DIVAKAR SINGH Vs. C B I A C B L
LAWS(ALL)-2008-2-63
HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
Decided on February 26,2008

DIVAKAR SINGH Appellant
VERSUS
C B I A C B L Respondents

JUDGEMENT

- (1.) AMAR Saran, J. Heard learned Counsel for applicants, Sri G. S. Hajela, learned Counsel for the CBI and Sri V. K. Misra, learned AGA.
(2.) THE charge-sheet submitted by the CBI and the order dated 5. 9. 2007 taking cognizance on the basis of the charge-sheet under sections 120-B, 420, 467, 468 and 471 IPC and section 13 (2) read with section 13 (I) (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, SBI, ACB, Lucknow has been challenged in this application under section 482 Cr. P. C. It has been vehemently contended that the applicant had never denied his liability to having accepted the loan and in fact he has been paying back and has substantially repaid the amount before submission of the charge-sheet. However, a perusal of the documents shows that it cannot be said that no prima facie offence whatsoever has been disclosed in the charge-sheet. It has been specifically mentioned in the charge-sheet that there was a conspiracy between the applicants and the other accused. Sri A. K. Singh Dixit, Branch Manager, SBI, Colonel Ganj, disbursed the housing loan of Rs. 6,00,000/- to the applicants during 2003-04, out of which Rs. 5,85,000/- was disbursed within 1. 5 months. The applicants' loan account was introduced by the co-accused G. R. Tewari, Proprietor of G. R. Associates, Allahabad. The three applicants submitted fake income tax returns. The investigation has revealed that the entire loan was sanctioned without pre or post-sanction survey and without adhering to the banking norms. The loan amount was not utilised towards the purpose it was sanctioned as no constructions were found at the given address and the total outstanding balance in respect of the loan was Rs. 5,39,000/ -. It may further be noted that due to this conspiracy involving many of such cases there was a loss to the public exchequer to the tune of Rs. 1,74,4300/- in which various accused persons including the applicants are said to be involved.
(3.) THE contention of the learned Counsel that the bar under section 19 (3) (c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act preventing Courts staying proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act should apply only to the public servants and that the applicants were private persons. However, this argument is of no avail to the applicants when they have been found involved in a conspiracy with other accused persons one of whom is a public servant to indulge criminal acts causing loss to the public exchequer. One last contention of the learned Counsel for the applicants is that no detailed reasons was given by the Court below for summoning the applicants vide the impugned order dated 5. 9. 2007. In the case of Dy. Chief Controller v. Roshan Lal, 2003 (46) ACC 686 (SC) = 2003 (5) AIC 416 (SC) = 2003 (4) SCC 139 it has been held that the learned Magistrate is not required to give detailed reasons for passing an order summoning the accused. I also find sufficient discussion in the summoning order. Thus, there is no substance in this contention also.;


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