State Of Rajasthan Through Pp v. Connected

"18. This Court in A. Subair vs. State of Kerala (2009)6 SCC 587, while dwelling on the purport of the statutory prescription of Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) of the Act ruled that the prosecution has to prove the charge thereunder beyond reasonable doubt like any other criminal offence and that the accused should be considered to be innocent till it is established otherwise by proper proof of demand and acceptance of illegal gratification, which are vital ingredients necessary to be proved to record a conviction.

19. In State of Kerala and another vs. C.P. Rao (2011) 6 SCC 450, this Court, [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (9 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] reiterating its earlier dictum, vis-à-vis the same offences, held that mere recovery by itself, would not prove the charge against the accused and in absence of any evidence to prove payment of bribe or to show that the accused had voluntarily accepted the money knowing it to be bribe, conviction cannot be sustained.

20. In a recent enunciation by this Court to discern the imperative pre- requisites of Sections 7 and 13 of the Act, it has been underlined in B. Jayaraj (supra) in unequivocal terms, that mere possession and recovery of currency notes from an accused without proof of demand would not establish an offence under Sections 7 as well as 13(1)(d)(i)&(ii) of the Act. It has been propounded that in the absence of any proof of demand for illegal gratification, the use of corrupt or illegal means or abuse of position as a public servant to obtain any valuable thing or pecuniary advantage cannot be held to be proved. The proof of demand, thus, has been held to be an indispensable essentiality and of permeating mandate for an offence under Sections 7 and 13 of the Act. Qua Section 20 of the Act, which permits a presumption as envisaged therein, it has been held that while it is extendable only to an offence under Section 7 and not to those under Section 13(1)(d)(i)&(ii) of the Act, it is contingent as well on the proof of acceptance of illegal gratification for doing or forbearing to do any official act. Such proof of acceptance of illegal gratification, it was emphasized, could follow only if there was proof of demand. Axiomatically, it was held that in absence of proof of demand, such legal presumption under Section 20 of the Act would also not arise." 13& ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; }kjk mijksDr fu.kZ;ksa esa tks O;oLFkk izfrikfnr dh x;h gS] mlds vuqlkj ;g Li"V gS fd yksdlsod vfHk;qDr ls jkf'k cjken gksuk i;kZIr ugha gS] vfirq [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (10 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] fj'or ds :i esa vfHk;qDr }kjk ifjoknh dks vuqfpr ykHk igqapkus ds mn~ns'; ls fj'or jkf'k vFkkZr oS/k ikfjJfed ls fHkUu jkf'k dh ekax vkSj mldh Lohd`fr vko';d gSA 14& orZeku ekeys esa ifjoknh tsrjke }kjk fnukad 16-06-2004 dks C;wjks ds le{k ,d fyf[kr fjiksVZ izLrqr djrs gq, ;g vkjksi yxk;k gS fd mijksDr yafcr dk;Z ds laca/k esa i{k ysus gsrq vfHk;qDr jRrkjke gSM dkaLVscy mlls 4000@&:i;s dh fj'or jkf'k dh ekax dj jgs gSa] tks og ugha nsuk pkgrk gSA mijksDr f'kdk;r izLrqr gksus ij fnukad 16-06-2004 dks gh ekax okrkZ dk lR;kiu djokus gsrq ifjoknh dks ,d Vsi fjdksMZj esa dSlsV Mkydj fn;k x;kA ifjoknh }kjk fnukad 16-06-2004 dks ;g Vsi fjdksMZj okil ykdj fn;k ftl ij C;wjks ds }kjk lquk x;k rks mlesa dfFkr :i ls vfHk;qDr jRrkjke }kjk 3500@&:i;s fj'or jkf'k dh ekax djus dk rF; izdV gqvk] ftl ij fnukad 17-06-2004 dks Vªsi dk;Zokgh vk;ksftr dh x;hA fnukad 17-06-2004 dks nksigj dks ifjoknh dks 3500@&:i;s fQukQ~Fkyhu ikÅMj yxkdj o fujh{kd ds gLrk{kj djrs gq, vfHk;qDr dks nsus gsrq iqfyl pkSdh tqYeh ij Hkstk] ml le; Hkh ,d Vsi fjdksMZj esa dSlsV Mkydj Hkstk rkfd ysunsu ds le; tks okrkZ gks mldk lR;kiu gks ldsA 15& vfHk;kstu dgkuh ds vuqlkj ekax lR;kiu rFkk ysunsu lR;kiu ds nksuksa gh voljksa ij vdsyk ifjoknh tsrjke vfHk;qDr jRrkjke ds ikl x;k vkSj mlh ds }kjk ;g fjdksfMZax ykdj izLrqr dh x;hA tsrjke mijksDr ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa egRoiw.kZ xokg gks tkrk gS] tks ih-MCY;w-&8 ds :i esa ijhf{kr [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (11 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] gqvk gS] ijarq iw.kZr% i{knzksgh jgk gSA xokg tsrjke dk dFku gS fd og vius pkpk ds dk;Z ds fy, nks&rhu ckj iqfyl pkSdh ij x;k rks ogka ij ,d futh O;fDr nyky ds :i esa feyk ftlus 4000@&:i;s esa ;g dk;Z djokus dk vk'oklu fn;k] mlh O;fDr dh vkokt Vsi fjdksMZj esa ekax lR;kiu ds fnu o ysunsu ds fnu fjdksMZ dh FkhA mlds }kjk 3500@&:i;s dh fj'or jkf'k Hkh mlh nyky dks nh x;h Fkh] mldh gSM dkaLVscy jRrkjke ;k vU; fdlh iqfyldehZ ls dksbZ ckrphr ugha gqbZ] muds }kjk uk rks dksbZ fj'or jkf'k dh ekax dh x;h vkSj uk gh mUgsa fj'or jkf'k iznku dh x;hA 16& lg ifjoknh ih-MCY;w-&6 jruyky Hkh i{knzksgh jgk gS vkSj tkfgj djrk gS fd ogka ij ,d flikgh feyk Fkk ftlus dgk fd eSa gSM dkaLVscy ls 4000@&:i;s dke djok nwaxk] iSlksa ds ysunsu dh ckr tsrjke us r; dh Fkh] iSls fdlus ekaxs] fdlus fn;s] mls dksbZ tkudkjh ugha gS] og ekSds ij fdlh Hkh volj ij mifLFkr ugha FkkA bl izdj.k esa ih-MCY;w&11 ';keyky o ih-MCY;w-&12 xtsUnz vxzoky tks fd nksuksa ofj"B fyfid gS] mudks Nk;k xokg ds :i esa vuqla/kku ds nkSjku j[kk x;k Fkk] ;g nksuksa xokg Hkh vfHk;qDr jRrkjke vFkok ';kelqUnj }kjk ifjoknh i{k ls jkf'k ekaxus ds rF; dh iqf"V ugha djrs gSaA nksuksa xokg tkfgj djrs gSa fd muds lkeus fdlh us dksbZ fj'or jkf'k ugha ekaxh vkSj uk gh dksbZ ysunsu gqvkA Li"V gS fd bu nksuksa