Best Memorial RESPONDENT 2nd RGNUL National Moot Court 2013
Best Memorial RESPONDENT 2nd RGNUL National Moot Court 2013
Best Memorial RESPONDENT 2nd RGNUL National Moot Court 2013
10
___________________________________________________________________________
IN THE HONORABLE
HIGH COURT OF SATYA PRADESH
VERSUS
Page II
c.
That Section 19 of PC Act and Section 197 of the Code act in different spheres ....... 9
III. THAT THE ACCUSED ARE NOT GUILTY FOR THE OFFENCE OF CRIMINAL
MISCONDUCT UNDER THE PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT OF 1988 ........... 10
a.
That the ingredients under Section 13(1)(d)(i) are not fulfilled ............................... 12
b.
IV. THAT THE ACCUSED ARE NOT GUILTY U/S 120B OF INDIAN PENAL CODE 18
a.
b.
V. THAT THE ACCUSED ARE NOT GUILTY UNDER SECTION 169 OF INDIAN
PENAL CODE ..................................................................................................................... 24
PRAYER ............................................................................................................................... XV
Page III
p. Page
Para Paragraph
Anr. Another
Cal. Calcutta
S. Section
SC Supreme Court
Cri. Criminal
DB Double Bench
Supp Supplement
Gau Gauhati
V - Versus
Manu Manupatra
ND-IMMP - Nirmala Devi International Market for Milk Products Pvt. Ltd.
Ors. Others
P&H Punjab and Haryana
Page IV
LIST OF BOOKS
GOUR, DR.HARI SINGH, PENAL LAW OF INDIA (Law Publishers (India) Pvt. Ltd,
Allahabad, 11th Edition, 2011)
Page V
TABLE OF CASES
A. Subair v. State of Kerala,(2009) 6 SCC 587. -----------------------------------------------------13
Allarakha K. Mansuri v. State of Gujurat, (2002) 3 SCC 57 ------------------------------------ 1, 2
Amritalal Hazara v. Emperor, AIR 1916 Cal. 188 --------------------------------------------------20
Ashok Kumar Chatterjee v. State of M.P., AIR 1989 SC 1890. -----------------------------------23
Bakhshish Singh Brar v. Gurmej Kaur, AIR 1988 SC 257: (1987) 4 SCC 663. ----------------- 6
Baldev Singh v. State of Punjab, (2009) 6 SCC 564. -----------------------------------------------19
C.K. Jaffer Shariefv.State (Through CBI),2012 (11) SCALE 71: (2013) 1 SCC 205 ----- 11, 14
MEMORIAL FOR RESPONDENT
Page VI
Page VII
Page VIII
STATEMENT OF FACTS
I.
The Department of Agriculture, Government of Satya Pradesh planned to set up an
International Food Market (IFM), for marketing of agriculture food products and milk food
products, near the metropolitan city of MohenderGarh to fulfil the promise to people as an
election manifesto of the Farmer's Party, which was in power. The proposal initiated by the
Agriculture Minister of Satya Pradesh Mr.HoshiarRai(herein referred to as Accused 1) was
approved by the Cabinet on 23rd June 2010.
The Department of Agriculture recommended on 28th August 2010 that the land in
village Partap Nagar situated on the National Highway NH- 44 leading from MohenderGarh
to SurenderGarh, is suitable location for the Project. The recommendation was accordingly
mooted by the Ministry of Agriculture and was accepted by the Cabinet of Ministers at its
meeting held on 4th October 2010.
The Collector MohenderGarh initiated the process of acquisition of the land for public
purpose and issued notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, on 28th
December 2010 for the acquisition of land situated in Village Partap Nagar, District
MohenderGarh.
II.
Mrs.Nirmala Devi wife of Mr.HoshiarRai the Agriculture Minister, entered into an agreement
to sell land with one Mr.Kisan Singh of the village Partap Nagar in that village @ Rs. 2 Lac
per kanal through a written agreement dated 10th December, 2010.The sale deed in favour of
Mrs.Nirmala Devi was executed on 18th February 2011 and mutation in favour of
Mrs.Nirmal Devi was also sanctioned on 24th February 2011. Incidentally, the Land
purchased by Mrs.Nirmala Devi was also a part of the notified land for setting up
International Food Market.
Page IX
IV.
