Adesh Kumar Gupta and Anr v. CBI and Anr

o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)oCRM MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M) thReservedoono:o10 oMarch,o2025o thPronouncedoono:o20 oMarch,o2025o AdeshoKumaroGuptao&oanothero …oPetitionerso Versusoo CentraloBureauoofoInvestigationo&oanothero …oRespondentso CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoMANJARIoNEHRUoKAULo Arguedoby:ooMr.oS.K.oGargoNarwana,oSenioroAdvocateowitho Mr.oVishaloGargoNarwana,oMr.oNitinoSachdevao&oo Mr.oRajatoSheokand,oAdvocatesoforotheopetitioners.oo o o Mr.oRavioKamaloGupta,oAdvocateoforotheorespondent/CBI.o MANJARIooNEHRUooKAUL,ooJ.o o 1.o TheoinstantopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.o foroquashingoofoFIRoNo.RC0052022A0015odatedo28.04.2022o(Annexureo P-19)o registeredo ato Policeo Stationo CBI,o ACB,o CHG,o Chandigarho foro offencesopunishableounderoSectiono13(2)oreadowithoSectiono13(1)(e)oofo theoPreventionoofoCorruptionoAct,o1988o(hereinafteroreferredotooas,o'theo PCo Act'o ofo 'theo Act')o ando Sectiono 109o ofo theo IPC,o alongo witho allo consequentialoproceedingsoarisingotherefrom.oo o 2.o CASEoOFoTHEoPROSECUTION/CBI:-o o (i)o Inotheoyearo2018,opetitioneroNo.1owasoarrestedoinoconnectiono withoFIRoNo.RCCHG2018A0010odatedo19.04.2018o(hereinafteroreferredo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 2o o tooasotheo'firstoFIR'),oregisteredoforooffencesopunishableounderoSectiono 120-BoofotheoIPCoandoSectiono7oofotheoP.C.oAct,oatoPoliceoStationoCBI,o ACB,oChandigarh.o o (ii)o Followingo theo registrationo ofo theo firsto FIR,o ao searcho waso conductedo ato theo residentialo premiseso ofo petitionero No.1.o Duringotheocourseoofotheoinvestigation,ofurtherosearchesowereocarriedoouto atobothotheoresidentialoandorentedopremisesoofopetitioneroNo.1oandohiso wife,opetitioneroNo.2.oAsoaoresultoofotheseosearches,oitocameotoolightothato petitioneroNo.1ohadoamassedoassets,obothomovableoandoimmovable,oinohiso ownoname,oasowelloasoinotheonamesoofohisowifeo(petitioneroNo.2),oando theirotwoochildren.oTheoinvestigationofurtherorevealedothatotheseoassetso wereo disproportionateo too hiso knowno sourceso ofo income.o Allegedly,o petitioneroNo.1ohadoabusedohisoofficialopositionoasoaopublicoservantoando illicitlyo accumulatedo theseo assetso duringo theo checko periodo fromooooooooooooooooo Aprilo2007otooMarcho2018.oo o 3.oooooooSUBMISSIONSoONoBEHALFoOFoTHEoPETITIONERSo o (i)o Learnedo senioro counselo appearingo foro theo petitionerso vehementlyocontendedothatotheopetitionersohadobeenofalselyoimplicatedoino theo presento FIR,o whicho waso registeredo aftero ano inordinateo ando unexplainedo delayo ofo fouro yearso followingo theo registrationo ofo FIRo No.RCCoHD-2018A0010odatedo19.04.2018.oItowasoaomatterooforecordo that,opursuantotootheoallegedotrap,otheoCBIoconductedoaosearchoatotheo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 3o o o (ii)o Learnedoseniorocounsel,owhileodrawingotheoattentionoofothiso Courto too Annexureo P-14,o furthero submittedo thato theo petitionerso hado movedo ano applicationo beforeo theo learnedo Specialo Judge,o CBIo Court,o Panchkula,o seekingo theo releaseo ofo jewelleryo valuedo ato approximatelyo ₹1.83ocroresoandoforode-freezingoofotheobankoaccountsoandoassociatedo lockersobelongingotoo theopetitioneroando hiso family.o Theseo assetsohado beenoseizedoduringotheocourseoofoinvestigationobyotheoCBI.oTheolearnedo SpecialoJudgeoallowedotheosaidoapplicationovideoorderodatedo22.03.2022.o However,odespiteotheocategoricalodirectionoofotheolearnedoSpecialoJudge,o theoCBI/respondentodeliberatelyoandounjustifiablyofailedotoocomplyowitho theosaidoorderoand,oonooneopretextoorotheoother,ocontinuedotoodelayoitso execution.oo

(iii)o Learnedo senioro counselo stillo furthero submittedo that,o aso evidento fromo Annexureo P-19,o aftero ano unexplainedo ando unjustifiableo delayoofofouroyears,otheoCBI,oinoaocalculatedoattemptotoocircumventotheo ordero datedo 22.03.2022o ofo theo learnedo Specialo Judge,o maliciouslyo registeredo ao secondo FIR,o beingo FIRo No.RCCHG-2022-A0006,o datedo

28.04.2022,oagainstopetitioneroNo.1oAdeshoKumaroGuptaoandohisowifeo petitioneroNo.2oMeenakshioGupta,oallegingothatotheyohadoamassedoassetso disproportionateo too theiro knowo sourceso ofo incomeo duringo theo checko periodoofo2007otoo2018.o

