vs achuthanandan list of dates
TRANSCRIPT
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General, Judges and other constitutional functionaries etc., since
his co-brother (1 st accused) was named by victims in their earliest
statements u/s.161 Cr.P.C., thus arraying him as a suspect.
According to the FIR, the 2 nd accused Rauf helped 1 st accused
by making payments to the girls who were sexually exploited by him
so that his name was not to be mentioned by the girls to the police
in their statements.
If true, the High Court observed, the allegations of K.A. Rauf,
are very grave, serious, unusual and damaging which raise grave
concerns since, the very foundation of judicial system is shaken
and puts the entire legal fraternity in a very dark shade.
The Specific SIT findings of fraud are:-
i. Lakhs of rupees were paid to the victims by K.A. Rauf, Gopi
(driver of Rauf) one Shereef, a henchman of A1, at various
point of time to scuttle investigation and trial.
ii. The victims Rejula, Roslin, Bindu were tutored by Sh. C.M.
Rajan Advocate, defense counsel of PA Rehman, (NRI
businessmen) (A4), O Rajagopal, former Councilor (A12), T.P.
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(ii) Secondly, even after the findings of fraud, the unwillingness on
the part of the SIT to unearth crime fairly and truthfully by way of
a competent investigation.
(iii) Whether the Central Bureau of Investigation is empowered to
conduct fresh investigation when the SIT without taking consent
of the High Court in a court monitored matter, files a Police Report
before the Trial Court u/s.173 of the Code?
The petitioner submit that the High Court, with respect, wrongly
distinguished, the decision of this Honble Court in Disha vs.
State of Gujarat & Ors. 2011 (13) SCC 337, State of Punjab
Vs CBI, 2011 (9)
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SCC 182 which speaks of need and desirability of investigating
a matter which involved Ministers, Advocates, Police officials,
Political Leaders, Municipal Councilors by CBI on a view that
Justice would not be done to the case if the investigations
stays in the hands of the local police.
In the present case, it is not the involvement alone but a
categorical finding of fraud being perpetrated to scuttle
investigation and trial and yet, the local investigating team was
unwilling to go further to unearth truth.
The submission is that the above decisions along with Zahiras
case 2004(4) SCC 158 and Sahabuddin & Anr. Vs. Assam 2012 12
Scale 241 squarely applies in a matter which the High Court itself
observed that, if true, the allegations are very serious, unusual and
damaging to the Administration of Justice.
The petitioner submit that the above mentioned 4 findings of
fact which fully corroborates 2 nd accused disclosure u/s 164 Cr.PC.
This along with a spate of clear other positive findings easily
discernable from the police report speak of massive fraud being
perpetrated by the accused to interfere with administration of
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justice right from the statement of victims under 161 Cr.PC till the
very end.
It is well settled in law Fraud Vitiates all judicial acts
whether in rem or in personam judgment, decree or order
obtained by fraud has to be treated as nonest and nullity. Yet, the
SIT copiously quoted the statements of the victims, their deposition
in trial to discredit victims testimony in the present investigation for
a conclusion that there is no prosecutable evidence against the co-
accused who is the named Minister.
The unwillingness on the part of SIT to have a competent
investigation to unearth the crime is writ large in as much as while
monitoring, the, the petitioner filed an application drawing attention
of the High Court about the desirability of taking into custody the
records relating to the 1 st accused press conference dt.28.1.2011
wherein the co-accused confessed that 2 nd accused Rauf had
abused his official position as a Minister and made substantial
gains although he had never gave any undue favour to him. Despite
knowledge being a party, the SIT did not take into custody the
easily available records of the T.V. interview which would prove the
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unholy nexus between the duo. In the absence of records no
effective interrogation of the 1 st accused was possible who was
examined only once.
The money trail, either the sources, or the proceeds of the
crime, invested is not investigated and the SIT felt helplessness in
finding out the source of the dirty money deployed for illegal deeds.
In some cases, money trail was clear but SIT did not take it to
its logical conclusions. The 2 nd accused alleged that to extricate 1 st
accused from the array of accused/suspects, they had paid Rs. 32.5
lakhs to M/s Malabar Aqua Farms Ltd. a firm promoted by 1 st
accused who later became the Advocate General and on his request,
for settlement of its debt pending with SBI as a quid pro quo in 2
installments one direct deposit of Rs. 15 lakhs by Rauf alongwith
AGs clerk and Rs.17.5 lakhs by Kunhappu of M/s AM Motors.
