complainant turned hostile;
and (iii) complainant could not be examined either due to non-
availability or other reasons. Direct proof of demand may not be
available in all the above instances but from the evidence of panch
witness, acceptance of money was proved by Phenolphthalein Test         F
and by raising presumption under Section 20 of the Act, it is
permissible to draw inference to prove the demand. [Para 11]
[62-E]
      6. This Court is of the opinion that the following issue
requires consideration by the larger Bench:-                            G
      “The question whether in the absence of evidence of
complainant/direct or primary evidence of demand of illegal
gratification, is it not permissible to draw inferential deduction of
culpability/guilt of a public servant under Section 7 and Section
13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act,
                                                                        H
56            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                        [2019] 4 S.C.R.


A    1988 based on other evidence adduced by the prosecution.” [Para
     14][63-B, C]
           7. In the light of the consistent view taken by this Court in
     various judgments, this Bench has some reservation in respect
     of the observation and findings recorded by this Court in P.
B    Satyanarayana Murthy v. District Inspector of Police, State of
     Andhra Pradesh and another. The matter be placed before the
     Hon’ble Chief Justice for appropriate orders. [Para 15][63-D]
           P. Satyanarayana Murthy v. District Inspector of Police,
           State of Andhra Pradesh and another (2015) 10 SCC
C          152; Kishan Chand Mangal v. State of Rajasthan (1982)
           3 SCC 466 : [1983] 1 SCR 569; Hazari Lal v. State
           (Delhi Administration) (1980) 2 SCC 390 : [1980] 2
           SCR 1051; M. Narsinga Rao v. State of A.P. (2001) 1
           SCC 691 : [2000] 5 Suppl. SCR 584 – referred to.
D                            Case Law Reference
           (2015) 10 SCC 152                 referred to     Para 6
           [1983] 1 SCR 569                  referred to     Para 8
           [1980] 2 SCR 1051                 referred to     Para 9
E          [2000] 5 Suppl. SCR 584           referred to     Para 10
           CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No.
     1669 of 2009.
          From the Judgment and Order dated 02.04.2009 of the High Court
     of Delhi at New Delhi in Criminal Appeal No. 4 of 2007.
F
           Guru Krishna Kumar, Sr. Adv., Satinder S. Gulati, Mrs. Kamaldeep
     Gulati, Advs. for the Appellant.
           Ms. Kiran Suri, Sr. Adv., Ms. Rukhmini Bobde, B. V. Balaram
     Das, Ms. Snidha Mehra, Advs. for the Respondent.
G          The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
           R. BANUMATHI, J. 1. This appeal arises out of the judgment
     dated 02.04.2009 passed by the High Court of Delhi in Criminal Appeal
     Nos.15 and 4 of 2007 in and by which the High Court affirmed the
     conviction of the appellant under Section 7 and Section 13(1)(d) read
H
 MRS. NEERAJ DUTTA v. STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI)                          57
                [R. BANUMATHI, J.]

with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and the         A
sentence of imprisonment imposed upon her.
       2. Complainant-Ravijit Singh Sethi received a phone call from the
appellant who was working as LDC in Delhi Vidyut Board on 17.04.2000
at 07.30 am asking the complainant to meet her at her house in connection
with installation of electricity meter at his shop. When complainant met     B
the appellant, she demanded bribe of Rs.15,000/- for installation of meter
which was subsequently reduced to Rs.10,000/- after negotiation. The
appellant agreed to receive the said amount between 03.00 PM-04.00
PM on the same day at the shop of the complainant. As the complainant
was not willing to pay the bribe, he made a complaint (Ex.PW-5/A)
before ACB, based on which, FIR was registered. Inspector O.D. Yadav         C
(PW-6) organised the pre-raid proceedings. S.K. Awasthi (PW-5)
accompanied the complainant and the complainant paid Rs.10,000/- to
the appellant and she received the amount from the complainant and the
same was transferred to the second accused-Yogesh Kumar/Driver.
Upon receiving signal from PW-5/shadow witness, PW-6-Inspector along         D
with raiding party arrived and recovered Rs.10,000/- from the second
accused-Yogesh Kumar. Hands of both the appellant and accused No.2-
Yogesh Kumar turned pink, when they were put in the sodium bicarbonate
solution. Upon completion of investigation, charge sheet was filed against
the appellant and accused Yogesh Kumar under Sections 7 and 13(2) of
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (For short “The P.C. Act”).               E