(iv)o Learnedoseniorocounsel,owhileoinvitingotheoattentionoofothiso CourtotootheotwooFIRsoannexedoasoAnnexureoP-4oandoP-19,osubmittedo thatoaobareoperusaloofobothoFIRsorevealsothatotheyoariseofromotheosameo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 4o o courseoofoeventsoandorelateotootheosameoallegations.oConsequently,otheo registrationoofotheosecondoFIRodatedo28.04.2022,oisopatentlyoillegaloando ino directo contraventiono ofo settledo legalo principleso governingo theo prohibitionoofomultipleoFIRsoonotheosameocauseoofoaction.oInosupportoofo thisocontention,orelianceowasoplacedoono'AmitbhaioAnilchandraoShahovs.o CBIoandoanother'o(2013)o6oSCCo348oando'T.T.o Antonyovs.oStateoofo Kerala',o(2001)o6oSCCo181.oAttentionowasodrawnotootheorelevantoextracto ofoAmitbhaioAnilchandraoShah'socaseo(supra)owhichoreadsothus:oo o "19.o Ito iso usefulo too refero theo relevanto excerptso fromotheoaboveodecisionoinooRubabbuddinoSheikhovs.oStateo ofoGujaratoandoOtherso(2010)o2oSCCo200,owhichoareoaso under:o '(i)oTheowritopetitioneroalsooseeksotheoregistrationoofo anooffenceoandoinvestigationobyoCBIointootheoallegedo encountero ofo oneo Tulsiram,o ao closeo associateo ofo Sohrabuddin,owhoowasoallegedlyousedotoolocateoando abductoSohrabuddinoandohisowifeoKausarbi,oandowaso thusoaomaterialowitnessoagainstotheopoliceopersonnel.o o (ii)o Theo reporto expresslyo stateso thato noo linko ofo TulsiramoPrajapatiohadobeenoestablishedoinothisocase.o Theothirdopersonowhoowasoabductedowasonototoobeo theosaidoTulsiramoPrajapati.o o (iii)oOno02.08.2007,otheoseventhoactionotakenoreporto waso filed,o whicho statedo thato theo thirdo persono whoo waso pickedo upo waso oneo Kalimuddin,o whoo waso suspectedotoobeoanoinformeroofotheoPolice.o o (iv)oFromotheocharge-sheet,oitoalsooappearsothatotheo thirdo persono waso "sento somewhere".o However,o ito appearsothatotheoliteralotranslationoofotheocharge-sheeto CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 5o o inoGujaratiowouldomeanothatoheowaso"anyhowomadeo toodisappear".o o (v)o Ito alsoo appearso fromo theo charge-sheeto thato ito identifiesotheothirdopersonowhoowasotakenotooDishao farmo aso Kalimuddin.o Buto ito doeso noto containo theo detailso ofo whato happenedo too himo onceo heo waso abducted.oTheopossibilityoofotheothirdopersonobeingo TulsiramoPrajapatiocannotobeoruledoout,oalthoughotheo policeoauthoritiesoorotheoStateohadomadeoallopossibleo effortsotooshowothatoitowasonotoTulsiram.o o (vi)o Similarly,o ito waso submittedo thato non-identificationoofotheothirdopersonowhoowasoabductedo alongo witho Sohrabuddino ando Kausarbio wouldo alsoo notoaffectotheoprosecutionocase."o o o (v)o Whileo furthero drawingo theo attentiono ofo thiso Courto too AnnexureoP-1,olearnedoseniorocounselosubmittedothatotheoCBIoarbitrarilyo determinedotheocheckoperiodoasoextendingofromoAprilo2007otooMarcho 2018,odespiteotheofactothat,oduringothisoperiod,otheoCBI/respondentohado madeo repeatedo buto unsuccessfulo attemptso too falselyo implicateo theo petitioners.oHowever,onooincriminatingomaterialowasoeverofoundoagainsto them.oItowasofurtherosubmittedothatotheopetitioneroNo.1ohadonotopurchasedo anyoimmovableopropertyobetweeno2014oando2018,oandohadoonlyodisposedo ofoaopropertyosituatedoinoSaharanpuroinotheoyearo2015oforoaosumoofo`27.00o lacs,owhichofactowasoaomatterooforecord.o o (vi)o Learnedo senioro counselo furthero contendedo thato theo entireo investigationo conductedo byo theo CBIo iso riddledo witho materialo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 6o o irregularities,oprimaofacieoestablishingoaoclearoattemptoonotheopartoofotheo CBIotoofalselyoimplicateopetitioneroNo.1.oHeosubmittedothatopetitionero No.1,oatotheorelevantotime,owasoservingoasoaoJointoSecretaryoleveloofficero witho ao pay-scaleo rangingo fromo ₹o 1,44,210/-o too ₹o 2,18,200/-.o Despiteo beingofullyoawareoofothisofact,otheoCBI,oinoblatantoviolationoofotheoCBIo Crimeo Manual,o failedo too obtaino theo requisiteo permissiono fromo theo competentoauthorityo beforeoconductingo theo searcho ato theo residenceoofo petitioneroNo.1.o o (vii)o LearnedoseniorocounselosubmittedothatotheoCBIoManualoisoao sacrosancto documento thato prescribeso mandatoryo proceduralo guidelineso foroinvestigations.oHowever,otheoCBI/respondents,oinoutterodisregardoofo itsoprovisions,oconductedotheosearchowithoutoadheringotootheoprescribedo procedure.oLearnedoseniorocounseloparticularlyodrewotheoattentionoofothiso Courto too Clauseo 6.2.1o ofo Annexureo 6Ao ofo theo CBIo Manual,o whicho unequivocallyo stipulateso thato onlyo theo Director,o Specialo Director,o oro Additionalo Directoro ofo theo CBIo iso competento too authorizeo ao searcho againsto ano officero ofo theo ranko ofo theo petitioner.o Contraryo too thiso requirement,o theo searcho ino theo presento caseo waso orderedo byo theo SuperintendentoofoPolice,owhooactedobeyondohisojurisdiction,orenderingo theosearchoillegal.oo o (viii)oInosupportoofothisosubmission,olearnedoseniorocounseloplacedo relianceoonotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino'ShashioKanto vs.oCBI'o2007(1)oSCCo630,owhereinoitowasocategoricallyoheldothatotheo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 7o o provisionso ofo theo CBIo Manualo areo mandatoryo ino natureo ando thato complianceotherewithobyotheoInvestigatingoOfficeroisoimperative.ooo o (ix)o Learnedoseniorocounsel,owhileodrawingotheoattentionoofothiso Courto too theo secondo FIRo No.RCCHG-2022-A0006o datedo 28.04.2022,o submittedo thato theo allegationso levelledo thereino areo renderedo whollyo untenableoinoviewoofotheofactothatotheoFIRoinvokesoSectiono13(2)oreado witho Sectiono 13(1)(e)o ofo theo PCo Act,o whereaso subsequento too theo amendmentoofo2018,oSectiono13(1)(e)ostoodoomittedofromotheoStatuteo withoutoanyosavingoclause.oo o (x)o Learnedoseniorocounselostillofurtherocontendedothat,oinolighto ofotheoprotectionoenshrinedounderoArticleo20oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,o theoprosecutionoofotheopetitioneroNo.1oforoanooffenceothatonoolongeroexistso ino theo Statuteo Booko waso legallyo unsustainable.o Ino supporto ofo thiso contention,olearnedoseniorocounseloplacedorelianceoono'AttaroSinghovs.o TheoCommissioneroRohtakoDivisiono&oothers'o2017(4)oRCRo(Civil)o507o ando 'Rayalao Corporationo Pvt.o Ltd.o ando MRo Pratapo vs.o Directoro ofo EnforcementoNewoDelhi'o1969(2)oSCCo412.ooo o (xi)o LearnedoseniorocounselofurtherosubmittedothatoCBIoactedoino clearoviolationoofoSectiono17AoofotheoPCoAct,obyofailingotooobtainoprioro approvalofromotheocompetentoauthorityobeforeoinitiatingoanoinvestigationo againstotheopetitioneroNo.1.oHeocontendedothatoSectiono17AoofotheoActo mandatedothatonooenquiry,oinquiryooroinvestigationoshallobeoconductedo againstoaopublicoservantoinorespectoofoanyoactodoneoinodischargeoofohiso officialodutiesowithoutotheoprioroapprovaloofotheoappropriateoauthority.o CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 8o o However,o ino blatanto disregardo ofo thiso statutoryo safeguard,o theo CBIo proceededo witho theo investigationo withouto obtainingo theo necessaryo approval,owhich,oinotheopresentocase,ooughtotoohaveobeenosoughtofromotheo MinisteroofoCommunication,oGovernmentoofoIndia.oo o (xii)o Learnedo senioro counselo stillo furthero pointedo outo theo contradictoryostandoadoptedobyotheoCBIoinothisoregard.oWhile,oonotheooneo hand,otheoCBIostatedoinoitsoreplyo(AnnexureoR-1),othatopriorosanctiono underoSectiono17AoofotheoPCoActowasonotorequiredoasotheoallegedoactsoofo theopetitionerodidonotopertainotootheodischargeoofohisoofficialoduties,oono theootherohand,otheoFIRoitselfocategoricallyoassertedothatotheopetitioner,o "byo abusingo hiso officialo positiono whileo workingo aso ao publico servanto duringotheoperiodoi.e.oAprilo2007otooAprilo2018",ocommittedotheoallegedo offence.o Learnedo counselo submittedo thato thiso glaringo contradiction,o furtheroreinforcedotheomalaofideoandoarbitraryonatureoofotheoinvestigation.oo o (xiii)oInosupportoofothisosubmission,orelianceowasoplacedoonotheo judgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino'A.Srinivasuluovs.oTheoStateo rep.obyoTheoInspectoroofoPolice'o2023oSCCoOnlineoSCo900.ooo

