Madras High Court
Ezhilmuthu Venkatesan ... ... vs The Sub-Inspector Of Police on 28 April, 2023
Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 28.04.2023
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN
Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
Ezhilmuthu Venkatesan ... Revision Petitioner/
Appellant/Accused
Vs.
The Sub-Inspector of Police,
Puthanatham Police Station,
Crime No.177 of 2003. ... Respondent/
Respondent/Complainant
PRAYER: Criminal Revision Case filed under Section 397 & 401 of
the Code of Criminal Procedure, to call for the records and set aside
the Judgment dated 02.11.2016 in C.A.No.27 of 2016 on the file of
the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Trichy, confirming the
Judgment, dated 14.05.2016 in C.C.No.238 of 2009 on the file of
the learned Judicial Magistrate, Manapparai and acquit the
accused/revision petitioner.
For Petitioner : Mr.R.Paranjothi
For Respondent : Mr.K.Sanjai Gandhi
Government Advocate (Criminal Side)
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
ORDER
The revision has been filed to set aside the
Judgment in C.A.No.27 of 2016 on the file of the learned
Principal Sessions Judge, Trichy, dated 02.11.2016, confirming
the order of conviction and sentence passed in C.C.No.238 of
2009 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Manapparai,
dated 14.05.2016.
2.The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner
while he was working as a Postmaster in the Branch office of
Marunkapuri Post Office had misappropriated money being
deposited by the customers in their savings account and
recurring deposit accounts. On receipt of the complaint, the
defacto complainant conducted an inspection and found that
there were some fraudulent transactions made by the
petitioner by receiving the amount and making
acknowledgement by issuing counterfoils, but without crediting
the same in the main account with the post office. He had
utilized the said amount for his own purpose. The defacto
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
complainant verified the accounts of one Jeyalakshmi
(Recurring Deposit Account No.7080777), M.G.Packiyathilagam
(Recurring Deposit Account No.7080630), P.Palaniammal
(Recurring Deposit Account No.7080333), K.Suganthi
(Recurring Deposit Account No.7081367) and A.Rasathy
(Savings Bank Account No.348116). On verification of those
documents, it was found that the petitioner had
misappropriated to the tune of Rs.23,062/-. It was happened
during the year 1999 – 2002. On the complaint, the
respondent registered the F.I.R in Crime No.177 of 2003 for
the offence under Section 409 of I.P.C. After completion of the
investigation, the respondent filed a final report and the same
has been taken cognizance by the trial Court in C.C.No.238 of
2009.
3.On the side of the prosecution, they had
examined P.W.1 to P.W.5 and marked Exs.P.1 to P.42 and on
the side of the accused, no one was examined and no
documents were marked.
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
4.On perusal of the oral and documentary evidence,
the trial Court found the petitioner guilty for the offence under
Section 409 of I.P.C and sentenced him to undergo three years
Rigorous Imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs.3,000/-
in default, to undergo six months Rigorous Imprisonment.
Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner preferred an appeal in
C.A.No.27 of 2016 on the file of the learned Principal Sessions
Judge, Trichy and the Appellate Court dismissed the appeal,
thereby confirming the conviction imposed by the trial Court.
Aggrieved by the same, the present Revision.
5.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner
would submit that even according to the case of the
prosecution the petitioner was a contract employee and as
such, the offence under Section 409 of I.P.C would not attract
as against him. If the petitioner is a Government servant, the
prosecution ought to have obtained sanction as contemplated
under Section 197 of Cr.P.C in order to prosecute the petitioner
herein. There was also a delay in the lodgment of the
complaint. However, without considering the above, both the
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
Courts below accordingly convicted the petitioner. If at all, the
petitioner is to be convicted only for the offence under Section
408A of I.P.C. If the petitioner is convicted for the offence
under Section 408A of I.P.C., he is entitled to the benefit under
the Probation of Offenders Act.
6.Per contra, the learned Government Advocate
(Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent would submit
that the prosecution beyond any doubt categorically proved its
case and both the Courts below rightly convicted the petitioner
for the offence punishable under Section 409 of I.P.C. That
apart, the petitioner had misappropriated to the tune of Rs.
23,062/-. Therefore, it was not his part of duty and as such, no
sanction is required to prosecute the petitioner. If at all when
the petitioner was discharging his official duty any crime
alleged, it requires sanction as contemplated under Section
197 of Cr.P.C. Therefore, there is no infirmity or illegality in the
order passed by the Courts below and it does not warrant any
interference by this Court.
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
7.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either
side and perused the materials available on record.
8.The petitioner is the sole accused. From the year
1999 – 2002, the petitioner failed to account the amount
received from the depositors to the Branch office of
Marunkapuri Post Office and thereby he misappropriated to the
tune of Rs.23,062/-. During the period 1999 – 2002, the
petitioner was a Post Master at Marunkapuri Branch.
