Full Order Text
Final Order 1 · 04 Jul 2019 · CNR MHMM190026682019
Order Details: Copy of Judgment Pdf Text: 1 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 Filed on : 15022019 Registered on : 15022019 Decided on : 04072019 Duration : 00Y, 04M, 19D Exh. : 21 IN THE COURT OF THE ADDIL. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE, 22nd COURT, ANDHERI, MUMBAI. (Presided Over by S. N. SALVE) Judgment Under Section 355 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (a) The serial & CNR No. of the case; : C. C. No. 2200641/PW/2019 CNR No. MHMM190026682019 (b) The date of commission of the offence; : 11022019 (c) The name of the complainant (if any); : The State of Maharashtra (At the instance of Sahar Airport Police Station in Crime No.65/2019) (d) The name of the accused person and his parentage and residence; : Sunmaya Tamang Age : 35 years. Occp : Service R/o. : Kukurthakur, 02 Kukurthakur, Sindhuli, Nepal. (e) The offence complained of or proved; : Under Sections 465, 468, 471, 420 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. (f) The plea of the accused and his examination( if any); : Accused pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. ...2/ -- 1 of 10 -- 2 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 (g) The final order; : Accused is acquitted. (h) The date of such order; : 04072019 Appearance: APP Mrs. N. R. Pasarkar for the State. Advocate Shri. Tiwari for accused. J U D G M E N T (Delivered on this 04072019 ) The accused, Nepali Nationals stand prosecuted for the offence punishable Under Sections 465, 468, 471, 420 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (For short, the I.P.C.) for having forged Nepali Foreign Employment Permit and residence permit of Kuwait affixed on page No. 15 of her passport and committed forgery of Nepali Foreign Employment Permit and residence permit of Kuwait for the purpose of cheating and further cheated the Immigration Authority and used Nepali Foreign Employment Permit and residence permit of Kuwait as genuine knowing the same to be forged. 2. The prosecution case, in a nutshell, is that on 11022019, the informant Mr. Nitinkumar Patel, was performing his duty as Immigration Officer in the Departure Wing of Immigration at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai (CSMIA). On that day, the accused was intending to travel to Kuwait by Flight No.9W 57 by Jet Airways. She approached informant for immigration clearance. On scrutiny of her passport and travel documents, the informant Mr. Nitinkumar Patel, Immigration Officer raised doubt about her Nepali Foreign Employment Permit and residence permit of Kuwait. ...3/ -- 2 of 10 -- 3 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 She, therefore, referred the accused to Wingincharge Mr. Amalendu Barui Joseph. Wingincharge Mr. Amalendu Barui Joseph checked the said Nepali Foreign Employment Permit and residence permit of Kuwait. On further interrogation, she disclosed that she wanted to travel to Kuwait for employment purpose and in order to avoid the procedure she with the help of agent altered the date in the visa affixed on the passport. As the accused committed forgery, she was handed over to Sahar Police Station FIR was lodged against her. 3. On the basis of FIR, Crime No. 65/2019 was registered against the accused for the offence punishable under sections 465, 468, 471 and 420 read with Section 34 of the I.P.C. PSI Yemgar carried out the investigation of the crime in usual manner. During the course of investigation, he made correspondence with Consulate General of Kuwait for verification of genuineness of visa of Kuwait. On completion of due investigation, he submitted chargesheet. 4. I framed charge (Exh. 2) against the accused for the offence punishable under sections 465, 468, 471, 420 read with Section 34 of the IPC. It was read over and explained to her in vernacular to which she pleaded her innocence and claimed to be tried. The statement of accused under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is recorded after the witnesses for the prosecution have been examined. Her defence is that of total denial and false implication in the crime. 