4.oSUBMISSIONSoONoBEHALFoOFoTHEoPROSECUTION/CBIo o (i)o Pero contra,o theo learnedo Standingo Counselo foro theo Centralo Bureauo ofo Investigationo (CBI)o vehementlyo opposedo theo submissionso advancedobyotheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioner,oarguingothatothereo existedonoojustifiableogroundoforotheoreliefosought.oHeocontendedothatotheo caseo ato hando involvedo seriouso allegationso ofo corruptiono ando CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 9o o disproportionateoassetsoamassedobyotheopetitioner,owhichonecessitateoao thoroughoinvestigation.o o (ii)o Drawingo theo attentiono ofo thiso Courto too theo sequenceo ofo events,o theo learnedo Standingo Counselo submittedo thato pursuanto too ao successfulo trapo operationo conductedo byo theo CBIo ino theo yearo 2018,o ao searchowasocarriedooutoatotheoresidentialopremisesoofoPetitioneroNo.1.oAso ao resulto ofo thiso search,o ito waso discoveredo thato Petitionero No.1,o ino collusionowithoPetitioneroNo.2,ohadoaccumulatedoassetsodisproportionateo toohisoknownosourcesoofoincome,oamountingotoo₹75,15,32,510/-.oThiso sum,orepresentedoanoexcessoofoapproximatelyo97.4%ooveroandoaboveohiso legitimateoearnings.o o (iii)o TheolearnedoStandingoCounseloassertedothat,owhileoservingoaso aopublicoservant,opetitioneroNo.1,oinotheocapacityoofoPrincipaloGeneralo Manager,oBharatoSancharoNigamoLimitedo(BSNL),oFaridabad,oduringotheo relevantocheckoperiodospanningofromo2007otoo2018,ogrosslyoabusedohiso officialo positiono too acquireo assetso beyondo hiso lawfulo means,o therebyo attractingo theo rigourso ofo theo Preventiono ofo Corruptiono Act,o 1988o (hereinafteroreferredotooasotheo"PCoAct").o o (iv)o Counteringo theo argumentso advancedo ono behalfo ofo theo petitionero regardingo proceduralo irregularities,o theo learnedo Standingo Counseloforcefullyosubmittedothatotheoinvestigationoinotheoinstantocaseo hasobeenoconductedoinoabsoluteocomplianceowithotheoprovisionsoofotheo CBIoManual.oHeoparticularlyoreliedouponoChaptero10,oParagrapho10.16oofo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 10o o theoCBIoCrimeoManual,owhichoexpresslyoprescribedotheoprocedureotoobeo followedoinotrapocasesounderoSectionso7oando13oofotheoPCoAct.oo o (v)o Ito waso emphasisedo thato theo saido provisiono categoricallyo mandatedo thato ino caseso involvingo trapo proceedingso undero theo aforementionedosections,oanoFIRomustobeoregisteredoimmediatelyoupono receiptoofoaobonaofideocomplaintooroinformationothatoprimaofacieoattractso theo provisionso ofo Sectiono 7o (illegalo gratification)o ando Sectiono 13o (criminalomisconduct)oofotheoPCoAct.oHeoarguedothatosuchocasesoformoano exceptiono too theo generalo procedureo laido downo foro theo registrationo ofo complaintso ando sourceo informationo reports,o whicho iso otherwiseo applicableotoooffencesosuchoasofraudoandoembezzlement.oo o (vi)o Theo learnedo Standingo Counselo furthero contendedo thato theo Superintendento ofo Policeo (SP),o CBI,o beingo theo heado ofo theo Anti-CorruptionoBranch,owasofullyocompetentotoodirectotheoregistrationoofotheo FIRo ino ao trapo case.o Thus,o accordingo too him,o thereo haso beeno stricto adherenceotootheoproceduralomandate,oleavingonooroomoforoallegationsoofo proceduraloimpropriety.oo o (vii)o Oneo ofo theo pivotalo submissionso advancedo byo theo learnedo StandingoCounselowasothatotheodoctrineoofosameness,owhichoprohibitsotheo registrationoofoaosecondoFIRoforotheosameooffence,owasoinapplicableoino theopresentocase.oHeoclarifiedothatotheotwooFiRsoinoquestionopertainedotoo twoodistinctoandoindependentooffences:o l TheofirstoFIRopertainedotootheodemandoofoillegalogratification,o punishableounderotheoprovisionsoofotheoPCoAct.o CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 11o o l TheosecondoFIRorelatedotootheodiscoveryoofodisproportionateo assetsobeyondoknownosourcesoofoincome,owhichosquarelyofello withinotheoambitoofoSectiono13oofotheoPCoAct.o