9.On perusal of exhibits also revealed that the
passbook reflects a higher amount and the ledger which was
maintained by the Post Office shows only a lesser amount.
Therefore, admittedly, the petitioner, after receipt of money
from the depositors, failed to account the same in the Post
Office account. Therefore, the prosecution proved the
allegation of misappropriation to the tune of Rs.23,062/-.
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
10.The only point for consideration in this revision is whether the
petitioner was a direct employee of the Postal Department and whether he had
supervisory power. Admittedly, the petitioner was working as a Branch Post Master of
Marunkapuri Post Office Branch. P.W.1 also categorically deposed as follows:-
“vjphpia vdf;F Qhgfk; ,Uf;fpwJ.
Vjphp kUq;fhg[hp fpis mQ;ryfj;jpy; fpis
mQ;ryf mjpfhhpahf gzpg[hpe;jhh;. vq;fs; Jiwapy;
Jiw rhh;e;j gzpahsh;fs; kw;Wk; Jiw rhuh Kfik
cs;sJ vd;why; rhpjhd;. 2001k; Mz;oypUe;J
fpuhkpd; lhf; nrtf; vd;W khw;wk; bra;ag;gl;lJ.
$pov];rpy; cs;sth;fs; epue;jukhdth;fs;
fpilahJ. vq;fs; mYtyfj;jpy; ,Ug;gth;fSf;fhd;
nkyhz;ik mjpfhuk; kw;Wk; kw;w
nkyhz;ik ,y;yhjth;fSf;fhd mjpfhuq;fs;
Fwpj;J tpj;jpahrk; bjhpa[k; vd;why; rhpjhd; vjphpf;F
nkyhz;ik mjpfhuk; ,y;iy. ,e;j tHf;fpy; Ma;t[
1999 Kjy; 2002 tiu bra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ. me;j
fhy fl;lj;jpy; me;j mQ;ryf tl;lj;jpw;fhd
Ma;thsuhf 14.06.2000 Kjy; 09.06.2003
tiu ehd; ,Ue;njd; vd;why; rhpjhd;. ehd;
Ma;thsuhf ,Ue;j njjpf;F Kd;gpUe;j
Mtzq;fisa[k; ehd; Ma;t[ bra;njd; vd;why;
rhpjhd;. jw;brayhf me;j fhy fl;lj;jpy; kUq;fhg[hp
fpis mYtyfj;jpw;F vj;jid Kiw jw;brayhfnth
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
my;yJ Kiwgonah Ma;t[ nkw;bfhz;nld; vd;why;
ehd; gjtp Vw;w gpd;g[ 2 Kiw Ma;t[ bra;njd;.
Ma;t[ bra;jij gw;wp Mtzq;fis itj;J
fz;Lgpoj;J tplyhk; vd;why; rhpjhd;. vd;id
jtpu ntW ahuhtJ Ma;t[ bra;Js;shh;fsh vd;why;
1999k; Mz;L Ma;t[ bra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ. me;j
Ma;tpy; ,t;tHf;fpy; rk;ge;jg;gl;l FiwghLfs;
fz;lwpag;gl;ljh vd;why; ,y;iy. ,e;j tHf;F
rk;ge;jgl;l Ma;it ehd; jw;brayhf bra;njdh
my;yJ nkyjpfhhpapd; cj;jut[go bra;njdh
vd;why; Fspj;jiy jiyik mQ;ryfj;jpy; ,Ue;J
2081387 vd;w fzf;fpw;fhd gh]; g[j;jfj;jpy;
tpj;jpahrk; ,Ug;gij Rl;o fhl;o vdf;F gh];
g[j;jfk; mDg;gg;gl;lJ. mjd; mog;gilapy; ehd;
Ma;t[ bra;njd;. fhytiu Ma;t[f;F bry;Yk;nghJ
gh]; g[j;jfq;fs; kw;Wk; mYtyf gjpntLfisa[k;
Ma;t[ bra;a ntz;Lk; vd;why; Fwpg;gpl;l gh];
g[j;jfq;fspd; vz;zpf;ifia ghh;ff; ntz;Lk;.