5. The points for determination along with my findings with reasons thereon are as follows : ...4/ -- 3 of 10 -- 4 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 Sr. No. Points Findings 1 Does the prosecution prove that the accused forged Nepali Foreign Employment Permit and residence permit of Kuwait ? No. 2 Does it further prove that the accused committed forgery of Nepali Foreign Employment Permit and residence permit of Kuwait for the purpose of cheating ? No. 3 Does it further prove that the accused used the forged Nepali Foreign Employment Permit and residence permit of Kuwait which they knew to be forged? No. 4 Does it further prove that the accused cheated the Immigration Officer by fraudulently obtaining Nepali Foreign Employment Permit and residence permit of Kuwait ? No. 5 What order ? The accused is acquitted. R E A S O N S 6. In order to further its case against the accused, the prosecution has examined in all three witnesses. They are, the informant Nitinkumar Patel, Immigration Officer (PW1) at Exh. 4, Wingincharge Amalendu Joseph (PW2) at Exh. 14 and I.O. PSI Yemgar (PW3) at Exh. 16. Point Nos. 1 to 4 : 7. All the points are dealt with simultaneously so as to avoid repetition of discussion of evidence which is common for all these points and also the facts involved in the decision of these points are ...5/ -- 4 of 10 -- 5 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 such that as can with advantage be discussed together. 8. The informant Nitinkumar Patel, Immigration Officer (PW1) deposed that on 11.02.2019 he was performing his duty at CSMI Airport at Departure. One that day, accused, Nepali Nationals approached him, who was intending to travel to Kuwai by Flight No. 9W 57 by Jet Airways. He further deposed that on scrutiny of her Passport and travel documents, he raised doubt about Kuwait Residence Permit as there was handwritten alteration. He, therefore, referred the accused to Wingincharge Amalendu Joseph (PW2) and interrogated her. She disclosed that she with the help of agent altered the date in the residence permit of Kuwait. In his further evidence, he has proved statement of accused (Exh. 5), visa affixed on page No. 15 of passport (Exh. 6) and copy of Kuwait Employment Visa (Art. A). 9. In crossexamination, he admitted the accused was uneducated. He further admitted that he has not handed over any document to Police showing that she was working in Kuwait. 10. Amalendu Joseph, (PW2) was performing his duty as Wing incharge. He deposed that the informant Nitinkumar Patel brought accused to him who was having fake UAE Employment Permit and Nepali Foreign Employment Permit. He further deposed that he checked the said visa and permit and found that there was handwritten alteration in the Kuwait Residence Permit. Then, he recorded the statement of said passenger who disclosed that she with the help of agent altered the date in Kuwait Residence Permit. In cross examination, he admitted that he has not tallied the Kuwait Residence ...6/ -- 5 of 10 -- 6 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 Permit with the concerned authority. 11. I.O. Shri. Yemgar (PW3) has carried out the investigation of the crime. He deposed that informant Nitin Kumar Immigration Officer (PW1) lodged FIR (Exh.7) that the accused residence permit of Kuwait. He further deposed that he made correspondence with Consulate General Kuwait for verification of residence permit of Kuwait. In crossexamination, he admitted that no document is produced on record that the accused was working in Kuwait. He further admitted that no report from Consulate General Kuwait is received that the residence permit is fake. 12. At this juncture, it is necessary to have a glance at the provisions relating to forgery and making of false documents. 464. Making a false document.—A person is said to make a false document or electronic record— First.—Who dishonestly or fraudulently (a) makes, signs, seals or executes a document or part of a document; (b) makes or transmits any electronic record or part of any electronic record; (c) affixes any digital signature on any electronic record; (d) makes any mark denoting the execution or the authenticity of the digital signature,with the intention of causing it to be believed that such document or part of document, electronic record or digital signature was made, signed, sealed executed, transmitted or affixed by or by the authority of a person by whom or by whose ...7/ -- 6 of 10 -- 7 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 authority he knows that it was not made, signed, sealed, executed or affixed; or Secondly.—Who without lawful authority, dishonestly or fraudulently, by cancellation or otherwise, alters a document or an electronic record in any material part thereof, after it has been made, executed or affixed with digital signature either by himself or by any other person, whether such person be living or dead at the time of such alteration; or Thirdly.