       3. Since the complainant passed away before the trial, he could
not be examined. PW-5-shadow witness was examined who supported
the case of the prosecution. Based upon the evidence of PW-5 and
recovery of money from the appellant, the trial court held that the demand
and acceptance of illegal gratification has been established by the          F
prosecution and convicted the appellant-accused No.1 under Section 7
and Section 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of the P.C. Act and
sentenced her to undergo imprisonment for two years and three years
respectively and also imposed fine. The trial court also convicted accused
No.2 under Section 12 of the P.C. Act for abetment of the offence. In        G
appeal, the High Court affirmed the conviction of the appellant and the
sentence of imprisonment imposed upon her. The High Court acquitted
the second accused of the charges levelled against him holding that there
is no evidence to prove conspiracy or abetment. Being aggrieved, the
appellant has preferred this appeal.
                                                                             H
58            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                          [2019] 4 S.C.R.


A         4. We have heard Mr. S. Guru Krishna Kumar, learned senior
     counsel appearing for the appellant and Ms. Kiran Suri, learned senior
     counsel appearing for the respondent-State.
            5. Contention of the appellant is that mere proof of receipt of
     money by the accused in the absence of proof of demand of illegal
B    gratification is not sufficient to prove the guilt of the accused. It was
     contended that when the complainant passed away, primary evidence of
     demand is not forthcoming and when the prosecution could not establish
     the demand by such primary evidence, the conviction of the appellant
     cannot be sustained.
C          6. In support of his contention, the learned senior counsel for the
     appellant placed reliance upon P. Satyanarayana Murthy v. District
     Inspector of Police, State of Andhra Pradesh and another          (2015)
     10 SCC 152. In the said case, the complainant died before the trial and
     thus could not be examined by the prosecution. Panch witness was
     examined as PW-1, which was the sheet anchor of the prosecution case.
D    Observing that on the demise of the complainant, primary evidence of
     the demand is not forthcoming and inferential deduction of demand is
     impermissible in law, in paras (24) and (25), this Court held as under:-
           “24. The sheet anchor of the case of the prosecution is the
           evidence, in the facts and circumstances of the case, of PW 1 S.
E          Udaya Bhaskar. ……. Though, a very spirited endeavour has
           been made by the learned counsel for the State to co-relate this
           statement of PW 1 S. Udaya Bhaskar to the attendant facts and
           circumstances including the recovery of this amount from the
           possession of the appellant by the trap team, identification of the
F          currency notes used in the trap operation and also the chemical
           reaction of the sodium carbonate solution qua the appellant, we
           are left unpersuaded to return a finding that the prosecution in the
           instant case has been able to prove the factum of demand beyond
           reasonable doubt. Even if the evidence of PW 1 S. Udaya Bhaskar
           is accepted on the face value, it falls short of the quality and
G          decisiveness of the proof of demand of illegal gratification as
           enjoined by law to hold that the offence under Section 7 or Sections
           13(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Act has been proved. True it is, that on
           the demise of the complainant, primary evidence, if any, of the
           demand is not forthcoming. According to the prosecution, the
H          demand had in fact been made on 3-10-1996 by the appellant to
 MRS. NEERAJ DUTTA v. STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI)                            59
                [R. BANUMATHI, J.]