xokgku }kjk Hkh vfHk;kstu dgkuh dk leFkZu ugha fd;k x;k gSA ekax lR;kiu ds le; ih- MCY;w-&4 ykykjke dkaLVscy dks ifjoknh ds lkFk Hkstk x;k Fkk [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (12 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] ftldk Hkh dFku gS fd og fnukad 16-06-2004 dks pkSdh ds vUnj ugha x;kA ifjoknh tsrjke vdsyk gh x;k Fkk] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa vfHk;qDr jRrkjke }kjk ifjoknh ls dksbZ jkf'k dh ekax dh x;h gks vkSj Vsi fjdksMZj esa vkokt jRrkjke dh gks] bl xokg ds dFkuksa ls izekf.kr ugha gksrk gSA Vsªsi dk;Zokgh fnukad 17-06-2004 dks vk;ksftr dh x;h gS rRle; Hkh vdsys ifjoknh tsrjke dks gh 3500@&:i;s dh jkf'k ysdj pkSdh esa Hkstk x;k Fkk] ml le; tsrjke o dfFkr :i ls jRrkjke ds vykok dksbZ mifLFkr ugha Fks] vr% ysunsu ds fnu Hkh vfHk;qDr jRrkjke }kjk dksbZ ekax dh x;h gks] ;g rF; izekf.kr ugha gksrk gS] D;ksafd tsrjke i{knzksgh gks pqdk gS vkSj vU; xokgku dks bl rF; dh tkudkjh Hkh ugha gSA 17& bl laaca/k esa ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds fu.kZ; jkeflag o vU; cuke duZy jkeflag] ,- vkbZ- vkj- 1986 lqizhe dksVZ ist 3 egRoiw.kZ gS] ftlds iSjk la[;k 32 esa fuEu O;oLFkk izfrikfnr dh x;h gS%&

32. Thus, so far as this Court is concerned the conditions for admissibility of a tape recorded statement may be stated as follows: (1) The voice of the speaker must be duly identified by the maker of the record or by others who recognise his voice. In other words, it manifestly follows as a logical corollary that the first condition for the admissibility of such a statement is to identify the voice of the speaker. Where the voice has been denied by the maker it will require very strict proof to determine [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (13 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] whether or not it was really the voice of the speaker. (2) The accuracy of the tape recorded statement has to be proved by the maker of the record by satisfactory evidence - direct or circumstantial. (3) Every possibility of tampering with or erasure of a part of a tape recorded statement must be ruled out otherwise it may render the said statement out of con text and, therefore, inadmissible. (4) The statement must be relevant according to the rules of Evidence Act. (5) The recorded cassette must be carefully sealed and kept in safe or official custody. (6) The voice of the speaker should be clearly audible and not lost or distorted by other sounds or disturbances. 