Mrs.Nirmala Devi incorporated a private company on 20th July 2011 with the name Nirmala
Devi International Market for Milk Products (ND-IMMP) Private Ltd. The other members of
the company were Mr.HoshiarRai, her husband Mr.Kismat Kumar her son, Ms.Gulab Rani,
her daughter and also Mr.KunalDev(Herein referred to as Accused 2) and Mr. Naveen
Pal(Herein referred to as Accused 3). Each member has the share holdings in the company
as Mrs.Nirmala Devi 25%, Mr.Kismat Kumar and Ms.Gulab Rani 20% each,
Mr.HoshiarRai 15% and Mr.KunalDev was Director Agriculture and Mr. Naveen Pal was
Secretary Planning and had 10% each. The afore mentioned land in village Partap Nagar
purchased by Mrs.Nirmala Devi in her name was transferred to the ND-IMMP Pvt. Ltd. @
Rs. 10 lac per kanal on 10 September 2011. The necessary funds were procured by the
company through individual contribution of the shareholders and also through borrowing
from different sources including banks and other financial institutions.
The ND-IMMP Pvt. Ltd. applied on 10 October 2011 to the Department of
Agriculture for permission to set up the market for Milk Products at village Partap Nagar in
the aforesaid land purchased by Mrs.Nirmala Devi and now belonging to ND-IMMP Pvt. Ltd.
The proposal was recommended by the Department of Agriculture and was further processed
and approved by the other concerned Government departments.
V.
Page X
VI.
The CBI initiated an inquiry on 15th March 2012. The Chief Minister sought the resignation
from Mr.HoshiarRai, which was submitted by him on 18 March 2012. The same was
accepted on 20 March 2012. Meanwhile Assembly Election of Satya Pradesh was due in May
2012. After the election the same political party viz. Farmers' Party again came to power.
Mr.HoshiarRai also won the assembly election. He was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister on 15
June 2012 and allocated theportfolio of Minister of Industries.
VII.
On the basis of CBI probe a criminal case was registered on 18 April 2012 against
HoshiarRai, KunalDev and Naveen Pal for the offences under Section 13 (1) (d) (i) & (ii)
punishable under Section (13) (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Sections 169
and 120 B of the Indian Penal Code 1860. After investigation the Charge Sheet was filed
before the Special Judge, MohenderGarh on 07 July 2012 against all the three accused. The
Court framed charges under Section 13 (2) read with Section 13 (i) (d) (i) & (ii) of the
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Sections 169 and 120 B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
against all three accused.
The Trial Court heard arguments advanced on either side, considered the evidence
brought it and the points urged in the arguments and came to the conclusion that prosecution
has failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and acquitted all the three accused
on 2nd of January 2013.
Page XI
ISSUE I
WHETHER OR NOT APPEAL AGAINST ACQUITTAL IS MAINTANABLE
ISSUE II
WHETHER OR NOT SANCTION FOR PROSECUTION IS REQUIRED
ISSUE III
WHETHER
OR
NOT
THE
ACCUSED
ARE
GUILTY
FOR
CRIMINAL
ISSUE IV
WHETHER OR NOT THE ACCUSED ARE GUILTY UNDER SECTION 120B of
INDIAN PENAL CODE OF 1860
ISSUE V
WHETHER OR NOT THE ACCUSED ARE GUILTY UNDER SECTION 169 OF
INDIAN PENAL CODE OF 1860
Page XII
Page XIII
Page XIV
I.
1. That it is submitted that in the light of the facts and settled law, the appeal against acquittal
is not maintainable. This submission is divided into three parts. Firstly, the trial court was
tight in acquittal of all the accused, Secondly, since all the accused have been acquitted by
trial court, the presumption of innocence is strengthened and lastly, the burden of proof in
this case is on the prosecution.
a. That the Trial court rightly acquitted the accused
2. It is clear from the record that during the trial, prosecution has produced 21 witnesses and
related documents that included the witnesses to the sale transaction, officials of the
department of agriculture, copies of official record and notifications and also record from
the registrar of the companies to substantiate the case.1 The defence side also produced
witnesses
and
documentary
evidence
to
prove
genuineness
of
Page 1
Page 2
12
Page 3
15
Page 4
20
Mookkiah&Anr. v. State, represented by the Inspector of Police, Tamil Nadu, Criminal Appeal No. 2085 of
2008, Judgment delivered on 4th Jan, 2013.
21
Line 3, Para 2, Page 5, Moot Court Proposition.
22
AIR 1977 SC 822.
