Dismissed

Arjun Pralhad Shinde v. the State of Maharasthra

Bombay HC13 Jul 2012APEAL/17/2000

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

In criminal appeal, the High Court upheld the lower court's conviction of a Gram Sevak for accepting a bribe of Rs. 150 during a trap. The Court rejected the defense that tainted notes were secretly placed in his pocket, finding the prosecution testimony credible and the trap meticulously choreographed.

What did the court decide?

Appeal dismissed; conviction upheld; appellant to surrender to bail bonds by 16th August, 2012.

Arjun Pralhad Shinde Vs the State of Maharasthra — Corruption | Bombay HC (2012)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD

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CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 17 OF 2000

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Arjun s/o Pralhad Shinde, Age 41 years, Occ. Service, R/o. Parali Vaijnath, Tq. Parali Vaijnath, District Beed ...Appellant

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Versus

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The State of Maharashtra (Copy to be served on Public Prosecutor, High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Bench at Aurangabad) ...Respondent

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Mr. S.P. Brahme h/f Mr. M.K. Deshpande, advocate for appellant

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Mr. N.H. Borade, APP for respondent-State

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CORAM : K.U. CHANDIWAL, J.

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DATED : 13TH JULY, 2012

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JUDGMENT :-

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The appellant, feeling aggrieved by the judgment and order

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dated 24.12.1999, passed by the Additional Sessions Judge/Special Judge, Beed in Special Case No. 67 of 1991, thereby the appellant

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has been convicted for the offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and directed to suffer R.I. for a

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period of two years and to pay fine of 1,000/- i/d to suffer further R.I. for six months and also convicted for an offence punishable under Sections 13(1) (d) r.w. 13(2) of the said Act directing to suffer R.I. for a period of two years and to pay fine of 1000/- i/d to suffer further R.I. for a period of six months, has impugned the said judgment.

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2. FACTS

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In 1991, the appellant was serving as a Gram Sevak of village Adgaon and an additional charge of Gram Sevak of village Bhend (Khurd) was assigned to him. He was also Gram Sevak of village Sultanpur. The complainant Rustum Rakh (deceased) a freedom fighter and Ex-service-man, had agricultural properties at village Sultanpur, had submitted an application alongwith requisite papers to the appellant on 2.3.1991 for forwarding the same to the Block Development Officer for the purpose of sanctioning of bank loan and for availing the subsidies, as per the Government Rules. The appellant demanded bribe of 150/- for forwarding the file to the competent authority. The appellant did not reduce the amount of gratification, though urged by the complainant. Dattatraya, son of the complainant Rustum, was all throughout present with him. The complainant assured the appellant that he would pay the amount of 150/- on Monday, 4^th March, 1991 at the office of Panchayat Samiti, Georai.

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The place was suggested by appellant. Thereafter, the complainant with his son Dattatraya decided not to pay the bribe money to the accused and approached the officials of Anti Corruption Bureau, Beed (for short “A.C.B.”), where Rustum Rakh lodged his report with Bhaurao Chavan, Dy. S. P. (P.W.4) against the appellant (Exh.15). The said report was reduced into writing. In order to arrange a trap, services of two Government servants were solicited viz. Vasant Kute (P.W.1) and Khwaja Nadim Siddiqui, to act as panchas. These two witnesses were introduced to the complainant and also the staff members. The complainant, being asked by P.W.4, narrated his report to the panch witnesses orally. It was verified by the panch witnesses by reading the same (Exh.15). They signed it. Personal search of the complainant and his son was taken including the members of raiding party, however, nothing incriminating was found. The amount of 150/- scheduled to be given as a bribe was smeared with anthracene. Its peculiar characters were demonstrated to the witnesses under ultra violet Rays. The pre trap panchnama (Exh.16) was drawn detailing the number of currency notes, which were in the denomination of 100/-, three notes of 10/- and one note of 20/-.

