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IN THE COURT OF THE II ADDL. ASSISTANT SESSIONS JUDGE,
MEDCHAL MALKAJGIRI DISTRICT : AT KUSHAIGUDA
PRESENT : Sri. G. V. Mahesh Nath, II Addl. Asst. Sessions Judge, Medchal-Malkajgiri District at Kushaiguda. Dated this the 16th day of October, 2024
SESSIONS CASE NO. 40 OF 2022
(OLD SESSIONS CASE NO. 196 OF 2018)
(PRC NO. 6/2017 ON THE FILE OF THE XIII ADDL. METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE, CYBERABAD, AT L.B.
NAGAR)
1.Name and description of the :The State of Telangana through SHO complainant P.S.Nacharam. 2Name and description of the accusedAccused No.1 : Smt.Rathlavath Lalitha W/o.R.Ravi, Age : 42 years, Occ : Labour, R/o.Behind Rajyalaxmi Theatre, Bharath Nagar, Uppal, R.R.District. Accused No.2 : Kethavath Ramulu S/o.Manja, Aged : 36 years, Occ : Mason, R/o.Indira Nagar, Nacharam, Uppal Mandal, Ranga Reddy District.
Accused No.3 : Mohd.Mahaboob (not committed vide PRC No.6 of 2017)
Accused No.4: Momin S/o.Ali Hussan, aged : 32 years, Occ : cloth selling, R/o.Opp. Masid, L.B.Nagar X Roads, Hyderabad. N/o.Idris Pur Village, Badod Tana & Tq., Baghpath Dist. UP (Split up vide SC No.689 of 2023) Accused No.5 : Palapolam Vijay Kumar @ Vijay S/o.Late Venkatesh, Aged : 25 years, Occ : Plumber, R/o.Vaddara Basthi, 3rd Galli, Manikeshwara Nagar, OU, Hyderabad Accused No.6 : Abdul Ghani @ Sameer S/o.Mohd. Pasha, aged : 27 years, Occ : AC Technician, R/o.Raghavendra Nagar, Backside of Kamala School, Nacharam, Uppal Mandal, R.R.District Accused No.7 :Ghouse Khan S/o.Rasheed Khan, Age : 36 years, Occ : Car Mechanic, R/o.Jai Javan Colony, Laxmi Nagar, Kapra, Keesara Mandal, Ranga Reddy District Accused No.8 :Ramesh Singh S/o.Chinak Singh, Aged : 19 years, Occ : Welder R/o.Hema Nagar Road No.8,
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Chilka Nagar, Uppal, Ranga Reddy District Accused No.9 :Bontha Suresh S/o.Yadagiri, Aged : 20 years, Occ : Plumber,R/o.H.No.1-114/32, Chandrababu Naidu Colony, Lalapet, Secunderabad Accused No.10 :Sivaratri Raju S/o.Uppalaiah, Aged : 19 years, Occ : Plumber, R/o.(Hut), H.No.45-535/3, Vasanthapur Colony, Malkajgiri, Ranga Reddy District Accused No.11 :Manaly Sunder S/o.Ramulu, Aged : 24 years, Occ : Pvt Work, R/o.H.No.2-328/5, Street No.1, Habsiguda, Uppal Mandal, R.R.district Accused No.12 :Karla Rajireddy S/o.Ram Reddy, Aged : 55 years, Occ : Auto Driver, R/o.H.No.2-148, Chilkanagar, Uppal Mandal. Accused No.13 : Guddi Naveen Kumar S/o.Narsimha Rao, Aged : 26 years, Occ : Driver, R/o.H.No.17-119/63/A, Mallikarjun Nagar, Malkajgiri, Ranga Reddy District 3Offence with which charged: U/sec.3, 4 and 5 of Prevention of Immoral Traffic Act, 1956 and Section 370-A (2) IPC. 4Plea of the accused:Not guilty 5Finding of the Judge:Not guilty 6Sentence or order:In the result, accused no.1, 2 and 5 to 13 are found not guilty for the offences punishable under section 370-A (2) IPC and 3,4 and 7 PITA Act. Accordingly they are acquitted under section 235(1) Cr.P.C. Their bail bonds stand canceled subject to U/Sec.437(A) Cr.P.C. Ten (10) cell phones under MO1 shall be given to the custody of original owners after expiry of appeal time, MO2 is the FDR No.18738 shall be confiscated to state and condoms under MO3 shall be destroyed after expiry of appeal time. 7Prosecution conducted by :S.Susheela Mayuri, APP 8Accused defended by :Sri K.Ravi Kanth, Learned counsel for the accused
This case is coming up before me on 09.10.2024 for final hearing and disposal in the presence of S.Susheela Mayuri, Additional Public Prosecutor and Sri K.Ravi
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Kanth, Learned counsel for the accused, and the matter having stood over for consideration till this day, this Court delivered the following:
JUDGMENT
1.The prosecution allege that accused no.1 run prostitution business by engaging services of (6) victim women and accused no.2 to 13 are the customers. As such accused stand facing charges under Section 370-A of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred as IPC) and Section 3, 4 and 7 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention)
Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred as PITA).