(viii)l Toosubstantiateohisoargument,otheolearnedoStandingoCounselo placedorelianceouponotheojudgmentsoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino 'StateoofoRajasthanov.oSurendraoSinghoRathoreo2025oLiveLawo(SC)o227",o which,oaccordingotoohim,oreaffirmotheoprincipleothatoseparateoFIRsocanobeo registeredowhenotheoallegationsopertainotoodistinctooffences.oTheorelevanto extracto ofo Surendrao Singho Rathore'so caseo (supra)o iso reproducedo hereinunder:o "9.oFromotheoaboveoconspectusoofojudgments,ointeroalia,o theo followingo principleso emergeo regardingo theo permissibilityoofotheoregistrationoofoaosecondoFIR:o

9.1oWhenotheosecondoFIRoisocounter-complaintooropresentso aorivaloversionoofoaosetoofofacts,oinoreferenceotoowhichoano earlieroFIRoalreadyostandsoregistered.o

9.2o Wheno theo ambito ofo theo twoo FIRso iso differento eveno thoughotheyomayoariseofromotheosameosetoofocircumstances.o

9.3o Wheno investigationo and/oro othero avenueso revealo theo earlieroFIRoorosetoofofactsotoobeopartoofoaolargeroconspiracy.o

9.4o Wheno investigationo and/oro personso relatedo too theo incidento bringo too theo lighto hithertoo unknowno factso oro circumstances.o

9.5oWhereotheoincidentoisoseparate;ooffencesoareosimilarooro different."o o (ix)o Theo learnedo standingo counselo furthero submittedo thato theo investigationoinotheoinstantocaseohadobeenostalledodueotootheooperationoofo aostayoorderodatedo01.06.2018.oHowever,oheoapprisedothisoCourtothatotheo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 12o o saidostayowasorecentlyovacatedobyowayoofoanoorderodatedo08.11.2024,o therebyoallowingotheoinvestigationotooproceedofurther.o o (x)o Ino lighto ofo theo above,o theo learnedo Standingo Counselo vehementlyoarguedothatotheoprayeroforoquashingotheoFIRowasoentirelyo prematureoatothisostage.oHeoemphasisedothatosinceotheoinvestigationowaso stilloatoaonascentostageoandotheocharge-sheetowasoyetotoobeopreparedoando filedo beforeo theo competento court,o thereo waso noo legalo justificationo foro invokingotheoextraordinaryojurisdictionoofothisoCourtounderoSectiono482o ofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973o(Cr.P.C.)/528oofotheoBNSSotoo quashotheoFIR.oo o (xi)o Too fortifyo hiso contention,o theo learnedo Standingo Counselo placedo relianceo upono theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino 'Jitulo Jentilalo Kotechao v.o Stateo ofo Gujarato &o Orso Criminalo Appealo Nos.1328-1333oofo2021',owhereinoitowasoheldothatoanoFIRocouldonotobeo quashedowhenoevenotheodraftocharge-sheetohadonotobeenosubmittedotootheo Magistrate.oHeoassertedothatoinotheopresentocase,otheoinvestigationowaso stillo ino progress,o ando noo evidence-othero thano theo specifico allegationso levelledo ino theo FIR-hado beeno placedo beforeo thiso Court.o Ino sucho ao scenario,o wheno theo allegationso ino theo FIRo primao facieo disclosedo theo commissionoofoaocognizableooffence,otheoinherentopowersoofothisoCourto underoSectiono528oBNSS/482oCr.P.C.ocouldonotobeoexercisedotooquasho theoproceedingsoatothisostage.oo o (xii)o Ino conclusion,o theo learnedo Standingo Counselo foro theo CBIo forcefullyocontendedothat:o CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 13o o