18& mijksDr fof/kd O;oLFkk ls Li"V gS fd Vsi fjdksMZj esa fjdksMZ dh x;h okrkZ dh vkokt vfHk;qDr dh gks] bl rF; dks izkajfHkd :i ls izekf.kr djus dk Hkkj vfHk;kstu ij gSA vfHk;kstu ds fy, ;g Hkh vko';d gS fd fjdksMZ dh x;h okrkZ ds ckn Vsi fjdksMZj dks fcuk fdlh NsMNkM ds lqjf{kr o lhycan voLFkk esa j[kk x;k rFkk mldk lgh :i ls :ikUrj.k djok;k x;kA orZeku ekeys esa mijksDr nksuksa okrkZ esa vfHk;qDr jRrkjke dh vkokt gks] bl rF; dks Lo;a vfHk;kstu i{k fdlh Hkh :i esa izekf.kr ugha dj ik;k gS] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa ek= vfHk;qDr }kjk uewuk vkokt fn;s tkus ls badkj fd;s tkus ds dkj.k dksbZ foijhr mi/kkj.kk ugha yh tk ldrhA ;gka ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd Lo;a ifjoknh tsrjke [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (14 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] tkfgj djrk gS fd og nyky dh okrkZ fjdksMZ dj ds yk;k FkkA jRrkjke dh okrkZ o vkokt bl Vsi fjdksMZj esa gks] bl rF; ls mlds }kjk badkj fd;k x;k gSA 19& ekax lR;kiu o ysunsu ds le; dfFkr :i ls fjdksMZ dh x;h okrkZ dk :ikUrj.k vfHk;kstu dgkuh ds vuqlkj izn'kZ ih- 19 o 18 gSA tks dfFkr :i ls C;wjks ds iqfyl fujh{kd eksrhyky eh.kk ih-MCY;w-&15 }kjk Nk;k lk{kh ih-MCY;w-&11 ';keyky] ih-MCY;w-&12 xtsUnz ds le{k rS;kj dh x;h gSA mijksDr ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa ih-MCY;w-&15 eksrhyky eh.kk iqfyl fujh{kd egRoiw.kZ xokg gks tkrk gS] tks vius dFkuksa esa tkfgj djrk gS fd ekax lR;kiu dk :ikUrj.k mlds }kjk ugha djok;k x;k Fkk] ysfdu dqN iz'uksa dk mRrj nsus ds mijkar og tkfgj djrk gS fd :ikUrj.k mlds }kjk lquk x;k Fkk] ysfdu iqu% dFku cnyrs gq, tkfgj fd;k gS fd :ikUrj.k 20 feuV esa lqudj rS;kj fd;k Fkk] ysfdu fdrus cts o dc rS;kj fd;k] mls /;ku ughaA :ikUrj.k esa fdl iqfyldehZ dh lgk;rk yh x;h] bl laca/k esa ;g xokg dksbZ dFku ugha djrk gSA ih-MCY;w-&11 ';keyky izn'kZ ih- 18 o 19 ij vius gLrk{kj gksuk tkfgj djrk gSA ;g xokg ;g Hkh tkfgj djrk gS fd eksrhykyth :d :d dj cksy jgs Fks vkSj lkeus okyk VkbZi dj jgk Fkk] mlus Hkh og fjdksfMZax lquh Fkh] ijarq jRrkjke }kjk dksbZ ekax dh x;h gks] ,slk mlesa mYys[k ugha FkkA xokg ;g Hkh tkfgj djrk gS fd og vfHk;qDrx.k dh vkokt ls ifjfpr uk rks igys Fkk vkSj uk vkt gSA vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk ifjoknh ls iSlksa dh ekax dh x;h gks] ,slk [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (15 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] mlus uk rks ns[kk uk lqukA ih-MCY;w-&12 xtsUnz vxzoky :ikUrj.k dh dk;Zokgh vius le{k gksuk tkfgj djrk gS] ijarq iqu% dFku cnyrs gq, tkfgj djrk gS fd :ikUrj.k igys ls gh rS;kj Fkk] mlesa fdldh vkokt Fkh] mls dksbZ tkudkjh ugha] mls rks ckn esa Vsi fjdksMZj lquk;k FkkA ih-MCY;w-&15 eksrhyky eh.kk ds dFkuksa ls ;g Vsi fjdksMZj lqjf{kr o lhycan voLFkk esa j[kk x;k gks vkSj xokg jRrkjke dh vkokt ls ifjfpr gks] ;g rF; izekf.kr ugha gksrk gSA 20& mijksDr foospukuqlkj izn'kZ ih- 19 o 18 ekax lR;kiu o ysunsu dh okrkZ dk rF; lansg ls ijs izekf.kr ugha gqvk gS] blesa vkokt vfHk;qDr jRrkjke dh gks] ;g fdlh Hkh xokg us fdlh Hkh :i esa izekf.kr o LFkkfir ugha fd;k x;k gS] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa vfHk;qDr jRrkjke }kjk ifjoknh dk i{k ysus gsrq 3500@&:i;s dh fj'or jkf'k dh ekax dh gks] ;g rF; izekf.kr ugha gSA 21& tgka rd fj'or jkf'k fnukad 17-06-2004 dks vfHk;qDRk jRrkjke }kjk ';kelqUnj dks fnykus dk iz'u gS] bl laca/k esa ,d ek= xokg ih-MCY;w-&8 tsrjke gS vkSj og iw.kZr% i{knzksgh jgk gS] mlds }kjk tkfgj fd;k x;k gS fd mlus jRrkjke ;k ';kelqUnj dks dksbZ fj'or jkf'k ugha nh Fkh] cfYd fdlh ,d vU; nyky dks nh FkhA fj'or jkf'k ds ysunsu ds le; tsrjke ds vykok ekSds ij vkSj dksbZ mifLFkr ugha FkkA vfHk;kstu dgkuh ds vuqlkj tsrjke jkf'k lksaius ds mijkar ckgj vk;k rFkk b'kkjk fd;k rks ih-MCY;w-&9 f'koukjk;.k lksuh] ih-MCY;w-&16 ekstsUnz flag dkaLVscy] ih-MCY;w-&15 eksrhyky [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (16 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] eh.kk] ih-MCY;w-&4 ykykjke] ih-MCY;w-&13 jkexksiky] ih-MCY;w- &11 ';keyky o ih-MCY;w-&12 xtsUnz vxzoky pkSdh ds vUnj x;s rks jRrkjke pkSdh ds ihNs ds fgLls esa [kMk Fkk tks Hkkxus yxk rks idMk vkSj iwNrkN djus ij mlus fj'or jkf'k ysus ls ;k ';kelqUnj dks fnykus ls badkj fd;kA jRrkjke ds rRle; gkFk ds /kksou fy;s x;s] ysfdu mldk jax xanyk gqvk] xqykch jax gkFk esa ugha vk;k FkkA vfHk;kstu dgkuh Hkh ;gh gS fd jRrkjke us fj'or jkf'k ds gkFk gh ugha yxk;k] vfirq ';kelqUnj dks ;g jkf'k fnykbZ xbZ FkhA jRrkjke rRle; pkSdh ds ihNs okys Hkkx ls Hkkx jgk Fkk ftlus iqfyl us idMk vkSj ';kelqUnj ekSds ij Fkk gh ughaA vuqla/kku ds nkSjku C;wjks dks ;g Kkr gqvk fd ;g jkf'k ';kelqUnj dks fnykbZ gS] og uk rks ekSds ij Fkk vkSj uk gh rRdky mldh fxjQ~rkjh gqbZA djhc rhu&pkj ?kaVs ckn ;g Kkr gqvk fd og lkSnku dh [kku ij cSBk gS] iqfyl us mls fxjQ~rkj fd;k rks mldh isaV dh tsc QVh gqbZ Fkh] mlds gkFk o isaV dk /kksou fy;k rks xqykch jax gks x;kA C;wjks dh ;g dgkuh gS fd ';kelqUnj dh isaV dh tsc QVdj vyx gks j[kh Fkh] ysfdu Nk;k lk{khx.k us bl rF; dks izekf.kr ugha fd;k gSA ';kelqUnj ls rRle; dksbZ jkf'k cjken ugha gqbZ gSA ';kelqUnj iqfyldehZ gS rFkk Vªsi dk;Zokgh dh izfdz;k ls Hkyh Hkkafr ifjfpr gSA ';kelqUnj }kjk okLro esa dksbZ fj'or jkf'k yh tkrh] og ekSds ls Hkkxus esa lQy jgk rks fuf'pr :i ls ,d lkekU; izKk okys O;fDr ds :i esa og pkj ?kaVs rd viuh isaV dks lqjf{kr ugha j[krkA gkFkksa dks Hkh pkj ?kaVs rd ugha /kksos vkSj lk{; dks C;wjks ds fy, [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (17 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] lqjf{kr j[ks] ;g LokHkkfod izrhr ugha gksrkA blds vfrfjDr ';kelqUnj ds }kjk fj'or jkf'k dh uk rks dksbZ ekax dh x;h gS vkSj uk gh mlls dksbZ cjkenxh gqbZ gSA 22& tgka rd vfHk;qDr ukxs'oj dk iz'u gS] mlds fo:) ;g vkjksi gS fd ';kelqUnj }kjk pkSdh ij fj'or jkf'k izkIr djus ds ckn Hkkxrs gq, ;g jkf'k ukxs'oj dks lksai nh rFkk dkykUrj esa ukxs'oj ds ?kj ls ;g jkf'k cjken gqbZA ih-MCY;w&15 eksrhyky Lohdkj