There is clinching evidence to corroborate Raufs disclosure.
The quid pro- quo was to extricate A1 even as a suspect. It was
achieved by admittedly approving two affidavits filed in Supreme
Court, one by the State Police chief who was then supervising Crime
.282/97 and Head of then SIT, giving a clean chit to 1 st accused to
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pre-empt a CBI investigation by this Honble Court. The company
was neck deep in debt, not even generating any cash even to pay off
its mounting interest to Bank which accumulated to Rs. 81.11
lakhs ending on 31.3.1999. The SIT although seized the 7 th Annual
Report, a regulatory filings admissible in evidence u/s 74(2) of the
Evidence Act, R/w 159, 163 and 610 of the Companies Act, did not
verify this payment of Rs. 15 lakhs received the company before
31.3.1999 which corroborated the disclosure of a payment of 15
lakhs as first installment by Rauf. Despite this admissible
documentary evidence, the SIT adopted a safe course by accepting
ipse dixit of a person who allegedly received a profit of Rs. 8 lakhs
and 12 lakhs during 1998 and 1999 on a joint business agreement
from this sinking company who stated that he had deposited Rs.15
lakhs on 5.4.1999. With this finding, the SIT held that the
disclosure made by Rauf in this regard is false.
Thirdly, the SIT found one NP Buhari, the former husband
victim Rejula stated that he received Rs. 50,000/- from 1 st accused.
However, on 10.5.2011, i.e. on the eve of declaration of Assembly
results and change of Govt. etc., his retracted statement in 164
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Cr.PC was taken in aid to discard his direct evidence. Bhuris
statement is corroborated by the findings of the SIT with regard to
procured affidavits dt.25.9.1997 from the victim Rejula. This in
turn, corroborated the statements of 2 nd accused Rauf also. The
witness Bhurai graphically described how the affidavit of Rejula was
taken by Rauf on 25.9.1997- i.e. within 24 hours since Rejula had
spoken the name of 1 st accused in her statement dt. 24.9.1997
under 161 Cr.PC. As per the co-accused Rauf, immediately
thereafter Rejula was contacted and her affidavit was procured for
payment on 25.9.1997 to resile from her earlier 161 Cr.PC
statement. It is submitted that NP Buhari in his 161 Cr.PC
statement graphically described the events that took place on the
intervening night of 24.9.1997 and 25.9.1997. The SIT deliberately
or intentionally did not evaluate as they were unwilling to unearth
truth.
BACKGROUND FACTS
6.8.1997 One social organization by name Anweshi Womens
Counseling Centre filed a complaint that a Parlour
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was run as a brothel and a number of unsuspecting
women were seduced and supplied for other
persons for illicit sexual acts after accepting money
from these customers.
28.8.1997 Sreedevi, who was running the parlour was
arrested.
29.8.1997 A remand report clearly explained the role of
Sreedevi as a link between the bigwigs of the society
including 1 st accused P.K. Kunhalikutty and the
victims.
1.9.1997 An SIT was constituted. The ADGP who was
supervising the SIT became State Police Chief when
crime No. 59/2011 was registered.
3.9.1997 Victim Rejula was examined. One Abdulla, Khader
Kutty and PA Rehmamn (A4) was arrayed as
accused.
12.9.1997 One K. Baby was examined and one Kuttika, PK
Kunhalikutty, his driver Arvindan, Baby @ Queens
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Baby, Basheer, M. Khader and 2 unidentified others
made suspects in the case.
22.9.1997 Smt. Roslin and Smt. Bindu were examined and
Jomon and Joseph and Advocate Baijunath,
Advocate Moidu, a telephone engineer and another
unidentified others made suspects in the case.
24.9.1997 Smt. Rejeena was examined and Smt. Rejula was
further examined. Rejula stated that she was
persuaded to accompany Sreedevi alongwith Vimla
to a terraced double storied building near Shornur
Railway Station and had sex with Kunhalikutty at
the upper floor of the house alongwith Sreedevi. She
also revealed that after a month, before their trip to
Shornur, driver Arvindan of Kunhalikutty came and
asked Sreedevi to send Rejeena and Rejula to a
house near Calicut stadium. PK Kunhalikutty had
them one after the other in an old house near
stadium (Paragraph 9 & 10 & 12 of the Director
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General of Prosecution report Annexure P-3). Both
of them mentioned the name of PK Kunhalikutty.