23
1987 Cri LJ 1827 (Gau).
Page 5
15. That the sanction for prosecution against a public servant is defined under Section 197 of
the Code of Criminal Procedure (herein referred to as The Code) and to be precise under
sub-section (1). The requirement of previous sanction is intended to afford a reasonable
protection to a public servant, who in the course of strict and impartial discharge of his
duties may offend persons and create enemies, from frivolous, malicious or vexations
prosecution and to save him from unnecessary harassment or undue hardship which may
result from an inadequate appreciation by police authorities of the technicalities of the
working of a department. The prosecution of a Government servant for an offence
challenging his honesty and integrity has also a bearing on the morale of the public
services. The administrative authority alone is in a position to assess and weigh the
accusation against the background of theirown intimate knowledge of the work and
conduct of the public servant and the overall administrative interest of the State.24
16. Such protection has certain limits and is available only when the alleged act done by the
public servant is reasonably connected with the discharge of his/her official duty and is not
merely a cloak for doing the objectionable act.25
17. That the mandatory character of the protection afforded to a public servant is brought out
by the expression, no Court shall take cognizance of such offence except with the
previous sanction. Use of the words, no and shall make it abundantly clear that the bar
on the exercise of power by the Court to take cognizance of any offence is absolute and
complete. Very cognizance is barred. That the complaint itself cannot be taken notice of.
According to Black's Law Dictionary the word cognizance means jurisdiction or the
exercise of jurisdiction or power to try and determine causes. In common parlance, it
24
Page 6
Page 7
29
State of Himachal Pradesh v. M.P. Gupta,2003 (10) SCALE 522: (2004) 2 SCC 349. See also P.K. Pradhan
v. State of Sikkim, AIR 2001 SC 2547: 2001 Cr LJ 2547 (SC).(FB)
30
Anjani Kumar v. State of Bihar, AIR 2008 SC 1992: (2008) 5 SCC 248.See also Parkash Singh Badal and
Anr. v. State of Punjab and Ors.,AIR 2007 SC 1274: 2006 (13) SCALE 54: (2007) 1 SCC 1.
31
Dinesh Kumar v. Chairman, Airport Authority of India and Anr.,AIR 2012 SC 858: 2011 (13) SCALE 132:
(2012) 1 SCC 532.
32
Shri S.K. Zutshi and Anr. v. ShriBimalDebnath and Anr., AIR 2004 SC 4174: 2004 (6) SCALE 50: (2004) 8
SCC 31.
Page 8
RomeshLal Jain v. Naginder Singh Rana and Ors.,AIR 2006 SC 336:2005 (8) SCALE 810: (2006) 1 SCC
294.
34
Om Prakash and ors. v. State of Jharkhand through the Secretary , Department of Home , Ranchi- 1 and
Anr.,2012 (9) SCALE 291 (FB).
35
State of Karnataka through CBI v. C. Nagarajaswamy,AIR 2005 SC 4308: 2005 (8) SCALE 280: (2005) 8
SCC 370. See also B. Saha and Ors. v. M.S. Kochar, 1979 CriLJ 1367 (SC): MANU/SC/0075/1979;
K.Kalimuthu v. State by DSP, 2005 CriLJ 2190: MANU/SC/0248/2005; P.K. Pardhanv. State of Sikkim, AIR
2001 SC 2547: (2001) 6 SCC 704: MANU/SC/0380/2001.
36
Line 5, Para 3, Page 4-5, Moot Court Proposition.
37
Line 6, Para 3, Page 4-5, Moot Court Proposition.
Page 9
III.
24. That a fundamental principle of criminal jurisprudence with regard to the liability of an
accused which may have application to the present case is to be found in the work
"Criminal Law" by K.D. Gaur. The relevant passage from the above work may be
extracted below: Criminal guilt would attach to a man for violations of criminal law.
However, the rule is not absolute and is subject to limitations indicated in the Latin
maxim, actus non facitreum, nisi mens sit rea. It signifies that there can be no crime
without a guilty mind. To make a person criminally accountable it must be proved that an
act, which is forbidden by law, has been caused by his conduct, and that the conduct was
accompanied by a legally blameworthy attitude of mind. Thus, there are two components
of every crime, a physical element and a mental element, usually called actusreus and
mensrea respectively.40
38
RomeshLal Jain v. Naginder Singh Rana, (2006) 1 SCC 294 at p. 303: AIR 2006 SC 336: 2005 CriLJ 5068
(SC).
39
KalicharanMahapatra v. State of Orissa,AIR 1998 SC 2595: 1998 (4) SCALE 359: (1998) 6 SCC 411.