(i)l o Theo discoveryo ofo disproportionateo assetso post-trapo proceedingsoestablishedoaoprimaofacieocaseoofocorruption.o

(ii)lTheoinvestigationohadobeenoconductedoinostrictoadherenceotoo theoCBIoManual.o

(iii)TheosecondoFIRowasolegallyosustainable,oasoitopertainedotooano entirelyodifferentooffence.o

(iv)lTheostayoorderohadobeenovacated,oandotheoinvestigationowaso nowoprogressing.o

(v)lo TheoprayeroforoquashingotheoFIRowasopremature,oasotheo charge-sheetowasoyetotoobeofiled.o

5.l Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandoperusedotheo relevantomaterialoonorecord.o

6.l Theofirstocontentionoraisedobyolearnedoseniorocounseloforotheo petitionersowasothatotheoFIRowasoliableotoobeoquashedoasotheoCBIofailedotoo conductoaopreliminaryoenquiryobeforeoitsoregistration,otherebyoviolatingo theo CBIo Crimeo Manual.o However,o thiso argumento iso whollyo misconceived.oo

7.l Paragrapho 9.1o ofo theo CBIo Crimeo Manualo provideso thato ao preliminaryo enquiryo iso requiredo onlyo ino caseso whereo theo informationo receivedodoesonotoprimaofacieodiscloseotheocommissionoofoaocognizableo offence.oTheopurposeoofosuchoanoenquiryoisomerelyotoocollectomaterialotoo ascertainowhetheroaocognizableooffenceohasobeenocommitted.oHowever,o onceo theo Investigatingo Officer,o upono assessmento ofo theo availableo material,oformsotheoopinionothatoaocognizableooffenceoisomadeoout,oheoiso CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 14o o underoao statutoryo obligationo too registero ano FIRo ando proceedo witho theo investigation.oo

8.l Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o ino 'CBIo vs.o Thommandruo HannahoVijaylakshmi'oAIRoONLINEo2021oSCo869ohasosettledothisoissueo byoholdingoasounder:o o "29.o TheoprecedentsoofothisoCourtoandotheoprovisionso ofo theo CBIo Manualo makeo ito abundantlyo clearo thato ao PreliminaryoEnquiryoisonotomandatoryoinoallocasesowhicho involveo allegationso ofo corruption.o Theo decisiono ofo theo ConstitutionoBenchoinoLalitaoKumario(supra)oholdsothatoifo theo informationo receivedo discloseso theo commissiono ofo ao cognizableo offenceo ato theo outset,o noo Preliminaryo Enquiryo wouldo beo required.o Ito alsoo clarifiedo thato theo scopeo ofo ao Preliminaryo Enquiryo iso noto too checko theo veracityo ofo theo informationo received,o buto onlyo too scrutinizeo whethero ito discloseso theo commissiono ofo ao cognizableo offence.o Similarly,o parao 9.1o ofo theo CBIo Manualo noteso thato ao Preliminaryo Enquiryo iso requiredo onlyo ifo theo informationo (whethero verifiedo oro unverified)o doeso noto discloseo theo commissiono ofo ao cognizableo offence.o Eveno wheno ao PreliminaryoEnquiryoisoinitiated,oitohasotoostopoasosoonoasotheo officeroascertainsothatoenoughomaterialohasobeenocollectedo whichodisclosesotheocommissionoofoaocognizableooffence.oAo similaroconclusionohasobeenoreachedobyoaotwooJudgeoBencho inoManagipeto(supra)oasowell.oHence,otheopropositionothatoao Preliminaryo Enquiryo iso mandatoryo iso plainlyo contraryo too law,o foro ito iso noto onlyo contraryo too theo decisiono ofo theo ConstitutionoBenchoinoLalitaoKumario(supra)obutowouldoalsoo tearoapartotheoframeworkocreatedobyotheoCBIoManual.o CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 15o o o o XXXXo XXXXo XXXXo o 32.o Inoviewoofotheoaboveodiscussion,oweoholdothatosinceo theo institutiono ofo ao Preliminaryo Enquiryo ino caseso ofo corruptionoisonotomadeomandatoryobeforeotheoregistrationoofo anoFIRounderotheoCrPC,oPCoActooroevenotheoCBIoManual,o foro thiso Courto too issueo ao directiono too thato affecto willo beo tantamountotoosteppingointootheolegislativeodomain.oHence,o weoholdothatoinocaseotheoinformationoreceivedobyotheoCBI,o througho ao complainto oro ao "sourceo information"o undero Chaptero 8,o discloseso thato commissiono ofo ao cognizableo offence,oitocanodirectlyoregisteroaoRegularoCaseoinsteadoofo conductingo ao Preliminaryo Enquiry,o whereo theo officero iso satisfiedothatotheoinformationodisclosesotheocommissionoofoao cognizableooffence."o o

9.l Inotheopresentocase,otheoFIRo(AnnexureoP-19)oitselforeflectso thatopriorotooitsoregistration,otheocompetentoauthorityohadodulyosatisfiedo itselfothatotheocontentsoofotheocomplaintodisclosedotheocommissionoofoao cognizableooffences,otheorelevantoportionoofotheopetition,oasoreproducedo below,osubstantiatesothisofact:o o "Theo allegationso mentionedo ino theo complainto ando substantiatedoduringoinvestigationoofoRC0052018A0010/o CBI/ACB/Chandigarho datedo 19.04.2018o prima-facie,o discloseso commissiono ofo offenceso againsto Shrio Adesho Kumaro Gupta,o theo theno Principalo Generalo Manager,o BSNL,oFaridabad,oMsoMeenakshioGuptaoW/ooSh.oAdesho Kumaro Guptao theo theno Principalo Generalo Manager,o BSNL,o Faridabado R/oo S-443,o Greatero Kailash-I,o Newo Delhio-o110048oandoUnknownoothersopunishableoundero sectiono13(2)or/wo13(1)o(e)oofoPCoActo1988oandosectiono CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 16o o 109o ofo IPC.o Hence,o ao regularo caseo iso registeredo ando entrustedo too Sh.o Surendero Singh,o DSP,o CBI,o ACB,o Chandigarhoforoinvestigation."o o