25.9.1997 2 affidavits dt. 25.9.1997 were taken from Rejula
stating that her earlier statement to the effect that
she had indulged in sex with Kunhalikutty, TP
Dasan, (Ex. Corp. Councilor) O Rajagopal, (Ex.
Corp. Councilor), PA Rehman (NRI Businessmen),
Buhari former husband of Rejula describes in vivid
details how it was obtained in the intervening night
of 24.9.1997. Except Kunhalikutty all others were
made accused in crime No. 282/97. Submission is
the SIT did not deliberately or otherwise appreciate
the documentary evidence corroborating Rauf as
well as Buhari. True copies of the affidavit of Rejula
dt. 25.9.1997 is annexed as Annexure P-1 (Colly)
(Page No.
26.9.1997 Similarly, 2 affidavits were taken from Rejeena in
similar circumstances. True copies of affidavit of
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Rejeena dt. 26.9.1997 are annexed as Annexure P-
2 (Colly) .
Sep.1997 The Director General of Prosecution submitted a
report about the shoddy investigation by the SIT. A
true copy of the report dt. Sep. 1997 submitted by
the DGP is annexed as Annexure P-3 . (Page No.
30.7.1998 The Anweshi Women Counseling Centre in OP No.
18484 of 97 sought investigation by CBI and the
same was dismissed by Ld. Single Judge, justice K.
Narayanan Kurup against whom allegations were
made in crime 59/2011.
21.8.1998 Anweshi filed a WA No. 1717 of 1998 which was
dismissed.
28.8.1998 Another WA 1630 of 1998 filed by one Kolakadan
Moosa Haji who was allegedly acting on behalf of 1 st
accused against the same order was also dismissed.
27.10.1998 Anweshi filed SLP (Crl.) No. 3725 of 1998.
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23.11.1998 A true copy of the legal opinion of the formerAdvocate General opining that no offence has been
made out against Kunhalikutty and therefore he
need not be arrayed as accused in crime No.
282/97 is annexed as Annexure P-4 . (Page No.
2.12.1998 Investigation concluded and 16 persons were
arrayed as accused u/s 366, 109, 120(b) R/w 34
IPC and S.3 (1) (5) (a) (c) (d) of the ITA (P) Act. All 9
suspects including Kunhalikutty 1 st accused herein
were absolved from the charges.
14.12.1998 This Honble Court in SLP (Crl.) No. 3725 of 1998
directed the State and the Police to file the affidavits
to satisfy the court that a full investigation has
been carried out and that no one, who ought to
have been investigated, has been left out only
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because of the position he occupies or the influence
he holds.
4.1.1999 The DIG, Mr. Sekharan filed an affidavit to the effect
that a full investigation had been carried out and
the no one who would have been investigated had
been left out only because of the position he
occupies or the influence he held. A true copy of the
affidavit dt. 4.1.1999 in SLP Crl.) No. 3725 of 1998
by DIG, Head of SIT is annexed as Annexure P-5.
(Page No.
18.1.1999 The IG, Mr. Jacob Punnose, who became the Police
Chief of the State (since retired) was supervising the
investigation, also filed similar affidavit. A true copy
of the affidavit dt. 18.1.1999 in SLP (Crl.) No. 3725
of 1998 by IG of Police is annexed as Annexure P-6.
(Page No.
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8.2.1999 This Honble Court ordered further investigation if
found necessary.
2.6.1999 Mr. George, North AC who was the IO, filed an Add.
Police report under 173(8) stated that no evidence
was collected during further investigation.
Subsequently, a Criminal Revision against the same
was dismissed by the Sessions court and by the
High court and the SLP (Crl.) No. 8331 of 2003
against the same was also dismissed.
13.10.2003 The SLP (Crl.) No. 3725 of 1998 was dismissed, a
copy of which is annexed as Annexure P-7. (Page
No.
25.1.2005 Certain Writ Petition filed in public interest namely
WP Nos. 33821, 34015 and 34351 of 2004 toimplicate 1 st accused on the basis of disclosure
made by Smt. Rejeena before the media was
dismissed.
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6.10.2005 Charges were framed. In the charge framed, by the
Honble Court the name of PK Kunhalikutty was
mentioned 7 times. A true copy of charge sheet
dated 6.10.2005 is annexed as Annexure P-8 . (Page
No.
14.10.2005 The Special prosecutor filed a petition to remove the
name of Kunhalikutty from the charge.