40
C.K. JafferShariefv.State (Through CBI),2012 (11) SCALE 71: (2013) 1 SCC 205.
Page 10
41
Page 11
45
Page 12
52
R. BalakrishnaPillai v. State of Kerala,2003(2) SCALE 560: (2003) 9 SCC 700. See also Ram Kishan v. State
of Delhi, AIR 1956 SC 476 at p. 478, 1956 SCR 182; M.W. Mohiuddinv. State of Maharashtra, (1995) 3 SCC
567 at p. 570-571: 1995 SCC (Cri.) 546.
53
A. Subairv. State of Kerala,2009 CriLJ 3450, 2009 (8) SCALE 585, (2009) 6 SCC 587, [2009] 10 SCR 1058.
Page 13
54
C.K. JafferShariefv. State (Through CBI),2012 (11) SCALE 71: (2013) 1 SCC 205.See also M. Narayanan
Nambiar v. State of Kerala, (1963) Supp. (2) SCR 724.
55
Section 24 of Penal code.
56
Rao, A.S. Ramachandra, Commentary on Prevention of Corruption Act 348 (Universal Publishing Co. Pvt.
Ltd, New Delhi, 1st edition, 2004).
57
Seth &Capoor, Prevention of Corruption Act with A Treatise of Corruption Act 526 (Law Publishers, Pvt.
Ltd., Allahabad, 4th edition, 2004). See Ghulam Din Buch v. State of J.& K., 1996 SCC (Cri) 986 at p. - 995996; M.W. Mohiudin v. State of Maharashtra, 1995 SCC (Cri.) 546 at p. 550 .
58
K.R . Purushothamanv. State of Kerala,2005 (8) SCALE 618: (2005) 12 SCC 631: 2005 CriLJ 4648 (SC):
AIR 2006 SC 35.
59
Line 2, Para 1, Page -1, Moot Court Proposition.
60
Line 4, Para 1, Page 1, Moot Court Proposition.
Page 14
61
Page 15
of
the
Supreme
ManshankarPrabhashankarDwivedi70
Court
and
in
State
of
DhaneshwarNarainSaxena
Gujarat
v.
v.
Delhi
Administration71 held that there seems to be no conflict whatsoever in the aforesaid two
judgments. In this case, the Supreme Court explained that the language of Section 5(1)(d)
of the PC Act, 1947, was clear and unambiguous in the sense that if a public servant by
whatever means, be they corrupt or illegal, obtains for himself or any other person any
69
TarlochanDev Sharmav.State of Punjab &Ors.,AIR 2001 SC 2524: 2001 (4) SCALE 472: (2001) 6 SCC 260.
See also M. NarayanaNambiar v. State of Kerala, AIR 1963 SC 1116 at p. 1118: 1963 Supp (2) SCR 724:
(1963) 2 CriLJ 186 (SC).
70
AIR 1973 SC 330 at p. 336: (1973) 1 SCR 313: (1972) 2 SCC 392.
71
AIR 1962 SC 195: (1962) 3 SCR 259.
Page 16
72
Dhamija, Dr.Ashok, Prevention of Corruption Act 557 (Wadhwa and Company, Nagpur, 1 st edition, 2003).
See also State by Special Police Establishment v. D. Krishnamurthy,1995 Supp (3) SCC 702.
73
Subash Parbat Sonvanev. State of Gujarat,AIR 2003 SC 2169: 2002 CriLJ 2787 (SC): 2002 (4) SCALE 40:
(2002) 5 SCC 86: 2002 Supp (2) SCC 86: [2002] 3 SCR 359.(FB). See also K.R . Purushothamanv. State of
Kerala,2005 (8) SCALE 618: (2005) 12 SCC 631: 2005 CriLJ 4648 (SC): AIR 2006 SC 35.
74
TarlochanDev Sharma v. State of Punjab, (2001) 6 SCC 260.
75
Line 2, Para 1, Page 1, Moot Court Proposition.
76
Line -1, Para 2, Page 2, Moot Court Proposition.
Page 17
IV.
37. The provision of Indian Penal Code (Herein referred to as Penal Code) which defines
Criminal Conspiracy is Section 120A.77 Under Section 120A, offence of criminal
conspiracy is committed when two or more persons agree to do or cause to be done an
illegal act or a legal act by illegal means.78This submission is divided into three parts.