b) The Inspector of Police, Police Station Nacharam PW5/Sri N.Pravinder Rao received credible information that prostitution business being run at open place behind GVK Bio, IDA Nacharam. PW5/Pravinder Rao along with his staff visited the scene of offence. On reaching the scene of offence, police found one women outside in the open place and some women and men in the bushes in the compromised position. On enquiry the woman outside revealed her details as that of accused no.1 and the other persons revealed their details as that of accused no.2 to 13 and victims.
Police secured the presence of PW3/Mohd.Majeed and PW4/Mohd.Muneer and in their presence conducted confession cum seizure panchanama. Accused no.1 to 13 confessed that they were doing prostitution. Police seized (10) cell phones, cash of
Rs.10,940/- and condom packets under the cover of confession cum seizure panchanama. Thereafter, accused no.1 to 13 along with six victims were brought to the police station and on completion of investigation report was filed U/sec 173 (2) of
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (herein after referred to as Cr.P.C).
2. Based on the police report, the learned XIII Addl. Metropolitan Magistrate
L.B.Nagar took cognizance for the offence punishable under Sections 370, 370 (A) of
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IPC and Sections 3, 4 and 7 of PITA Act against the accused vide PRC No.6 of 2017.
Since the offences under Secton 370 IPC was exclusively triable by Court of
Sessions, the case was committed to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Ranga Reddy
District at L.B.Nagar. With Orders of Hon'ble Metropolitan Sessions Judge, case was transmitted to Prl. Senior Civil Judge- cum- Assistant Session Judge at L. B. Nagar.
Due to bifurcation of Judicial Districts, the case is transmitted to this court for disposal in accordance with law.
3.On hearing both sides, charges under Sections 370 (A) IPC and Section 3, 4 and 7(b) of PITA Act were framed, read over and explained to the accused. The accused denied the charges and claimed for trial. The prosecution examined PW1 to
PW5 and got marked Ex.P1 and P2 documents and material objects are marked as
MO1 to MO3. After prosecution reported its evidence as closed, accused were examined U/sec. 313 Cr.P.C, explaining the incriminating circumstances that appeared against them in the prosecution evidence. The accused denied the prosecution evidence as being false and reported no defence evidence.
4.Heard both sides. Perused the record.
5. NOW THE POINT THAT ARISE FOR DETERMINATION ARE:
I. Whether prosecution is able to prove the guilt of accused for the
offence under Sections 370 (A) of IPC and Sections 3, 4 and 7 of PITA Act on the standard of "beyond reasonable doubt" principal?
II. To what findings?
6. POINT NO.1:
The investigating officer who has conducted search proceedings at the scene of offence along with his staff is examined as PW5. It is the evidence of PW5 that on
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09.10.2016, he received credible information of prostitution business being run at open place behind GVK Bio, IDA Nacharam. As such PW5 along with PW1 and PW2 and two panch witnesses PW3 and PW4 went to the scene of offence. There they observed that one women was outside in the open place and some women and men were in the bushes in the compromised position. The woman waiting outside revealed her details as that of accused no.1 and confessed that she was running the prostitution business with the help of victims (6 nos.) While Accused no.2 to 13 confessed that they were customers. PW5 seized Ten (10) cell phones, cash of
Rs.10,940/- and condom packets which are marked as MO1 to MO3. Ex.P1 is marked portion in the confession leading to the recovery of material objects from possession of accused. It is evidence of PW5 that he brought accused no.1 to 13 and victim women to the police station along with the confession cum seizure panchanama proceedings.