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Pursuant to the arrangement, on 4.3.1991, the complainant Rustum Rakh, his son, panch witnesses Kute, came to the office of Panchayat Samiti, Georai, while the other officials/members of the

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raiding team remained at a safe distance waiting for the signal from the complainant. The appellant was in the meeting. He was called by the complainant out of the meeting hall, they discussed in respect of forwarding the proposal for bank loan of the complainant to the officials. The appellant said that the loan proposal is sent in the morning and asked for money. The complainant handed over 150/smeared with anthracene which the appellant kept in the right side hip pocket of his trouser (backside pocket of his pant/trouser). After receiving money, the appellant left to attend the meeting. On signaling, the team waiting outside rushed forward. The appellant was called from the meeting hall and by ensuring that his hands could not come in contact to anything else, he was taken to nearby room of D.R.D.A.. He was questioned about the events. He was found to be nervous and hesitant. His hands were put under ultra violet lamp which showed bluish shining on the fingers of his right hand. The officers asked to the appellant where the tainted money are kept, upon which the same was removed by the appellant from his hip pocket alongwith his amount of 206/-. The amount of ` 150/- was verified with the details recorded in pre-trap panchnama and also indicated positive for anthracene powder. Four files of bank loans including the file of the complainant was also taken charge in presence of panchas.

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The defence of the accused is that he was in the meeting on

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4.3.1991. He was called out of the meeting hall by the complainant and secretly the tainted notes were placed in his hip pocket without his demand. The appellant desired to prove this factum by defence witness D.W.1 Shankar Rangnathrao Walke, a clerk in the office of Panchayat Samiti, Georai.

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The post trap panchnama (Ex.17) was drawn, when before arrest, the accused stated to the panch witnesses and the investigator of having received the bribe amount of ` 150/- from the complainant and it was in his hip pocket. This was removed at the instructions of the investigator (P.W.4) Chavan by another panch Siddiqui. Substitute pant for wearing was brought from the house of the accused and his pocket of pant which he wore at the time of incident showed specific shining, taken charge under panchnama. After panchnama, a copy thereof was furnished to the accused under his signature. The offence at the instance of P.W.4 was registered against the appellant.

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The Superintendent of Police (A.C.B.) Aurangabad on 28.8.1991 sent the investigation papers to the then Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Beed Shri Bhalhandra Ganpat Veer (P.W.3) for appropriate sanction for initiating prosecution against the accused. The sanctioning authority (P.W.3), after evaluation of record, had issued necessary

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sanction on 5.9.1991 (Exh.26) for prosecution against the accused under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. After completion of investigation, charge sheet was filed against the accused on 28.10.1991.

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Charge was explained to the accused on 13.8.1998, to which the accused-appellant pleaded not guilty and claimed his trial. His defence was of total denial and that he did not make any demand. The currency notes of ` 150/- were secretly placed in the back side pocket of his pant by the complainant.

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Before the learned Special Judge, the prosecution has examined panch/shadow witnesses P.W.1 Vasant Tatyarao Kute, P.W.2 Dattatraya Rustum Rakh-the son of the complainant, who was present all throughout at the time of demand, acceptance and the process of pre-trap panchnama, post trap panchnama. P.W.3 Bhalchandra Ganpat Veer, is the sanctioning authority while P.W.4 Bhaurao Rupchand Chavan was the investigating Officer. As stated earlier, Shankar Rangnathrao Walke was examined as defence witness below Exh.14.

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SUBMISSIONS :-

Mr. Brahme, the learned counsel for the appellant has read evidence of these witnesses and has concentrated his points of arguments that;-

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a. foundational fact of demand by the appellant not proved.

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b. there is no corroboration to the evidence of P.W.2 Dattatraya about demanding the money.

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c. P.W.1 panch could not hear the conversation and did not support the demand.

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In order to stress his points, the learned counsel has placed reliance to the judgments in the following matters:-

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i) State of Maharashtra Vs. Dnyaneshwar Laxman Rao Wankhede, (2010 (1) Bom.C.R. (Cri) 247).

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ii) Panalal Damodar Rathi vs. State of Maharashtra (AIR 1979 SC 1191) para 7 and 8.

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iii) V. Venkata Subbarao vs. State (AIR 2007 SC 489) para 12.

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iv) Ram Prakash Arora Vs. State of Punjab (AIR 1973 SC 498) para 7.

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v) Banarsi Dass Vs. State of Haryana (2010) 4 SCC 450) para 20 and 24.

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vi) Megha Singh Vs. State of Haryana (AIR 1995 SC 2339) page 4.