10.l Thus,o theo requiremento ofo ao preliminaryo enquiryo waso obviated,oandonooviolationoofotheoCBIoCrimeoManualohasooccurred.oo

11.l Theosecondocontentionoadvancedobyolearnedoseniorocounselo forotheopetitionersowasothatotheoFIRoisovitiatedoforowantoofopriorosanctiono underoSectiono17AoofotheoPCoAct.oThisosubmissionoisoalsoowithoutomerit.oo

12.l TheoallegationsoagainstopetitioneroNo.1opertainotooamassingo disproportionateoassetsoinohisoname,oinotheonameoofohisowifeo(petitionero No.2)oandochildrenoduringohisotenureoasoaopublicoservantofromoAprilo2007o tooMarcho2018.oTheoFIRorevealsothatoheohasoallegedlyoacquiredoassetso wortho₹o5,15,32,510/-owhichoiso97.46o%odisproportionateotoohisoknowno sourcesoofoincome.oo

13.l Sectiono17AoofotheoPCoActoappliesoonlyowhenoanoallegedo offenceo ariseso directlyo outo ofo ao recommendationo madeo oro ao decisiono takenobyoaopublicoservantoinodischargeoofohisoofficialofunctionsooroduties.o Inotheoinstantocase,otheoallegationoagainstotheopetitioneroNo.1oisonotoino respectoofoanyoofficialo act,odecision,ooro recommendationo madeo ino hiso capacityoasoaopublicoservant,obutoratheroconcernsotheoaccumulationoofo assetso disproportionateo too hiso knowno sourceso ofo income.o Thus,o theo provisionsoofoSectiono17AoofotheoActoareowhollyoinapplicable.oo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 17o o

14.l Furthermore,o petitionero No.2o iso noto ao publico servant,o ando therefore,otheoquestionoofoseekingopriorosanctionoinoherocaseodoesonoto ariseoatoall.oo

15.l Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionersofurtheroarguedothato theopresentoFIRowasoaosecondoFIRoforotheosameoallegedotransactionoando was,otherefore,oliableotoobeoquashed.oHowever,oaoperusaloofobothotheoFIRso demonstratesothatothisocontentionoisounfounded.oo

16.l TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,oino'TheoStateoofoRajasthanovs.o Surendrao Singho Rathore'o CRA-847-2025o d/do 19.02.2025,o haso categoricallyoheldothatoaosecondoFIRoisopermissibleowhereotheoscopeoando ambitoofotwooFIRsoareodistinct,oevenoifotheyoariseofromotheosameosetoofo circumstances.oo

17.l TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoreiterated,oinoaocatenaoofo decisionsothatowhereoanoFIRopertainsotooaoseparateooffenceoandoisonoto basedoonotheosameofactsoorotransactionoasoanoearlieroFIR,oitsoregistrationo isolegallyovalid.o

18.l Ino theo presento case,o theo earliero FIRo datedo 19.04.2018o (AnnexureoP-4)opertainsotootheoallegationothatopetitioneroNo.1odemandedo aobribeoofo₹o51,000/-o(7o%oofotheototalobilloamount)othroughoco-accusedo Kamalo Kumaro Mewani,o failingo whicho theo pendingo billso ofo theo complainantowouldonotobeocleared.oAotrapowasolaid,oandotheopetitionero wasoallegedlyocaughtored-handedowhileoacceptingoaobribeoofo₹o37,000/-.o TheooffencesounderothatoFIRowereoregisteredounderoSectiono7,o12oando CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 18o o 13(2)oreadowithoSectiono13(1)(d)oofotheoPCoActoandoSectionso201oando 511oofotheoIPC.o

19.l Ino contrast,o theo impugnedo FIRo pertainso too allegationo thato petitioneroNo.1,oalongowithohisowifeo(petitioneroNo.2)oamassedoassetso disproportionateotoohisoknownosourcesoofoincome,otootheotuneoofo97.46%o overoanoextendedoperiodofromo2007otoo2018.oTheonatureoofotheooffences,o theoevidentiaryoburdenoandotheoingredientsorequiredotoobeoprovedoinobotho FIRsoare,otherefore,oentirelyodistinct.oo

20.l InotheoearlieroFIR,otheoprosecutionomustoproveodemandoando acceptanceo ofo illegalo gratification,o whereas,o ino theo presento FIRo prosecutionoisorequiredotooproveoaccumulationoofoassetsobeyondoknowno sourcesoofoincome.oThus,obothotheoFIRsocannotobeosaidotoohaveoariseno fromosameotransactionoorosetoofofacts.oo

21.l Theolearnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionersoalsooarguedo thatotheodeletionoofoSectiono13(1)(e)obyotheo2018oamendmentotootheoPCo ActorenderedotheopresentoFIRountenable.oHowever,othisoargumentotoooiso misconceived.oo

22.l TheoamendmentosimultaneouslyointroducedoSectiono13(1)(b)o whichoreadsoasofollows:oo o "13.oCriminalomisconductobyoaopublicoservant.―oo o (1)oAopublicoservantoisosaidotoocommitotheooffenceoofo criminalomisconduct,―oo o o XXXXo o XXXXo oo XXXXo o (b)o ifo heo intentionallyo enricheso himselfo illicitlyo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 19o o o Explanationo1.―Aopersonoshallobeopresumedotoohaveo intentionallyoenrichedohimselfoillicitlyoifoheooroanyo personoonohisobehalf,oisoinopossessionoofoorohas,oato anyo timeo duringo theo periodo ofo hiso office,o beeno ino possessiono ofo pecuniaryo resourceso oro propertyo disproportionateo too hiso knowno sourceso ofo incomeo whicho theo publico servanto cannoto satisfactorilyo accountofor.oo o Explanationo2.―Theoexpressiono''knownosourcesoofo income''o meanso incomeo receivedo fromo anyo lawfulo sources."o o