      the complainant and on his complaint, the trap was laid on the           A
      next date i.e. 4-10-1996. However, the testimony of PW 1 S.
      Udaya Bhaskar does not reproduce the demand allegedly made
      by the appellant to the complainant which can be construed to be
      one as contemplated in law to enter a finding that the offence
      under Section 7 or Sections 13(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Act against
                                                                               B
      the appellant has been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
      25. In our estimate, to hold on the basis of the evidence on record
      that the culpability of the appellant under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d)(i)
      and (ii) has been proved, would be an inferential deduction which
      is impermissible in law. Noticeably, the High Court had acquitted
      the appellant of the charge under Section 7 of the Act and the           C
      State had accepted the verdict and has not preferred any appeal
      against the same. The analysis undertaken as hereinabove qua
      Sections 7 and 13(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Act, thus, had been to
      underscore the indispensability of the proof of demand of illegal
      gratification”.……..[Underlining added].                                  D
       In Satyanarayana, the court proceeded under the footing that
failure of the prosecution to prove the demand for illegal gratification
due to the death of complainant would be fatal to the prosecution case
and recovery of the amount from the accused would not entail his
conviction.                                                                    E
       7. Ms. Kiran Suri, learned senior counsel for the State submitted
that in Satyanarayana, the court did not notice the line of judgments
and the consistent view taken by this Court in various decisions that
demand can be proved either by direct evidence or by drawing inference
from other evidence like evidence of panch witness and the                     F
circumstances.
       8. The learned senior counsel has drawn our attention to number
of judgments where accused was convicted even when the evidence of
complainant was not available either due to death of complainant or
where the complainant had turned hostile. In Kishan Chand Mangal               G
v. State of Rajasthan (1982) 3 SCC 466, by the time of trial, the
complainant Rajendra Dutt expired and he could not be examined. The
Court relied upon evidence of two Motbir witnesses Ram Babu (PW-1)
and Keshar Mal (PW-2), Dy. SP Mahavir Prasad (PW-7) and the factum
of recovery of money from the accused and convicted the accused
                                                                               H
60            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                            [2019] 4 S.C.R.


A    thereon. Affirming the conviction of the appellant/accused, this Court
     held that “…..the tell-tale circumstances which do indicate that there
     must have been a demand……and it is not proper to say that there is
     no evidence of demand of bribe as on November 20, 1974.”
           9. In Hazari Lal v. State (Delhi Administration) (1980) 2
B    SCC 390, the complainant was declared hostile and the only other evidence
     was that of Inspector (PW-8) to whom the complainant made statement
     when he went to lodge the complaint and another witness who has
     supported the prosecution case only in some particulars. Based on the
     evidence of the Inspector who laid the trap and panch witness and
     observing that it is not necessary that the passing of money should be
C    proved by direct evidence, in para (10) of Hazari Lal, the Supreme
     Court held as under:-
           “10. ……It is not necessary that the passing of money should be
           proved by direct evidence. It may also be proved by circumstantial
           evidence. The events which followed in quick succession in the
D          present case lead to the only inference that the money was
           obtained by the accused from PW 3. Under Section 114 of the
           Evidence Act the court may presume the existence of any fact
           which it thinks likely to have happened, regard being had to the
           common course of natural events, human conduct and public and
E          private business, in their relation to facts of the particular case.
           One of the illustrations to Section 114 of the Evidence Act is that
           the court may presume that a person who is in possession of the
           stolen goods soon after the theft, is either the thief or has received
           the goods knowing them to be stolen, unless he can account for
           his possession. So too, in the facts and circumstances of the present
F          case the court may presume that the accused who took out the
           currency notes from his pocket and flung them across the wall
           had obtained them from PW 3, who a few minutes earlier was
           shown to have been in possession of the notes. Once we arrive at
           the finding that the accused had obtained the money from PW 3,
G          the presumption under Section 4(1) of the Prevention of Corruption
           Act is immediately attracted. The presumption is of course
           rebuttable but in the present case there is no material to rebut the
           presumption. The accused was, therefore, rightly convicted by
           the courts below.” [Underlining added].

H
 MRS. NEERAJ DUTTA v. STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI)                            61
                [R. BANUMATHI, J.]

       10. In M. Narsinga Rao v. State of A.P. (2001) 1 SCC 691, both          A
complainant-PW-1 and PW-2-panch witness have turned hostile.
Appellant/accused thereon contended that the presumption under Section
20 of the Act could be drawn only when the prosecution succeeded in
establishing the demand by adducing direct evidence that the delinquent
public servant accepted or obtained gratification and that the same cannot
                                                                               B
depend on an inference for affording foundation for the legal presumption
envisaged in Section 20 of the Act. Rejecting the said contention and
considering the scope of the expression “shall presume” employed in
Section 20(1) of the Act, it was held as under:-
      “14. When the sub-section deals with legal presumption it is to be
      understood as in terrorem i.e. in tone of a command that it has to       C
      be presumed that the accused accepted the gratification as a
      motive or reward for doing or forbearing to do any official act
      etc., if the condition envisaged in the former part of the section is
      satisfied. The only condition for drawing such a legal presumption
      under Section 20 is that during trial it should be proved that the       D
      accused has accepted or agreed to accept any gratification. The
      section does not say that the said condition should be satisfied
      through direct evidence. Its only requirement is that it must be
      proved that the accused has accepted or agreed to accept
      gratification. Direct evidence is one of the modes through which
      a fact can be proved. But that is not the only mode envisaged in         E
      the Evidence Act.
      …………
      17. Presumption is an inference of a certain fact drawn from
      other proved facts. While inferring the existence of a fact from         F
      another, the court is only applying a process of intelligent reasoning
      which the mind of a prudent man would do under similar
      circumstances. Presumption is not the final conclusion to be drawn
      from other facts. But it could as well be final if it remains
      undisturbed later. Presumption in law of evidence is a rule indicating
      the stage of shifting the burden of proof. From a certain fact or        G
      facts the court can draw an inference and that would remain until
      such inference is either disproved or dispelled.
      ……..