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OBSERVATIONS/REASONS :-

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In the matter of Dnyaneshwar (supra), the Hon’ble Lordships observed thus:-

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“Indisputably, the demand of illegal gratification is a sine qua non for constitution of offence under the provisions of the Act. For arriving at the conclusion as to whether all the ingredients of an offence viz. demand, acceptance and recovery of the amount of illegal gratification have been satisfied or not, the Court must take into consideration the facts and circumstances brought on the record in their entirety. For the said purpose, indisputably, the presumptive evidence, as is laid down in Section 20 of the Act, must also be taken into consideration but then in respect thereof, it is trite, the standard of burden of proof on the accused vis-a-vis the standard of burden of proof on the prosecution would differ.

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In the matter of Panalal Damodar Rathi Vs. State of Maharashtra (supra) , in para 7 and 8, it is observed thus:-

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“7. There could be no doubt that the evidence of the complainant should be corroborated in material particulars After introduction of Section 165-A of the Indian Penal Code making the person who offers bribe guilty of abetment of bribery, the complainant cannot be placed on any better footing than that of an accomplice and

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corroboration in material particulars connecting the accused with the crime has to be insisted upon. It has to be borne in mind that the marked notes were recovered from the possession of the second accused and not the appellant; It is the case of the prosecution that the marked notes were paid to the second accused for the purpose of being handed over to the appellant. The evidence of the complainant regarding the conversation between him and the accused has been set out earlier. As the entire case of the prosecution depends upon the acceptance of the evidence relating to the conversation between the complainant and the appellant during which the appellant demanded the money and directed payment to the second accused which was accepted by the complainant, we will have to see whether this part of the evidence of the complainant has been corroborated. The prosecution relies on the testimony of PW 3. the Panch witness, as corroborating the evidence of the complainant on this aspect. It may be reiterated that according to the complainant when he asked the appellant to relieve him from the case and to see that he was given a lesser sentence, the appellant asked him if he had brought the money and the complainant told him that he had and the appellant asked the complainant to pay the money to Dalvi, the second accused, and asked the second accused to receive the money from the complainant On this aspect the evidence of PW 3 is as follows:

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They saw the appellant coming out of the court hall and the complainant informed them that he was the Police Prosecutor. Then there was a talk between the complainant and the appellant in the verandah. The witness was at a distance of 3 to 4 feet from them and was in a position to overhear the conversation According to the witness he heard the appellant asking the complainant "Have you come", the complainant then said ."Yes". The witness further heard the appellant saying that he would see that heavy punishment is not inflicted and the case as it is, was difficult. The complainant had then asked the appellant whether his work will be achieved. The appellant assured him in the affirmative. The appellant told the complainant to give what was to be given to the second accused.

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It will be seen that the version of the complainant that

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the appellant asked the complainant whether he had brought the money and the complainant told him that he had and that the appellant asked him to pay the money to the second accused is not spoken to the Panch witness PW 3 According to Panch witness on the complainant asking the appellant whether his work will be acheived, the appellant answered in the affirmative and the appellant told the complainant what was to be given to the second accused. It is significant that PW 3 does not mention about the appellant asking the complainant whether he had brought the money and on the complainant replying in the affirmative asking the complainant to pay the money to the second accused. Omission by PW 3 to refer to any mention of money by the appellant would show that there is no corroboration of testimony of the complainant regarding the demand for the money by the appellant. On this crucial aspect, therefore, it has to be found that the version of the complainant is not corroborated and, therefore, the evidence of the complainant on this aspect cannot be relied on.”

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In the matter of Ram Prakash Arora vs. State of Punjab (supra) , the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in paragraph no.7 observed thus:

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“7. On behalf of the appellant it has been strenuously urged that the case of the prosecution stands falsified by these facts. If the appellant wanted any illegal gratification for facilitating the giving of the connection he would have done that on or before February 12, 1968 and before the order of sanction was made on February 13, 1968 by the S.D.O. Once this order had been made there was nothing more which was to be done and it is wholly unbelievable that he should have asked for a petty sum of ` 20/- on February 15, 1968 by telling Jogindar Singh that the fitting was not proper and there were certain other defects and that if delay was to be avoided the amount in question should be paid to him as illegal gratification. On behalf of the State it has been pointed out that Joginder Singh had not been informed about the sanction having been by the S.D.O. and he must have thought that the fixing of the connection would be delayed until the demand made by the appellant was satisfied. Secondary, and lot of stress