28.11.2005 Several petitions namely WP No. 30170 of 2005,
31108/2005 for changing the prosecutor by Ajitha
and the present petitioner, Crl. MC No. 3662/2005
filed by 9 th accused James Joseph seeking an in
camera trials, Crl.MC No. 3732 of 2005 seeking
transfer of trial were all heard by Honble Justice K.
Thankappan who vide a common judgment allowed
all petitions and transferred the case to Principle
Asst. Sessions court headed by Judge, Sathyan.
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all the accused in SC No. 124/2002 is annexed as
Annexure P-10 . (Page No.
2006 K. Ajitha of Anweshi Centre challenged the
judgment and order in CRP No. 1000/2006 dt.
12.1.2006 of the Trial Court.
19.1.2007 K. Ajitha of Anweshi Centre filed an affidavit before
the High court stating that she had sent a letter
expressing her apprehension about the case being
heard by the learned single judge and requested
that the case may be transferred to another bench.
19.1.2007 Taking objection to the affidavit, Ld. Single Judge
issued show cause notice to both the petitioner as
well as her counsel as to why contempt proceedings
should not be taken against them under the
Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
22.1.2007 The revision petition filed by the K. Ajitha of
Anweshi Centre challenging the order or acquittal
being Crl. R.P. No. 1000 of 2006 (D). The Centres
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counsel withdrew her Vakalatnama as contempt
notice was issued to her. An adjournment was
denied and the matter was reserved.
15.2.2007 K. Ajitha filed SLP was allowed on 28.9.2007 and
directed the High court to decide on merits.
16.12.2007 The High court acquitted all the accused of all
charged on the ground that all the witnesses
prosecution except K. Ajitha had turned hostile.
15.4.2008 SLP (Crl.) No. 7626 of 2007 filed against the above
was also dismissed.
RELEVANT DATES LEADING TO REGISTRATION OF CRIME NO.59/2011
29.1.2011 The Asst. Commr. of Police submitted a report
pursuant to a disclosure made by K.A. Rauf. A true
copy of the report dt. 29.1.2011 of the Asst. Commr.
is annexed as Annexure P-11. (Page No.
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30.1.2011 FIR registered Crime No.59/2011 dated 30-1-2011.
A true copy of the FIR No. 59/2011 dated 30.1.2011
is marked as Annexure P-12 (Page No.
3.2.2011 SIT constituted.
23.2.2011 &
25.2.2011 Statement of Rauf u/s 164 of Cr. P.C. recorded.Without adverting to the contents of the same, a
true copy of the 164 statement dated 23.2.2011 &
25.2.2011 is marked as Annexure P-13 (Pg. No.
Aug, 2011 &
27.9.2011 In the WP No. 24114 of 2011 filed by the petitioner,
the High Court decided to monitor the investigation
for the present. A true copy of the Writ Petition No.
24114 of 2011 is marked as Annexure P-14 (Page
No. ______ and a true copy of the order dated
27.9.2011 in WP No. 24114 of 2011 is annexed as
Annexure P-15 (Page No.
20.11.2011 The Petitioner filed an IA to call for action taken
reports in which attention of the Honble court was
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drawn to a live press conference of the 1 st accused
on 28.1.2011 i.e. a day before the sting operation
conducted by M/s India Vision was aired and the
necessity in taking into custody by SIT the
electronic materials for questioning the accused. A
true copy of the IA No. 18672 of 2011 in WP No.
24114 of 2011 dt. 20.11.2011 is annexed as
Annexure P-16. (Page No.
2011 On various dates statement of witnesses were taken
and certain documents seized. A true copy of
statement of K. Rejeena, dt. 5.2.2011, 25.2.2011,
24.10.2011 & 6.1.2012 are annexed as Annexure
P-17 (Colly). (Page No.
True copy of statement of Rejula, dt. 7.3.2011 is
annexed as Annexure P-18. (Page No.
True copy of statement of NP Buhari, dt. 9.4.2011,
10.5.2011, u/s 164 Cr.PC & 29.12.2011 are
annexed as Annexure P-19 (Colly) . (Page No.
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True copy of statement of T.J. Prasad dated
30.5.2011 is annexed as Annexure P-20. (Page No.
True copy of statement of P. Shaiju husband of
Rejula, dt.22.2.2011, Deposition u/s 164 Cr.PC
dt.11.5.2011 &
further Statement, dt.20.5.2011 are annexed as
Annexure P-21 (Colly).
