JUDGMENT
Mukerji, J.
1.The petitioner Radha Krishna Gupta alias Radha Krishna Byas was tried by the 3rd Presidency Magistrate of Calcutta along with another person for offences under Sections 381 and 411. I.P.C. The learned Magistrate acquitted him of the said offences but convicted-him under Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act 4 (B.C.) of 1866 and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months. He has also made an order that a fixed deposit receipt and a cash certificate which were found in the possession of the petitioner be made over to the complainant. The prosecution case was that the petitioner was a writer of accounts in the complainant’s firm, that the petitioner had abstracted a blank but signed cheque form from the cheque book of the firm filled it up for Bs. 9,500 and cashed it and misappropriated the money. The charges framed against the petitioner were the following:
2. First, a charge under Section 381,1. P.C. in respect of a blank signed cheque form No. Cx 350718, and 2nd, a charge under Section 411, I.P.C. in respect of Rs. 800 and Rs. 4,000 covered respectively by a postal certificate and a fixed deposit receipt. The learned Magistrate held as regards the first charge that all that had been proved wat that the petitioner had an opportunity to abstract the cheque-form but that there was no legal evidence on which it could be held that the did so, and that although there was a confession made by the petitioner, it could not be taken into consideration as it had not been voluntarily made. The first charge, therefore, in the opinion of the learned Magistrate failed.
3. As regards the second charge the-learned Magistrate was of opinion that it had not been established that the moneys covered by the postal cash certificate and the fixed deposit receipt were the proceeds of the cheque. He held therefore that the second charge was not proved. Being of opinion however, that the-purchase of a cash certificate for Bs. 800 and the deposit of Bs. 4,000 in the bank on 6th February 1928, “the eventful day” was highly suspicious the learned Magistrate proceeded. convict the petitioner under Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act, and sentenced him and made the order of disposal in complainant’s favour as above-mentioned.
4. For one thing, the judgment of the learned Magistrate is highly inconsistent. If he was unable to convict the petitioner under Section 411,I.P.C. on the ground that no connexion had been established between the moneys covered by the postal certificate and the fixed deposit receipt it is difficult to see on what footing the said documents were to be made over to the complainant. In the view of the case can this order of the learned Magistrate be supported?
5. As regards the conviction under Section 54-A the learned Magistrate was not satisfied with the explanation which the petitioner had given as to how he came by such a large sum of money as he had put into the bank and for which he had purchased the cash certificate. But the question is, is Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act, applicable to a case of this nature and is the conviction a proper one ?
6. In challenging the validity, of the conviction it has been urged on behalf of the petitioner that inasmuch as there had been no charge framed for an offence under Section 54-A, the conviction is bad in law. Now it is true that Section 54-A is an offence triable as a summons case and for a trial of this offence no charge is necessary : vide Section 242, Criminal P. C, but if it was intended that the petitioner was to stand his trial for this offence along with offence under Sections 381 and 411, I.P.C. which are triable as a warrant case it was necessary to give the petitioner notice of that fact, and consequently a charge was also necessary to be framed for the offence tinder Section 54-A : Hossein Sardar v. Kalu Sardar [1902] 29 Cal. 481 It is true that the petitioner has, in fact, adduced some evidence in support of the explanation that he gave for transactions of the day, but it cannot be said that he was not misled or that it may be assumed that he had no further defence to make. Omission to frame the charge was in my opinion, a serious irregularity which must be held to have vitiated the trial much more serious than a mere omission to frame a charge in a warrant case in which the petitioner knows what he is being tried for. But it has been held by this Court in the case of Tulsi Tolini v. Emperor A.I.R. 1923 Cal. 596 that when an accused has been tried on a charge under Section 379, I.P.C., he may be convicted of an offence under Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act,- though not separately charged with it. Whether I agree with the principle of that decision or not I feel bound by it and I must hold that this contention should be overruled.
7. But a more serious illegality in this conviction in my opinion is the application of Section 54-A to the case, The judgment of the learned Magistrate is not very clear on the question as to what it was that formed the subject matter of this charge. Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the Crown seemed to argue that it was the two sums of Rs. 800 and Rs. 4,000 which was the subject-matter while learned advocate for the complainant while not disapproving of that contention urged that it was the postal cash certificate and the fixed deposit receipt which were the subject-matter. In my opinion neither of these two acts could possibly form the subject-matter of a case under Section 54-A.
8. As regards the postal cash certificate and the fixed deposit receipt they are property belonging to the petitioner himself and standing in his own name, and the contention that they were fraudulently obtained from the Post Office and the bank by the fraudulent concealment of the fact that the money was not the accuser’s money need not be seriously considered.