23.l Aoplainoreadingoofothisoprovisionomakesoitoabundantlyoclearo thato theo offenceo ofo possessingo disproportionateo assetso haso noto beeno deletedobutohasomerelyobeenoincorporatedounderoaodifferentoClause.oTheo languageoofoSectiono13(1)(e),oisopariomateriaowithotheoerstwhileoSectiono 13(1)(e),oleavingonoodoubtothatotheoamendmentodoesonot,oinoanyomanner,o diluteo theo culpabilityo ofo publico servantso accusedo ofo possessingo disproportionateoassets.oo

24.l Lastly,oitoisowellosettledothatotheoinherentojurisdictionoofothiso CourtounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C./528oofoBNSSoshouldonotobeoexercisedo tooquashoanoFIRoatoaonascentostageoofoinvestigationounlessoitoisoex-facieo perverseooromalicious.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,oino'M/soNeeharikao'M/soNeeharikao InfrastructureoPvt.oLtd.ovs.oStateoofoMaharashtrao&oothers'o2021oAIRo

(SC)o1918,ohasounequivocallyoheldoasounder:oo o "23.o Inoviewoofotheoaboveoandoforotheoreasonsostatedo above,o ouro finalo conclusionso ono theo principal/coreo issue,o whethero theo Higho Courto wouldo beo justifiedo ino passingo ano CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 20o o interimoorderoofostayoofoinvestigationoand/oro"noocoerciveostepso toobeoadopted",oduringotheopendencyoofotheoquashingopetitiono undero Sectiono 482o Cr.P.Co and/oro undero Articleo 226o ofo theo ConstitutionoofoIndiaoandoinowhatocircumstancesoandowhethero theoHighoCourtowouldobeojustifiedoinopassingotheoorderoofonototoo arrestotheoaccusedooro"noocoerciveostepsotoobeoadopted"oduringo theo investigationo oro tillo theo finalo report/chargesheeto iso filedo underoSectiono173oCr.P.C.,owhileodismissing/disposingoof/noto entertaining/noto quashingo theo criminalo proceedings/complaint/FIRo ino exerciseo ofo powerso undero Sectiono 482o Cr.P.C.o and/oro undero Articleo 226o ofo theo ConstitutionoofoIndia,oourofinaloconclusionsoareoasounder:oo

i)oPoliceohasotheostatutoryorightoandodutyounderotheorelevanto provisionso ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedureo containedo ino Chaptero XIVo ofo theo Codeo too investigateo intoo ao cognizableo offence;o

ii)o Courtso wouldo noto thwarto anyo investigationo intoo theo cognizableooffences;o

iii)oItoisoonlyoinocasesowhereonoocognizableooffenceoorooffenceo ofoanyokindoisodisclosedoinotheofirstoinformationoreportothatotheo Courtowillonotopermitoanoinvestigationotoogooon;oCourtowillonotopermitoanoinvestigationotoogooon;

iv)oTheopoweroofoquashingoshouldobeoexercisedosparinglyowitho circumspection,oasoitohasobeenoobserved,oinotheo'rarestooforareo caseso(nototoobeoconfusedowithotheoformationoinotheocontextoofo deathopenalty).o

v)oWhileoexaminingoanoFIR/complaint,oquashingoofowhichoisov)oWhileoexaminingoanoFIR/complaint,oquashingoofowhichoiso sought,o theo courto cannoto embarko upono ano enquiryo aso too theo reliabilityoorogenuinenessoorootherwiseoofotheoallegationsomadeo inotheoFIR/complaint;o

vi)oCriminaloproceedingsooughtonototoobeoscuttledoatotheoinitialo stage;o

vii)o Quashingo ofo ao complaint/FIRo shouldo beo ano exceptiono ratherothanoanoordinaryorule;o

viii)o Ordinarily,o theo courtso areo barredo fromo usurpingo theo jurisdictiono ofo theo police,o sinceo theo twoo organso ofo theo Stateojurisdictiono ofo theo police,o sinceo theo twoo organso ofo theo Stateo CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 21o o operateoinotwoospecificospheresoofoactivitiesoandooneooughtonoto tootreadooverotheootherosphere;otootreadooverotheootherosphere;

ix)o Theo functionso ofo theo judiciaryo ando theo policeo areo complementary,onotooverlapping;o

x)o Saveo ino exceptionalo caseso whereo non-interferenceo wouldo resulto ino miscarriageo ofo justice,o theo Courto ando theo judicialo processo shouldo noto interfereo ato theo stageo ofo investigationo ofoprocesso shouldo noto interfereo ato theo stageo ofo investigationo ofo offences;o

xi)o Extraordinaryo ando inherento powerso ofo theo Courto doo noto conferoanoarbitraryojurisdictionoonotheoCourtotooactoaccordingotoo itsowhimsoorocaprice;o

xii)oTheofirstoinformationoreportoisonotoanoencyclopaediaowhicho musto discloseo allo factso ando detailso relatingo too theo offenceo reported.oTherefore,owhenotheoinvestigationobyotheopoliceoisoino progress,o theo courto shouldo noto goo intoo theo meritso ofo theo allegationsoinotheoFIR.oPoliceomustobeopermittedotoocompleteo theo investigation.o Ito wouldo beo prematureo too pronounceo theo conclusionobasedoonohazyofactsothatotheocomplaint/FIRodoesonoto deserveo too beo investigatedo oro thato ito amountso too abuseo ofo processoofolaw.oAfteroinvestigation,oifotheoinvestigatingoofficero findsothatothereoisonoosubstanceoinotheoapplicationomadeobyotheofindsothatothereoisonoosubstanceoinotheoapplicationomadeobyotheo complainant,otheoinvestigatingoofficeromayofileoanoappropriateo report/summaryobeforeotheolearnedoMagistrateo whicho mayo beo consideredo byo theo learnedo Magistrateo ino accordanceowithotheoknownoprocedure;o