7.The evidence of PW1 and PW2 went in lines with the evidence of PW5 testifying the facts that accused no.1 confessed that she was running prostitution business and on the date of incident she called accused no.2 to 13 who are customers and sent accused no.2 to 13 and victim women behind the bushes. These witnesses also testified the fact that MO1 to MO3 were seized from possession of accused no.1 to 13.
8.The panch witness to the confession cum recovery panchanama examined as
PW3 and PW4 did not support the case of prosecution. They deposed that they have never seen the accused and that they do not know the facts of the case. They
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deposed that they never put their signatures on any papers in the presence of police.
They denied their signatures on confession cum seizure panchanama.
9.The prime witness to the case of prosecution are the victim women cited as
LW6 to LW11 but they did not turn up to adduce their evidence, as such their evidence was closed upon police report showing that their whereabouts are not known.
10.With the evidence as referred to above, the case of prosecution need to be divided into two parts, one dealing with liability of accused no.2 to 13 shown as customers and other dealing with liability of accused no.1 as an organizer of brothel and running prostitution business.
11.Coming to the discussion on first part, the prosecution case is that the accused no.2 to 13 are customers. Accused No.2 to 13 are neither organizers of brothel, nor they are living on the earning of prostitution as required under Sections 3 and 4 of
PITA Act, the elements of this section are not applicable to accused No.2 to 13.
12.The Hon’ble High Court of A.P in case of Arjun Rao Vs. State of AP, 2013(2)
ALD (Crl.) 337, held that in para no.11 as under:
“ From the definition, it is therefore obvious that the prostitution in or in the vicinity of public places mentioned under section 7(1) of the Act, has to be understood in the context of the definition of prostitution under section 2(f) of the
Act. Here, it can not be said that the petitioners indulged in any sexual exploitation or the abuse of persons for commercial purposes. The police have shown the prostitutes as witnesses and made the customers as accused. In any
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event, mere having sexual intercourse by paying money does not attract prostitution as mentioned in Section 7 of the Act”
13. Similar view was taken by the Hon’ble High court of AP in the case of
Z.Lourdiah Naidu and another Vs. State of A.P., 2013(2) ALD (Crl) 393 (AP). In view of the proposition laid down by the Hon’ble High Court in the case laws referred to above, that the customer does not fall within the purview of PITA Act, as such the case against accused no.2 to 13, cannot be prosecuted.
14. Coming to the discussion on second part, now the question is whether the evidence on record is sufficient to prove the allegations levelled against accused no.1 for attributing that she engaged trafficked women (victims)/LW6 to LW11 for sexual exploitation by keeping or managing brothel and living on the earning of prostitution.
15.The PITA does not define the term ‘Prostitution”. But, it could be understood as an act of a female who offers her body for promiscuous sexual intercourse for hire.
The stated goal of PITA was to inhabit or abolish commercialized vice, namely the traffic in persons for the purpose of prostitution as an organized means of living.
Thus, prostitution per se is not an offence unless it is made as a commercialized activity run as an organized means of living. Therefore, it is essential for the prosecution to prove that accused no.1 was running commercial prostitution business by engaging services of trafficked women for sexual exploitation.
16.On perusal of entire prosecution evidence including oral and documentary evidence, this Court is of the considered opinion that there are several lacunaes in the prosecution case, which goes to root of the prosecution version. These aspects are discussed as under:
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17.As per Section 15 of PITA Act, it provide certain mandatory guideline at the time of investigation which need to be complied. But, the evidence on record show the breach of Section 15 of PITA Act, they are as follows:
(b)Sec. 15(2) of PITA Act state that whenever search is conducted by the special police officer or special trafficking officer two or more respective residents of the locality has to be called as a mediators to the search. Out of them, one must be a woman, provided woman need not to be ordinary resident of the locality. The mediators PW3 and PW4 both are male persons. Hence, it need to be held that search proceeding is not in proper compliance of mandate under Section 15 (2) PITA
Act.
(c)According to Sec.15(4) of PITA Act, after completing search, if special police officer or trafficking police officer found any person in brothel house or the place where search was carried on, then all the persons who were found in the place have to be removed and they have to be produced before nearest Magistrate for necessary action. Further before their production, medical examination of all the persons is imperative to say about whether the persons who were removed from the brothel house are sexually exploited or effected with any sexually transmitted diseases, this is also not followed by the investigating offcer.
(d) As per the prosecution victim women were rescued from the scene of offence on 09.10.2016 and though they were taken to police station on the same day, the medical examination was not carried out by a registered medical practitioner in terms of Sec.15(4) of PITA Act to find out whether they were having any sexual transmitted diseases.