9. The sums of money Rs. 800 and Rs. 4,000 had already been parted with by the petitioner, even if at one time they were in his possession. The first part of Section 54-A is drawn almost word per word from the Metropolitan Police Courts Act 2 and 3 Vic. Ch. 71, Section 24. The limited meaning which the words of that section of the statute have been held to bear, has not been adopted in this country. It is noticeable nevertheless that the provision contained in S, 54-A is revolutionary in its character, relieving as it does the prosecution of its ordinary burden of proof in a criminal case; beyond what is necessary to create a reasonable suspicion, and throwing the entire onus on the accused of removing that suspicion. A penal provision of this character should, in my opinion, be strictly construed.
10. The section is divided into two Sub-sections. In Sub-section (1) the word used is ” has ” contradistinguished from the word ” had ” in Sub-section (2) and the said word used with reference to ‘ had ” in Sub-section (2) and the said’ “word used with reference to ” possession ” implies pre-sent possession. While therefore a person may be proceeded against under Sub-section (1) if he is in .possession at the time when the proceedings are taken, proceedings may be taken under Sub-section (2) against a person who had possession in the past and from whom the former may have received the thing. The word ” possession ” should be understood in a sense ejusdem generis with the words ” conveys ” and ” offers, etc. ” and in the sense of actual physical possession; the object of the Sub-section (1) being to oblige a person to explain how he came by some articles which he has with him. There is a difference between the two Sub-sections in this way that under Sub-section (1) it is the failure to explain which attracts that Sub-section, while for a conviction under Sub-section (2) it must be shown that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the thing was stolen or fraudulently obtained ; but this is a matter which need not be considered here.
11. The word ‘thing’ appears in the section, in Sub-section (1), as anything’ and in Sub-section (2) as ” the thing ” and must necessarily mean tangible moveable property having a corporeal existence and capable of being handled. In my opinion it is the suspected thing itself in some shape or form that can form the subject-matter of a case under this section. If a man was in possession of stolen gold ornaments and had got it melted or converted into gold, the gold is still the thing itself in a different shape or form. If instead of having the gold in his hand he keeps it in his house or with a friend or a goldsmith the gold is still in his possession. To such a case the section will apply, as was the casein Tulsi Tolini v. Emperor A.I.R. 1923 Cal. 596. If a man deposits money in a bank, or purchases a cash certificate with it, the money loses all its identity and I cannot conceive how it can be said that he is still in actual physical possession of the money as a tangible piece of moveable property. The cash certificate or the fixed deposit receipt may represent the money for certain purposes but it is not the money itself as a “thing” in another shape or form of such thing I am therefore of opinion that this conviction is entirely misconceived. Section 54-A has already been extended to cases to which in my opinion, it was never intended to apply, but to extend it to a case like this and to authorize a Magistrate to call upon a person to explain his wealth or prosperity would be far too dangerous.
12. I would accordingly make the rule absolute and set aside the conviction of the petitioner under Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act and the sentences passed on him under that section. The order of delivery of the postal cash certificate and the fixed deposit receipt cannot stand and must also be set aside. If the above orders are passed it will be necessary to pass some order for the disposal of the said two documents. I may say without hesitation that I am somewhat doubtful about the correctness of the acquittal of the petitioner on the charge under Section 411, I.P.C. I would therefore order that the said documents should be detained in Court for a period of three months from today within which time the complainant may, if he be so advised, take measures to get his rights declared to the documents or obtain such other or further orders in his favour which would entitle him to them or would justify their further detention, and in the event of his failing to do so within that time the said documents should be returned to the petitioner from whose possession they were taken.
Graham, J.
13. I have the misfortune to differ from my learned brother in this case. The facts out of which this rule has arisen are shortly as follows:
The petitioner Radha Krishna Gupta alias Radha Kissen Byas was put on his trial along with another person before the 3rd Presidency Magistrate, Calcutta, the charges framed against the petitioner being:
First, that on or about 15th February 1928 he committed theft of a blank cheque on the Central Bank of India from a cheque book belonging to the complainant Jamuna Das Fatepuria already signed by him, and thereby committed an offence under Section 381, I.P.C. and secondly, that on or about 6th February 1928 he dishonestly received or retained stolen property to wit Rs. 800 covered by a postal cash certificate and Rs. 4,000 covered by a fixed deposit receipt of the P. and O. Banking Corporation knowing or having reason to believe the same to be stolen property being a portion of the money obtained by cashing a cheque filled up for Es. 9,500 and that he thereby committed an offence under Section 411, I.P.C.