xiii)oTheopowerounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.oisoveryowide,obutoxiii)oTheopowerounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.oisoveryowide,obuto confermento ofo wideo powero requireso theo courto too beo moreo cautious.o Ito castso ano onerouso ando moreo diligento dutyo ono theo court;o

xiv)o However,o ato theo sameo time,o theo court,o ifo ito thinkso fit,o regardobeingohadotootheoparametersoofoquashingoandotheoself-restraintoimposedobyolaw,omoreoparticularlyotheoparametersolaido downo byo thiso Courto ino theo caseso ofo R.P.o Kapuro (supra)o ando Bhajano Lalo (supra),o haso theo jurisdictiono too quasho theo FIR/complaint;oFIR/complaint; CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 22o o

xv)oWhenoaoprayeroforoquashingotheoFIRoisomadeobyotheoallegedo accusedo ando theo courto wheno ito exerciseso theo powero underoaccusedo ando theo courto wheno ito exerciseso theo powero undero Sectiono 482o Cr.P.C.,o onlyo haso too considero whethero theo allegationso ino theo FIRo discloseo commissiono ofo ao cognizableo offenceooronot.oTheocourtoisonotorequiredotooconsideroonomeritso whethero oro noto theo meritso ofo theo allegationso makeo outo ao cognizableo offenceo ando theo courto haso too permito theocognizableo offenceo ando theo courto haso too permito theo investigatingoagency/policeotooinvestigateotheoallegationsoinotheo FIR;o

xvi)oTheoaforesaidoparametersowouldobeoapplicableoand/orotheo aforesaidoaspectsoareorequiredotoobeoconsideredo byotheoHigho Courtowhileopassingoanointerimoorderoinoaoquashingopetitionoino exerciseo ofo powerso undero Sectiono 482o Cr.P.C.o and/oro undero Articleo226oofotheo Constitutiono ofo India.o However,o ano interimo ordero ofo stayo ofo investigationoduringotheopendencyoofotheoquashingopetitionocano beopassedowithocircumspection.oSuchoanointerimoorderoshouldo noto requireo too beo passedo routinely,o casuallyo and/oro mechanically.oNormally,owhenotheoinvestigationoisoinoprogresso andotheofactsoareohazyoandotheoentireoevidence/materialoisonoto beforeotheoHighoCourt,otheoHighoCourtoshouldorestrainoitselfobeforeotheoHighoCourt,otheoHighoCourtoshouldorestrainoitselfo fromopassingotheointerimoorderoofonototooarrestooro"noocoerciveo stepsotoobeoadopted"oandotheoaccusedoshouldobeorelegatedotoo applyoforoanticipatoryobailounderoSectiono438oCr.P.C.obeforeo theocompetentocourt.oTheoHighoCourtoshallonotoandoasosuchoiso notojustifiedoinopassingotheoorderoofonototooarrestoand/oro"noonotojustifiedoinopassingotheoorderoofonototooarrestoand/oro"noo coerciveo steps"o eithero duringo theo investigationo oro tillo theo investigationo iso completedo and/oro tillo theo finalo report/chargesheeto iso filedo undero Sectiono 173o Cr.P.C.,o whileo dismissing/disposingo ofo theo quashingo petitiono undero Sectiono 482oCr.P.C.oand/orounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofo India.o

xvii)oEvenoinoaocaseowhereotheoHighoCourtoisoprimaofacieoofotheo opiniono thato ano exceptionalo caseo iso madeo outo foro granto ofo interimo stayo ofo furthero investigation,o aftero consideringo theo broadoparametersowhileoexercisingotheopowersounderoSectiono CRM-MoNo.24651oofo2022o(O&M)o 23o o 482oCr.P.C.oand/orounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofo Indiaoreferredotoohereinabove,otheoHighoCourtohasotoogiveobriefoIndiaoreferredotoohereinabove,otheoHighoCourtohasotoogiveobriefo reasonso whyo sucho ano interimo ordero iso warrantedo and/oro iso requiredotoobeopassedosoothatoitocanodemonstrateotheoapplicationo ofomindobyotheoCourtoandotheohigheroforumocanoconsiderowhato waso weighedo witho theo Higho Courto whileo passingo sucho ano interimoorder.ointerimoorder.

xviii)oWheneveroanointerimoorderoisopassedobyotheoHighoCourto ofo "noo coerciveo stepso too beo adopted"o withino theo aforesaido parameters,otheoHighoCourtomustoclarifyowhatodoesoitomeanobyo "noo coerciveo stepso too beo adopted"o aso theo termo "noo coerciveo stepsotoobeoadopted"ocanobeosaidotoobeotooovagueoand/orobroadostepsotoobeoadopted"ocanobeosaidotoobeotooovagueoand/orobroado whichocanobeomisunderstoodoand/oromisapplied."o o

25.l Ino theo presento case,o theo FIRo primao facieo discloseso theo commissionoofoaocognizableooffence.oHence,othereoexistsonoovalidogroundo foroquashingotheoFIRoinoquestion,oasoprayedofor.oo

26.l Forotheoreasonsoasodiscussedoabove,otheopetitionobeingodevoido ofomeritoisoherebyodismissed.oHowever,oitoisomadeoclearothatoanythingo observedo hereinaboveo shallo noto beo construedo too beo ano expressiono ofo opinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.o thMarcho20 ,o2025oo o o (MANJARIooNEHRUooKAUL)o rpso o o o o o oooooJUDGEoJUDGE o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo o Yeso o