                                                                               H
62            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                            [2019] 4 S.C.R.


A          19. Illustration (a) to Section 114 of the Evidence Act says that
           the court may presume that “a man who is in the possession of
           stolen goods soon after the theft is either the thief or has received
           the goods knowing them to be stolen, unless he can account for
           his possession”. That illustration can profitably be used in the
           present context as well when prosecution brought reliable materials
B
           that the appellant’s pocket contained phenolphthalein-smeared
           currency notes for Rs 500 when he was searched by PW-7 DSP
           of Anti-Corruption Bureau. That by itself may not or need not
           necessarily lead to a presumption that he accepted that amount
           from somebody else because there is a possibility of somebody
C          else either stuffing those currency notes into his pocket or stealthily
           inserting the same therein. But the other circumstances which
           have been proved in this case and those preceding and succeeding
           the searching out of the tainted currency notes, are relevant and
           useful to help the court to draw a factual presumption that the
           appellant had willingly received the currency notes.” [Underlining
D
           added].
            11. The direct or primary evidence of demand may not be available
     at least in three instances:- (i) where the complainant is dead and could
     not be examined; (ii) complainant turned hostile; and (iii) complainant
     could not be examined either due to non-availability or other reasons.
E    Direct proof of demand may not be available in all the above instances
     but from the evidence of panch witness, acceptance of money was proved
     by Phenolphthalein Test and by raising presumption under Section 20 of
     the Act, it is permissible to draw inference to prove the demand.
            12. On behalf of the respondent, it was submitted that under Section
F    20 of the P.C. Act, the Court is bound to draw presumption mentioned
     therein and the presumption in question will hold good unless the accused
     proves the contrary. It was contended that the purpose of presumption
     under Section 20 of the Act is to relieve the prosecution from the burden
     of proving a fact and while so, insistence upon primary evidence for
G    proving demand is not in consonance with the view taken by the Supreme
     Court in line of judgments.
            13. The learned senior counsel for the respondent submitted that
     the court must take into consideration the facts and circumstances brought
     on record and may draw inference to arrive at the conclusion whether
H    demand and acceptance of the illegal gratification has been proved or
 MRS. NEERAJ DUTTA v. STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI)                                63
                [R. BANUMATHI, J.]

not. Insistence of direct proof or primary evidence for proving the demand         A
may not be in consonance with the view taken by this Court in number
of judgments. The learned senior counsel has drawn our attention to
other cases to substantiate her contention that Satyanarayana had not
taken note of the consistent view taken by the Supreme Court. We are
not delving into the controversy any further. We are of the opinion that
                                                                                   B
the following issue requires consideration by the larger Bench:-
      “The question whether in the absence of evidence of complainant/
      direct or primary evidence of demand of illegal gratification, is it
      not permissible to draw inferential deduction of culpability/guilt of
      a public servant under Section 7 and Section 13(1)(d) read with
      Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 based on                 C
      other evidence adduced by the prosecution.”
      15. In the light of the consistent view taken by this Court in various
judgments, we have some reservation in respect of the observation and
findings recorded by this Court in P. Satyanarayana Murthy v. District
Inspector of Police, State of Andhra Pradesh and another (2015) 10                 D
SCC 152. The matter be placed before the Hon’ble Chief Justice for
appropriate orders.


Ankit Gyan                                      Matter referred to larger Bench.
                                                                                   E




                                                                                   F




                                                                                   G




                                                                                   H