djrk gS fd ';kelqUnj dks rhu fnu ds fy, fjek.M ij fy;k x;k Fkk vkSj mlds }kjk fj'or jkf'k izkIr dj ukxs'oj dks lksaius o cjken djkus ckcr dksbZ lwpuk ugha nhA ukxs'oj ds ?kj dh ryk'kh yh x;h rc rd vfHk;qDr ukxs'oj fxjQ~rkj ugha gqvk Fkk] mldh eka ih- MCY;w&10 'kkafrnsoh dfFkr :i ls ?kj ij feyh ftlus dfFkr :i ls ;g crk;k fd lQkbZ djrs le; 3500@&:i;s feys] ftudks C;wjks }kjk tCr djuk crk;k x;k gSA 23& ih-MCY;w-&10 'kkafr nsoh i{knzksgh jgh gS rFkk Lora= Nk;k lk{khx.k tkfgj djrs gSa fd cjkenxh [kqys LFkku ls gqbZ Fkh vkSj mUgsa bl cjkenxh ckcr dksbZ tkudkjh ugha gSA 'kkafrnsoh ds dFkuksa ls Hkh vfHk;kstu dgkuh dh iqf"V ugha gksrh gSA ukxs'oj }kjk vU; lg vfHk;qDrx.k ds lkFk "kM;a= ds rgr fj'or jkf'k dh ekax ds mijkar mls izkIr fd;k gks] ;g rF; izekf.kr ugha gksrk gSA ukxs'oj ls dksbZ fj'or jkf'k mlds vuU; o psrU; dCts ls cjken ugha gqbZ gSA ;gka ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd ukxs'oj dfFkr :Ik ls jkf'k izkIr djus ds ckn Qjkj gks x;k Fkk rks fuf'pr :i ls og lcwr lqjf{kr [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (18 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] j[kus ds fy, ;g jkf'k vius ?kj ij ugha j[krkA rhuksa vfHk;qDrx.k dk bl fj'or jkf'k ds laca/k esa dksbZ vkijkf/kd "kM;a= o lgefr jgh gks] ;g rF; Hkh vfHk;kstu i{k izekf.kr ugha dj ik;k gSA 24& mijksDr foospukuqlkj rhuksa vfHk;qDrx.k dk ifjoknh ls fj'or jkf'k izkIr djus ds laca/k esa dksbZ vkijkf/kd "kM;a= jgk gks] muds }kjk fj'or jkf'k dh ekax dh x;h gks vFkok izkIr dh x;h gks vkSj cjken gqbZ gks] ;g rF; izekf.kr ugha gqvk gSA vfHk;kstu i{k viuh dgkuh dks fdlh Hkh :i esa o fdlh Hkh va'k dks izekf.kr ugha dj ik;k gSA fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ek= d;kl o vuqeku ds vk/kkj ij vfHk;qDrx.k dks nks"kfl) fd;k gS] tks rF;ksa o fof/k ds vuq:i ugha gS rFkk fdlh Hkh :i esa fLFkj jgus ;ksX; ugha gSA ;g vihyk/khu fu.kZ; vikLr gksus rFkk vfHk;qDr nks"keqDr gksus ;ksX; gSA 25& ifj.kker% vfHk;[email protected] jRrkjke iq= cD'kkjke] ';kelqUnj iq= jkethyky o ukxs'oj lksuh iq= y{ehukjk;.k dh vksj ls izLrqr ;g nksuksa vihysa Lohdkj dj fo}ku fof'k"B U;k;k/kh'k] ls'ku U;k;ky;] Hkz"Vkpkj fuokj.k vf/kfu;e] dksVk }kjk fu;fer ls'ku izdj.k la[;k 54@2006 esa ikfjr vihyk/khu fu.kZ; o n.Mkns'k fnukafdr 23-04-2018 dks vikLr fd;k tkrk gS rFkk vfHk;qDr jRrkjke o ';kelqUnj dks Hkz"Vkpkj fuokj.k vf/kfu;e] 1988 dh /kkjk 7] 13 ¼1½¼Mh½ lifBr /kkjk 13¼2½ ,oa /kkjk 120 ch Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk ds vkjksi ls rFkk ukxs'oj dks /kkjk 120 ch Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk [2025:RJ-JP:21513] (19 of 19) [CRLAS-1018/2018] lifBr /kkjk 13¼1½¼Mh½ lifBr /kkjk 13¼2½ Hkz"Vkpkj fuokj.k vf/kfu;e ds vkjksiksa ls vFkkZr lHkh vfHk;qDrx.k dks lHkh vkjksiksa ls nks"keqDr fd;k tkrk gSA (UMA SHANKER VYAS),J Murari Lal Sharma /Reserve