midj;J gh]; g[j;jfq;fis ghh;f;f ntz;oa
mtrpak; ,y;iy. 8 nrkpg;g[ fzf;Ffs;> 2 Mh;o
fzf;Ffs;> 2 oo fzf;Ffs;> fzf;Ffs; ghh;ff;
ntz;Lk;. vt;tst[ vz;zpf;ifapy; ,Ue;jhYk;
nkw;go vz;zpf;ifapy; kw;Wk; fzf;F g[j;jfq;fis
ghh;j;jhy; nghJkhdjh vd;why; nghJkhdJ. ehd;
fhytiu Ma;t[ bra;jnghJ> gh]; g[j;jfq;fspy;
ve;jtpjkhd FiwghLk; fz;lwpatpy;iy vd;why;
rhpjhd;. mf;nlhgh; 2002k; Mz;L
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
Fspj;jiyapy; ,Ue;J fojk; fpilj;jJ njjp
vdf;F Qhgfk; ,y;iy. ehd; miHg;ghiz
mDg;gp tprhhpj;njdh vd;why; mtrpak; ,y;iy
ehnd neuoahf brd;W tprhhpj;njd;. kUq;fhg[hp
fpis mYtyfj;jpy; vd;bdd;d fzf;Ffs; vj;jid
vz;zpf;ifapy; ,Uf;Fk; vd;W vd;dhy; brhy;y
KoahJ. mjd; mog;gilapy; 4 egh;fis Ma;tpy;
tprhhpf;f ntz;Lk; vd;W vdf;F njhd;wpaJ vd;why;
Kjy; fzf;fpnyna bjhifapy; tpj;jpahrk; ,Ue;jjhy;
me;j Kfhe;jpuj;jpd; mog;gilapy; kw;w
fzf;Fjhuh;fis mZfp mth;fSila gh];
g[j;jfq;fis ghh;j;njd;. kw;w fzf;Fjhuh;fis
mth;fsJ tPlo ; y; itj;J tprhhpj;njdh my;yJ
mYtyfj;jpy; itj;J tprhhpj;njdh vd;why;
mth;fs; ,Ug;gplk; brd;W tprhhpj;njd;. mq;F
itj;Jjhd; mth;fsplk; thf;F%yk; bgw;nwd;.
thf;F%yk; thq;Fk;nghJ ehd; kl;Lk; thq;fpnddh
my;yJ ntW ahuhtJ cld; ,Ue;jhh;fsh
vd;why; rhpahf epidt[ ,y;iy. ehd; tprhhpj;j
rhl;rpfs; gof;fhj ghku kf;fs; vd;gjhy; mjpfhhp
vd;w njhuizapy; mth;fsplk; vGjhj ngg;ghpy;
ifbahg;gk; kl;Lk; thq;fp bfhz;nld; vd;why;
rhpay;y;. tPlL
; f;F brd;wnghJ fzf;F itj;Js;s
egnu ,Ue;jhuh my;yJ tPlo ; y; ,Uf;Fk; ntW
ahhplkhtJ thf;F%yk; thq;fpnddh vd;why;
vk;.$p ghf;fpa jpyfk; kw;Wk; Rfe;jp Mfpnahh;fs;
rhh;ghf fnzrd; vd;gtiu tprhhpj;njd;. mjd;gpd;g[
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
rk;ge;jg;gl;l fzf;Fjhuh;fis tprhhpj;njd;. bkhj;j
rhl;rpfisa[k; btt;ntW njjpapy; tprhhpj;Js;nsd;
vd;Wk; vt;ttst[ ehl;fspy; tprhhpj;njd; vd;why;
Rkhh; 2 – 3 khjq;fSf;Fs; tprhhpj;Jtpl;nld;.
bgaiu kl;Lk; brhy;fpnwd; njjp bjhpahJ vd;Wk;
mth;fis Mtzq;fis goj;J ghh;j;J
brhy;fpnwdh vd;why; epidt[ cs;sij brhy;fpnwd;.
2 -3 khjq;fspy; kw;w rhl;rpfs; ahiuahtJ
tprhhpj;njdh vd;why; tprhhpj;njd;. tprhuizapd;
Kotpy; tHf;F jhf;fy; bra;a ntz;Lk; vd;Wk;
Kot[f;F te;njd; vd;why; rhpjhd;. mt;thW
Kot[ bra;j gpd;dh; fhty; Jiwf;F vg;nghJ g[fhh;
bfhLj;njd; vd;why; 17.04.2003 md;W g[fhh;
bfhLj;njd;.”
11.Accordingly, the petitioner was not a permanent
employee under the Postal Department and he was appointed under
the Gramin dock sevag. Therefore, he has to be convicted for the
offence punishable under Section 408A of I.P.C. Accordingly, the
conviction is modified under Section 408A of I.P.C instead of 409 of
I.P.C. In so far as the sentence is concerned, considering the age of
the petitioner and also the manner in which the offence is made out
by the petitioner, this Court is inclined to reduce the sentence from
three years to the period which was already undergone by the
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
petitioner and hence, the sentence is reduced from three years to
the period which was already undergone by the petitioner.
Accordingly, this Criminal Revision Case is partly allowed.
28.04.2023
NCC : Yes/No
Index : Yes/No
Internet : Yes
ps
To
1.The Principal Sessions Judge,
Trichy.
2.The Judicial Magistrate,
Manapparai.
3.The Sub-Inspector of Police,
Puthanatham Police Station.
4.The Additional Public Prosecutor,
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Madurai.
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Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.
ps
Order made in
Crl.R.C(MD)No.578 of 2017
28.04.2023
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