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has been laid on this, the appellant had no business to go to the shop of Joginder Singh on the afternoon of the 15th February unless the story of the prosecution is accepted that he went there in accordance with the arrangement made in the earlier part of the day that he would reach the shop in the afternoon for taking ` 20/- from Joginder Singh. The explanation of the appellant was that he had gone near the shop of Joginder Singh because he was to do some work with which he was entrusted by the S.D.O. in the neighbourhood of Joginder Singh's shop. The S.D.O. gave evidence that a pole mounting sub-station was to be erected which was to be fixed at a place which admittedly was in the same locality as Joginder Singh's shop and the appellant was paid certain amount from the office for the purchase of bricks etc. for carrying out the work there. He further stated that he had directed the appellant on February 15, 1968 that he should get that work started on the same day, namely, February 15, 1968. At the time when the D.S.P.(Mit Singh) took possession of various articles from the person of the appellant he also took into possession all the files found on the cycle of the appellant. It is significant that among those files the file relating to the giving of the connection to Joginder Singh was not to be found. Mit Singh did not take that file into possession even from the office of the S.D.O. till about the 8th of March. Curiously enough the Special Judge made a point out of it against the appellant that since the file remained in the office of the S.D.O. the orders could be made on that file at any time. He has even made some comments which seem to suggest that he entertained a suspicion that the S.D.O. had made certain entries to help the appellant. We consider it highly unfair that any such inference should have been drawn when the S.D.O. was not properly cross-examined on this point. The learned judge could not legitimately have doubted the bona fides of Shri Vashist in the absence of any material in his cross-examination to cast any doubt on his conduct. There was no suggestion that D.S.P. Mit Singh wanted to take into possession the file relating to the connection applied for by Joginder Singh and any obstruction was placed in his way by the SDO or any one else in the office of the Electricity Department. On the contrary the court should have looked askance at the conduct of investigation by the DS.P. who had no business to wait till the 8th March to take that file into possession.”

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The crucial point in the matter is, whether the evidence of P.W.1 and P.W.2 brings within the four corners of requisitions of demand by the appellant.

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Rustum, the complainant, could not be examined as he expired on 9.1.1994 before evaluating the evidence of the prosecution witnesses. One has to be alive to the fact that the evidence is recorded after eight years of the occurrence and naturally the photogenic or microscopic expressions from two witnesses should not be expected. The witnesses do not hold grudge against appellant, and evidence needs to be appreciated in context of set of documents drawn/available on 2.3.1991 or 4.3.1991.

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P.W.1 Vasant, the panch, in para 3 of his deposition, narrated the events as under:-

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“----- There is the varandah of office of Panchayat Samiti, Georai, Shri Rakh made an enquiry to one peon about Arjun Shinde, then that peon disclosed that the meeting was going on and Shri Shinde was in that meeting. Thereupon, Shri Rustumrao Rakh went towards the door of meeting hall and called Arjun Shinde out of the hall by making gesture. However, Shri Shinde had asked Rustum Rakh to sit a while. After some time, Shri Arjun Shinde came out of the meeting hall. Shri Arjun Shinde on coming out of the meeting hall, disclosed to Rakh that his matter is filed for necessary sanction of loan. Thereupon Rustumrao Rakh told to Shri Arjun Shinde that he had come as per his direction. Thereupon, Shri Arjun Shinde asked Rustum

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Rakh that he should give the same and there should not be any hesitation. Then Shri Rakh took out an amount from the pocket of banian with the left hand and give the same to Arjun Shinde and Arjun Shinde, Gramsevak has taken the said amount by his right hand and kept the same in the right side hip pocket of his full pant. Thereafter Shri Rustumrao Rakh went to some distance in varandah and gave signal to the other members of raiding party as per the instructions and I had followed Arjun Shinde in the meeting hall. Within a short moment, one constable from raiding party rushed in a meeting hall, and he asked me as to who was that person, and I pointed out Arjun Shinde as that person. I again say that two constables had rushed in the meeting hall and both of them caught hold the hands of Arjun Shinde by the right side. Thereupon, some moments took place in meeting hall, by that time Shri Kohot, came inside the meeting hall and introduced himself to Block Development Officer. ......... Thereupon, accused Shinde told that he accepted money and kept the same in the right side back pocket of his full pant. There the light of the torch was focused on the hands of accused Arjun. Thereupon, a bluish shining was noticed on the fingers of right hand. There Shri Rakh was also called and on the left hand fingers of Rakh also bluish shining was noticed on focusing the light of torch.”