Firstly, the ingredients of the offence are not fulfilled. Secondly, there is lack of evidence
to convict the accused and lastly, prosecution failed to prove the guilt of accused beyond
reasonable doubt.
a. That the ingredients of offence are not fulfilled
38. The ingredients of the offence of criminal conspiracy are: (i) an agreement between two or
more persons (ii) the agreement must relate to doing or causing to be done either an illegal
act or an act which is not illegal in itself but is done by illegal means. The essential
ingredient of the offence of criminal conspiracy is the agreement to commit an offence.79
39. In the present case, there is no such agreement to do an illegal act or an act done by illegal
means. Agreement is the rock bottom of criminal conspiracy. Its essence is the unlawful
combination. It consists of this scheme or adjustment between two or more persons which
77
120A. Definition of criminal conspiracy.When two or more persons agree to do, or cause to be done,
(1) an illegal act, or
(2) an act which is not illegal by illegal means, such an agreement is designated a criminal conspiracy:
Provided that no agreement except an agreement to commit an offence shall amount to a criminal conspiracy
unless some act besides the agreement is done by one or more parties to such agreement in pursuance thereof.
78
State of Tamil Nadu v Nalini, AIR 1999 SC 2640 (Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case).
79
N.C.T. of Delhi v. Jaspal Singh, (2003) 10 SCC 86.
Page 18
80
Devender Pal Singh v State (NCT of Delhi) &Anr, (2002) 5 SCC 234: AIR 2002 SC 1661.
Baldev Singh v. State of Punjab, (2009) 6 SCC 564.
82
1961 AIR 1762.
83
1987 (2) SCC 17.
84
FirozuddinBasheeruddin&ors. v. State of Kerala, 2001 (7) SCC 596 : AIR 2001 SC 3488.
85
Line 1, Para 3, Page 3, Moot Court Proposition.
86
Line 4, Para 3, Page 3, Moot Court Proposition.
81
Page 19
That there was no illegal act done by the accused and any act done by no illegal
means
45. To amount to the offence of criminal conspiracy an agreement must be to do that which is
contrary to or forbidden by law. Being a highly technical offence, this ingredient of the
crime is essential and must be strictly proved.90 Under Section 4391 of the Penal code, an
act would be illegal if it is an offence or if it is prohibited by law.
87
Page 20
The word "illegal" is applicable to everything which is an offence or which is prohibited by law, or which
furnishes ground for a civil action; and a person is said to be "legally bound to do" whatever it is illegal in him
to omit.
92
State of Maharashtra v. SomNathThapa, AIR 1996 SC 1744.
93
Line 1, Para 3, Page 3, Moot Court Proposition.
94
Line 5, Para 3, Page 3, Moot Court Proposition.
95
Line 1, Para 2, Page 2, Moot Court Proposition.
Page 21
96
Page 22
Page 23
V.
56. The provision is being defined under Section 169104 of Penal Code deals with the offence
of Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property which he is not legally bound
not to purchase.The offence under Section 169 Penal code is incomplete without the
assistance of some other enactment which imposes the legal prohibition required. "The
enactment containing the prohibition naturally and necessarily defines the area which is
covered by it, both as to the class of public servants to whom it applies and the nature of
the dealings in which those servants are prevented from engaging"105
57. Further, if there is any code of conduct or rules regarding this condition, they are not
applicable as they have no statutory backing as they do not have any binding value, as
104
169. Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property.-- Whoever, being a public servant, and being
legally bound as such public servant, not to purchase or bid for certain property, purchases or bids for that
property, either in his own name or in the name of another, or jointly, or in shares with others, shall be punished
with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both; and the
property, if purchased, shall be confiscated.
105
Narayan v. Emperor, 11 CriLJ Rep. 613.
Page 24
106
Page 25
Therefore, in the light of the issues raised, arguments advanced, reasons given and authorities
cited, it is humbly prayed before the Honble Court to adjudge and declare:
1. That the said accused are not guilty of committing the offence of Criminal
Misconduct punishable u/s 13(2) r/w sec 13(1)(d)(i) & (ii) under the Prevention of
Corruption Act of 1988.
2. That the said accused are not guilty of committing the offence of Criminal Conspiracy
punishable u/s 120B of Indian Penal Code of 1860 and Public servant unlawfully
buying or bidding for property punishable u/s 169 of Indian Penal Code of 1860.
3. To uphold the order of acquittal declared by the Trial Court.
4. To dismiss the appeal with costs.
And any other relief that this Honble Court may be pleased to grant in the interest of justice,
equity and good conscience.
And for this act of kindness Your Lordships Respondent shall as duty bound ever pray.
Page XV