—Who dishonestly or fraudulently causes any person to sign, seal, execute or alter a document or an electronic record or to affix his digital signature on any electronic record knowing that such person by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication cannot, or that by reason of deception practiced upon him, he does not know the contents of the document or electronic record or the nature of the alteration. 13. A close scrutiny of the aforesaid provisions makes it clear that, Section 463 defines the offence of forgery, while Section 464 substantiates the same by providing an answer as to when a false document could be said to have been made for the purpose of committing an offence of forgery under Section 463 of IPC. Therefore, it can be safely deduced that Section 464 defines one of the ingredients of forgery i.e. making of a false document. Further, Section 465 provides punishment for the commission of the offence of forgery. In order to sustain conviction under Section 465, first, it has to be proved that forgery was committed under Section 463, implying that the ingredients under Section 464 should also be satisfied. Therefore, unless and until the ingredients under Section 463 are satisfied a person can not be convicted under Section 465 by solely relying on the ingredients of ...8/ -- 7 of 10 -- 8 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 Section 464, as the offence of forgery would remain incomplete. 14. If the aforesaid principles are applied to the facts of the present case, it is seen that there is absolutely no evidence that the accused fraudulently obtained residence permit of Kuwait. It is pertinent to point out here that there is no official report from the Government of Kuwait stating that residence permit is fake. In absence of such evidence, it can not be assumed that the accused forged residence permit of Kuwait. 15. The prosecution has also heavily relied upon the extra judicial confessions (Exh. 5) allegedly made by the accused. In so far so the extrajudicial confession allegedly made by the accused is concerned, it is seen from the evidence of informant Nitin Kumar Patel that the alleged Confessional Statement has been recorded by Profiling Officer Kailash Paigara. In the present case, the prosecution has not examined Profiling Officer Kailash Paigara for the reasons best known to it. In absence of evidence of Profiling Officer Kailash Paigara, it can not be held that the said statement was voluntarily made by the accused and it is recorded as per the version of accused. In this view of the matter, the said statement (Exh.5) can not be taken into consideration. So also, there is no evidence that this accused was made explained while recording the statement as it is in English. There is also no evidence that the said statement was free from inducement and coercion. In absence of such evidence, said statement can not be relied upon. Even if it is proved, it needs support of other supporting evidence. There is no supportive evidence in the present case such as reports of the concerned authority that Residence Permit of Kuwait is fake. ...9/ -- 8 of 10 -- 9 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 16. In view of the reasons discussed herein above, it can not be concluded that the accused fraudulently obtained Residence Permit of Kuwait, committed forgery of Residence Permit of Kuwait for the purpose of cheating and further used the said Residence Permit of Kuwait as genuine knowing it to be forged and further cheated the informant Nitinkumar Patel, Immigration Officer (PW1). 17. Taking into account the evidence led by the prosecution and the reasons discussed herein above, I hold that the prosecution has not been able to establish the guilt of accused beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, I answer point Nos. 1 to 4 in the negative. Points No. 5 : 18. In view of my negative findings as to point Nos. 1 to 4, accused is entitled for acquittal. In the result, following order is passed: O R D E R (i) The accused is acquitted of the offence punishable under sections 465, 468, 471, 420 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code under section 248 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. (ii) She is in Jail. She be released forthwith if not required in any other crime. (iii) She shall furnish Personal Bond of Rs. 10,000/ and surety of like amount under section 437A of the Code of Criminal Procedure for a further period of six months. ...10/ -- 9 of 10 -- 10 C.C.NO. 2200641/PW/2019 (iv) The seized Nepali Passport be returned to the accused and other travel documents be destroyed, after the appeal period is over. Date : 0407 2019 sd/ (S. N. Salve) Addl. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, 22nd Court, Andheri, Mumbai. *csj Dictated on : 04072019 Typed on : 04072019 Signed on : 04072019 .../ -- 10 of 10 --