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On this aspect, the evidence of P.W.2 Dattatraya, son of the complainant, is as under:-

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“Inside the office of Panchayat Samiti, Georai, my father made an enquiry with one employee about the accused. That employee had disclosed that accused was present in a meeting hall. Thereafter, my father peeped inside meeting hall and called accused out of the meeting hall. Accused came out of the meeting hall. Thereupon my father asked accused about his work. Thereupon accused told to my father that he submitted four files including my father’s file with the Office. My father told to accused that he came for the cause of which he was called by him (accused). Accused asked my father to give money by saying whether they committed theft. Thereupon my father took out bribe money from the pocket of his shirt with the help of left hand and gave the same to accused. Shinde accepted the same by right hand. After accepting money, accused kept that money

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in the right side hip pocket of his pant. Thereafter,the accused again went inside the meeting hall, and sat there. Panch Shri Kute was present with us and he has seen all these events. After going of accused inside meeting hall, my father went towards varandah. Panch Kute stood at the door of the meeting hall, keeping watch on the accused. On coming in varandah, my father took the wheel of his turban from his back towards front side with the help of his right hand and made signal to the members for the raiding party. On giving signal by my father, Shri Kohok, Misal, Shri Pathak, Shri Jadhav, Siddiqui and others rushed inside meeting hall and caught hold the hands of the accused by wrist side. Thereafter, the accused was taken in a room of D.R.D. I and my father were asked to wait outside. After about 15 minutes to 20 minutes, I and my father were called inside D.R.D. Room. Inside the room of D.R.D., the left hand of my father and his shirt pocket were seen in ultra violet lamp and bluish shining on left hand and on shirt pocket of my father was noticed.”

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The post trap panchnama (Exh.17) in clear tune indicates that there was demand by the accused-appellant before he could be branded as an accused, he accepted having received the amount of ` 150/- from the complainant. He was nervous. However, he did not attribute, the tainted notes were secretly stacked in his pant pocket. In the report of deceased complainant (Exh.15) there is reference of demand by the accused of illegal gratification for doing the official work as a public servant. The complainant could not be examined due to his death, however, that will not shatter the evidentiary value of report at Exh.15, as the same has been coherently established under the provisions of law by P.W.1, P.W.2 and also the investigator P.W.4. There cannot be a capital for want of proof to the report Exh.15. It cannot be said that Dattatraya, being the son of deceased, is an

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interested witness. In a matter of such type when he was present all throughout, he could not be discarded as a interested witness or that he desired to ensure conviction of the appellant.

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The appreciation of evidence of P.W.2 leads no iota of doubt that it is convincing and is not perfunctory or has an impact of falsehoodness. P.W.2 has sufficiently narrated as to under what circumstances, he being the only son aged 23/24 years was accompanying his old father, who was Freedom Fighter and Exserviceman. It is curious that P.W.2 Dattatraya was suggested, since his father was honest, God fearing, hence his father ensured presence of Dattatraya to avoid attending the court case to speak lie. This shows that Rustum Rakh was a person with credential and had no reason to falsely rope in to the appellant for illegal gratification.

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Marshalling of evidence of P.W.1 & 2 illustrates that, there was demand on 2.3.1991 and on 4.3.1991 after reaching the office of Panchayat Samiti Georai (as per instructions of appellant), the appellant was called from the meeting hall by Rustum Rakh and he inquired with the appellant as to what has happened to his matter, to which the appellant replied that his papers are submitted and the appellant asked Rustum Rakh that he should give the same and there should not be any hesitation. It is reiterated that by accepting the

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money, no offence is committed by the appellant, “Whether we have committed theft of anybody.” Dialogue of appellant is demonstrated in Exh.17 in Marathi conveying clear message of demand. The version of P.W.1, of appellant suggesting the demand, will not dilute the worth and no other meaning can be inferred or attached to it than intend of demand and knowingly acceptance by the appellant. The appellant had consciously put the tainted notes in his hip-pocket, which appears to be his habit as there were already other currency notes in it.