(Page No.
True copy of statement of Chellary Shereef,
dt.14.11.2011 & further statement dt. 4.12.2011
are annexed as Annexure P-22 (Colly). (Page No.
True copy of statement of Kunhu Baby @ Baby, dt.
5.3.2011, 6.1.2011, 26.5.2011 (164 Cr.PC) &
6.1.2012 are annexed as Annexure P-23 (Colly).
(Page No.
True copy of statement of K. Bindu, dt. 9.3.2011 &
further Statement dt. 3.11.2011 are annexed as
Annexure P-24 (Colly) (Page No.
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True copy of statement of Smt. P. Roslin, dt.
9.3.2011 & further Statement dt. 3.10.2011 are
annexed as Annexure P-25 (Colly). (Page No.
True copy of statement of K. Pramod Kumar, dt.
11.2.2011 & further statement dt. 24.10.2011 are
annexed as Annexure P-26 (Colly). (Page No.
True copy of statement of Advocate Subash Bendict
dt. 2.6.2011 is annexed as Annexure P-27. (Page
No.
True copy of statement of Sri P.I. Mathew Vinod dt.
10.5.2011 & further statement dt. 25.5.2011 are
annexed as Annexure P-28 (Colly). (Page No.
True translated statement of M.K. Damodaran,
dt.15.10.2011 is annexed as Annexure P-29. (Page
No. 337-341)
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True copy of statement of Sri K.N. Prabhakaran, dt.
15.10.2011 (Financier) is annexed as Annexure P-
30. (Page No.342-343)
True copy of relevant Extract from 7 th Annual
Report, M/s Malabar Aqua Farms Ltd. 1998-99 is
annexed as Annexure P31. (Page No.344-345)
True copy of relevant extract from balance Sheet
and audited accounts for the year ended on
31.3.2004 of M/s Malabar Aqua Farms Ltd. is
annexed as Annexure P-32. (Page No.346-357)
22.12.2011 The High Court directed to keep the action taken
report which was filed in the meantime in a sealed
cover in safe custody.
28.1.2012 The SIT completed the investigation and filed a
police report in the High Court. However, the same
was filed in the trial court without any notice to the
petitioner or any formal order from the High Court.
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30.1.2012 Investigation completed and CD file and final report
were submitted to the court for keeping it on safe
custody. Direct to list the matter after 4 weeks.
6.3.2012 Petitioners counsel sought for copy of the report.
Court directed them to file a proper application.
Posted the case on 27.3.2012.12.3.2012 The petitioner filed an IA No. 4332 of 2012 in WP
No. 24114 of 2011 to issue a copy of the report
submitted by the SIT on 22.12.2011.
27.3.2012 IA No.4332/2012 filed by petitioner for getting
copies of final report, statement of witnesses under
section 161, Mahazars and other documents
accompanying report. Counter filed. IA heard and
posted for orders.
02.5.2012 IA NO.4332/2012 was dismissed by a detailed
order. Court recorded the fact of completion of the
investigation and found that the petitioner is not
entitled to get copies from the court. It is also
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directed that parties are at liberty to approach the
jurisdiction Magistrate. Against the order dated
02.5.2012 in IA 4332/2012 SLP 17885/2012 was
filed.
18.5.2012 As against, in the SLP 17885 of 2012, was filed.
11.6.2012 SIT filed final report in crime No. 59/11 of
Kozhikode Town Police Station.
05.7.2012 Notice issued in SLP. No interim order. SLP still
pending last posted on 22.3.2012 and further
adjourned to 12.8.2013. A true copy of the order dt.
5.7.2013 is annexed as Annexure P-33 (Page No.
23.8.2013 SLP was allowed to be withdrawn since the
petitioner was provided with all copies sought for. A
true copy of the order dt. 23.8.2013 is annexed as
Annexure P-34 (Page No.
30.8.2013 The Writ Petition seeking CBI investigation
dismissed. The High Court held that:
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Any aggrieved person having locus standi can
always point out the lacuna in the
investigation and seek appropriate remedy,
including direction for further investigation,
from the Magistrate's Court, which is the
competent authority under the Code. In the
light of above discussion and aforesaid
reasons, we are of the opinion, above public
interest litigation deserves to be dismissed and
accordingly the same is dismissed.
8.10.2013 Hence the Special Leave Petition.
ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER: R. SATHISH