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(e) Further, there is violation of Sec.15(6) (A) PITA Act, which state that at the time of conducting search, atleast two women police officers have to be participated in the raids, but the prosecution has not complied this mandate under sec. 15(6)(A) of
PITA Act. The search took place in the presence of one woman constable (PW1) the same is not strict compliance of above Section. Thus, the police have not complied the mandatory provision under Section 15 PITA Act, as there is breach of Section 15 (2)(4)(6A) of PITA Act.
18.In these circumstances drawing of search and seizure panchanama by
Inspector of Police/PW5; non securing residents of the locality as mediators; at least one mediator to search and seizure is not woman; two women police officers were not participated in the raid; medical examination of accused and victims was not carried on in accordance with provisions of PITA Act. In view of these shortfalls in the prosecution case it is unsafe to place reliance on the evidence of raiding party officials examined as PW1, PW2 and PW5.
19.To prove the charge under section 370A(ii) IPC the evidence of LW6 to LW11 who are the victim women assume importance, but they were not produced before the court for giving evidence, as such their evidence was closed.
20. Further, accused no.1 is alleged to have been involved in trafficking of victims for sexual exploitation. The offence under 370 A-(ii) IPC and 3 to 5 of PITA act, are cognizable offences, the material investigation i.e., drawing of panchanama and seizure of MO1 to MO3 were done prior to registration of FIR-Ex.P2. Seizure panchanama Ex.P1 drawn earlier to FIR. As such the basis for the accused no.1
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standing charged before this Court is conducting the confession-cum-seizure panchanama by Pw5 prior to registration of FIR under Ex.P2.
21.Now the discussion need to turn to the effect of drawing of panchanama, without any FIR, or General Dairy Entry.
22.Admittedly, Police has not filed any General Dairy extract recorded by PW5 (Inspector of police). It is settled law that on any information with regard to commission of cognizable offence FIR must be registered and Station House officer, is not supposed to verify the truthfulness of information, prior to registration of FIR. In the present case, the vital part of investigation vide Ex.P1 was done even before FIR was lodged and police have failed to file general dairy extract. It is not case of prosecution that there was any entry in general diary as required under Section 44 of
Police Act; 1861 as such proceedings under Ex.P1 has not contravened provisions of
Section 154 and 157 of Cr.P.C. Thus, the very basis for the registering the case is not in accordance with Law, once Ex.P1 is liable to be excluded from consideration, what is it effect need to be discussed.
23.In this regard one could find Constitutional Bench Judgment of Honourable
Supreme Court of India, in the case of Lalitha Kumari versus State of UP Crl.
Appeal No 1410 of 2011 dated 12-11-2013, where in the Hon’ble Supreme Court has given directions as under:
24.In view of the aforesaid discussion, we hold:
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I) Registration of FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code, if the information discloses commission of a cognizable offence and no preliminary inquiry is permissible in such a situation.
II) If the information received does not disclose a cognizable offence but indicates the necessity for an inquiry, a preliminary inquiry may be conducted only to ascertain whether cognizable offence is disclosed or not.
III) If the inquiry discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, the FIR must be registered. In cases where preliminary inquiry ends in closing the complaint, a copy of the entry of such closure must be supplied to the first informant forthwith and not later than one week. It must disclose reasons in brief for closing the complaint and not proceeding further
IV) The police officer cannot avoid his duty of registering offence if cognizable offence is disclosed. Action must be taken against erring officers who do not register the FIR if information received by him discloses a cognizable offence.
V) The scope of preliminary inquiry is not to verify the veracity or otherwise of the information received but only to ascertain whether the information reveals any cognizable offence.
VI) As to what type and in which cases preliminary inquiry is to be conducted will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. The category of cases in which preliminary inquiry may be made are as under:
a) Matrimonial disputes/ family disputes
b) Commercial offences
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c) Medical negligence cases
d) Corruption cases
e) Cases where there is abnormal delay/laches in initiating criminal prosecution, for example, over 3 months delay in reporting the matter without satisfactorily explaining the reasons for delay.
The aforesaid are only illustrations and not exhaustive of all conditions which may warrant preliminary inquiry.
VII) While ensuring and protecting the rights of the accused and the complainant, a preliminary inquiry should be made time bound and in any case it should not exceed 7 days. The fact of such delay and the causes of it must be reflected in the General Diary entry.