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In the matter of Panalal (supra) the Hon’ble Supreme Court was dealing with the provisions of Section 165(1) of I.P.C. and Section 5(1) and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947, as was prevalent and in that context the observations were made. The factual situation occasioned in the case of Panalal (supra) about conversation is on a different pedestal than the factual situation occasioned in the instance case, demonstrated by P.W.1. The version of P.W.2 Dattatraya is corroborated by P.W.1 Kute and no doubt can be expressed about authenticity and legality thereof. It cannot be said that there is lack of corroboration to the evidence of witnesses. In the case of Panalal (supra) even the marked notes were not recovered from accused. The Lordship felt the complicity of the appellant is said to be established by conversion that took place between the complainant and the appellant in presence of P.W.3. The

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version of P.W.3 and the complainant was found not consistent.

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Revisiting the facts, even the defence taken by the appellant indicates that the currency notes were found in his hip pocket of pant which he asserted to be placed secretly. From acceptance of the amount of ` 150/- by the appellant for illegal work bears up on its stand of illegal gratification. Normally, no one accepts the gratification as a motive or reward without there being a nexus between the acceptance and the purpose. The purpose here was processing the file of Rustum for loan proposal to the superior authority, which was within the domain of the appellant. The demand for doing such official act was itself illegal and the demand is implicit in the entire affair being proved. The panchnama Exh.16 and 17, report Exh.15, application of Rustum Rakh Exh.21 (produced in cross examination by the appellant) establish the chain of events including the details of currency notes in panchnama (Exh. 16 and 17) smeared with anthracene.

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The non seizure of shirt of the deceased will not shatter the prosecution case to a stage of doubt. The negotiations, on 2.3.1991, having taken place in presence of P.W.2 and demand being proved by P.W.2 and on 4.3.1991 established the charge against the accused.

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The sanction accorded by P.W.3 illustrates that he has, on

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verification of record of investigation, satisfied himself and accorded the sanction. P.W.3 states as per the record that the appellant on 2.3.1991 attempted and agreed to obtain a sum of 150/- for himself and on 4.3.1991 the accused Arjun Shinde attempted to obtain and accepted a sum of150/- for himself from the complainant Rustum Rakh, as a gratification other than the legal remuneration as a motive

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or reward for forwarding the bank loan proposal for sanctioning in favour of Rustum Rakh and accused Arjun Shinde on 4.3.1991 had obtained pecuniary advantage for himself by abusing his position as a public servant.

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It is needless to reiterate that the appellate court should be slow in reappreciating the evidence. The learned Special Judge had occasion to examine the demeanor of the witnesses and the learned Special Judge has indeed appreciated the evidence in its entirety.

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In the case of Khem Karan and others Vs. State of U.P. and

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another (AIR 1974 SC 1567) it has been observed thus:-

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“Further, neither mere possibilities nor remote probabilities nor mere attempts which are not reasonable can, without danger to the administration of justice, be the foundation of the acquittal of an accused person, if there is otherwise clearly credible testimony. If the trial courts judgment verges on the perverse, the appellate court has a duty to set the evaluation right and pass a proper order.”

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The defence of the accused, projected through D.W.1, that the notes were secretly dumped in pant pocket will not placid the cemented evidence of two prosecution witnesses. After 8-9 years such a defence is calculatedly made and the afterthought. In varandah where public access is eloquent, it does not apply to reason to foist currency notes brazenly. Had it been a case, there would have been sharp and violent reaction from the appellant, as the Block Development Officer and others were present in meeting, from where appellant was unceremoniously by putting his wrist untouched to any other object was removed, to nearby secluded room. No previous animosity. It was appellant alone to forward proposal for loan to superiors. He had domain and control over the application of Rustum Rakh. The another defence of the appellant of written notes in terms of 233(2) Cr.P.C. placed at Exh.36 before the learned Special Judge also shows acceptance of entire evidence only with a caveat that the amount of ` 150/- might have been placed secretly in his hip pocket. Again, the appellant could have put up his grievance to sanctioning authority P.W.3. Appellant was immediately suspended. He accepted everything without demur.

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The over all survey of evidence shows that the trap was meticulously choreographed and successful. This was in furtherance of demand made by the appellant on 2.3.1991. The recovery of

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tainted currency notes are not divorced from circumstances under which it was paid. There is no merit in the appeal. It is accordingly dismissed.

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The appellant to surrender to the bail bonds upto 16^th August, 2012.

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Arjun Pralhad Shinde v. the State of Maharasthra

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Arjun Pralhad Shinde v. the State of Maharasthra

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