VIII) Since the General Diary/Station Diary/Daily Diary is the record of all information received in a police station, we direct that all information relating to cognizable offences, whether resulting in registration of FIR or leading to an inquiry, must be mandatorily and meticulously reflected in the said Diary and the decision to conduct a preliminary inquiry must also be reflected, as mentioned above.
25.In the present case, admittedly FIR was registered on 09.10.2016. The word investigation which is defined under Section 2 (h) of Cr.P.C includes all proceedings for collection of evidence. Visiting place of offence for search and seizure of material found therein would fall within the ambit of investigation. The oral evidence of PW5 indicates that he has received information with regard to prostitution activities, the
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information received by PW5 discloses commission of cognizable offence. Thus, for proceeding to verify the genuineness or otherwise of the information so received it was obligatory on the part of PW5 to inform the same to station house officer who in turn would have made a general diary entry as per Section 44 of Police Act 1861 so that the proceedings of search and seizure would be legalized. It is no more a disputed fact that a general diary which discloses commission of cognizable offence can be considered as FIR. As the information received by PW5 clearly makes out a cognizable offence and in view of guide line No.1 of Hon’ble Supreme court in the case of Lalitha Kumari, PW5 was left with no option but to record the FIR to proceed for investigation. But, it is not done so. Thus, the guideline in Lalitha Kumari case delivered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court were not followed in the present case.
26.The question as to whether the action of PW5 recording panchanama without there being an FIR vide Ex.P2 has caused prejudice to the rights of the accused need be answered with reference to judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Rafi
Hamad @ Rafi state of Uttar Pradesh reported in 2011 (8) SCC 300, where it is observed that the prejudice what is caused to accused in the course of investigation and every person including accused of a criminal charge irrespective of its seviourity is entitle for the protection by following rennoved principles of criminal justice. The
Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Rafi had dealt with the aspect of prejudice
caused to accused in terms of non framing of charge. In the case on hand, the prejudice is caused to the accused by considering a material which cannot be considered as investigation was conducted prior to registration of cognizable offence.
Therefore, if Ex.P1 which was recorded earlier to the Ex.P2 is taken into consideration, the concept of investigation of cognizable offence starts from FIR, has
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received a severe jolt. In such circumstances, if the court proceeds on Ex.P1 which forms core of the prosecution case it may cause serious prejudice to the rights of the accused, to have fair trial. Therefore, by following Judgment of Supreme Court in the case of Rafi wherein Hon’ble Supreme Court held that if serious prejudice is caused to accused then he is entitled for benefit of doubt, need to be applied in present case by extending benefit of doubt in favor of accused.
27.For the discussion as taken up above, it is required to be held that the accused are entitled for benefit of doubt. Accordingly, point on hand is answered against prosecution and in favour accused.
28. POINT NO.2:
In the result, accused no.1, 2 and 5 to 13 are found not guilty for the offences punishable under section 370-A (2) IPC and Section 3, 4 and 7 PITA Act.
Accordingly they are acquitted under section 235(1) Cr.P.C. Their bail bonds stand canceled subject to U/Sec.437(A) Cr.P.C. Ten (10) cell phones under MO1 shall be given to the custody of original owners after expiry of appeal time, FDR bearing
No.18738 shall be confiscated to State, condoms packets under MO3 shall be destroyed after expiry of appeal time.
(Typed to my dictation by Typist directly on the system, corrected and
pronounced by me in open Court, on this the 16 th day of October, 2024.)
II Addl. Assistant Sessions Judge, Medchal-Malkajgiri District at Kushaiguda
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
WITNESSES EXAMINED
FOR PROSECUTION FOR DEFENCE
PW1- K.Radha- NIL -
PW2- Ch.Sudhakar Rao
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PW3- Mohd.Majeed
PW4- Mohd.Muneer
PW5- N.Pravinder Rao
EXHIBITS MARKED
FOR PROSECUTION
Ex.P1 : is marked portion in the confession leading to the recovery of material objects from possession of accused
Ex.P2: is the FIR
FOR DEFENCE
-NIL-
MATERIAL OBJECTS MARKED
FOR PROSECUTION
MO1: are ten (10) cell phones
MO2: is FDR No.18738
MO3: are the condoms
FOR DEFENCE
- NIL -
II Addl. Assistant Sessions Judge, Medchal-Malkajgiri District at Kushaiguda.