14. The Magistrate found that the charge under Section 381, I.P.C. failed as the evidence fell short of actual proof that the accused stole the cheque form, though there was evidence that he had the opportunity to do so. It was further held that the charge under Section 411, I.P.C., also failed inasmuch as there was nothing to show that the moneys found with the accused were the actual proceeds of the cheque in question.
15. Having recorded these findings the Magistrate then went on to hold that the accused was guilty of an offence under Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act, in respect of the said moneys, and sentenced him to three months rigorous imprisonment, directing at the same time that the fixed deposit receipt for Rs. 4,000 and the cash certificate of Es. 1,000 found with the accused should be made over to the complainant.
16. The legality of the conviction has been assailed mainly on two grounds:
Firstly, that the elements necessary to constitute an offence under Section 54-A Calcutta Police Act, were not made out against the accused and that that section has no application in a case like the present, and secondly that no charge having been framed against the accused under Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act, the conviction is bad in law and cannot be sustained. The first of these seems to be a point of some importance. Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act, reads as follows:
Whoever has in his possession or conveys in any manner anything which there is reason to believe to have been stolen or fraudulently obtained shall, if he fails to account for such possession, or act to the satisfaction of the Magistrate, be liable to fine, which may extend to one hundred rupees, or , with imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a tern which may extend to three months.
17. The language of the section is in the widest terms and the question, so far as this case is concerned, is whether on 6th February the accused had in his possession the sums of Rs. 800 and Rs. 4,000 which there was reason to believe to have bean stolen or fraudulently obtained.
18. It has been argued on behalf of the petitioner that the section applies only in the case of a person who is in possession of properties actually stolen, or reasonably believed to be stolen, ‘and’ Has no application where an accused is found in possession merely of documents entitling him to possession of sums of money as in this case. The argument appears to be that in such circumstance it cannot be definitely concluded that the money so deposited is the money stolen, or suspected to be stolen or fraudulently obtained. This contention seems to tie to-be without any real substance. The word ” possession” in the section cannot, I think, be limited or restricted to actual physical possession but must include what may be termed potential possession such as arises when money is deposited in a bank or post office. In this instance the accused, though not in actual physical possession of the cash, was to all intents and purposes in possession within? the ordinary meaning of the word by reason of the fact that he had in his possession the cash certificate and deposit receipt entitling him to the moneys. Such possession it seems to me is just as-much possession as if the money were in the person of the accused or in his house. It has been urged that Section 54-A was never meant to apply to- a case of this-description and that it is applicable only in the case of persons found in the streets, or at the jetties or such places in possession of properties suspected to be stolen. It may be that the Act was not designed to meet cases of this description. But I can find nothing in the-language of the section which as I have said is as wide as it can be, to limit or restrict its operation to cases of actual physical possession, nor does there seem to be any reason why it should’ not apply in a case like the present where it is al leged that the accused was found in possession, albeit potential possession of considerable sums of money suspected to-be stolen for which he was unable to give any satisfactory explanation.
19. The prosecution relied upon the circumstances taken as a whole for the purpose of establishing that the accused was in possession of these stolen moneys, or a part thereof and those circumstances are without doubt very strong. The blank signed cheque was found to be missing on 6th February and is said to have been stolen either on that day or the previous day. On the same date 6th February, the accused deposital Rs. 4,000 at the P. and C. Bank and brought the cash certificate for Bs. 800 It was not disputed at the trial that these deposits were made by the accused and the onus being under Section 54-A upon him to account for his possession, he adduced evidence to prove that they were made with a sum of Rs. 5,000 received by him on 6th February from a firm styled Nayasook Das Gopi Kissen. A witness named Ganga Das said to be cashier of the firm in. question was examined for the defence. But the Magistrate rejected his testimony for reasons which he has given. The Magistrate Anally held that the circumstances as a whole established that the accused who was a servant of the complainant on a small salary was guilty of being in possession of the moneys in question and Convicted him as already stated.
20. We have not been referred to any decided case in which it has been held that the section is applicable only in the case of actual physical possession in property as distinguished from potential possession derived from the possession of documents entitling the holder to possession. To my mind the distinction sought to be drawn is a distinction without any real difference, for a person may surely be just as much in possession by holding a deposit receipt on a. cash certificate, as if he had the money deposited, in his safe in his house. He merely keeps it in a bank for greater security, and, it seems to me that it would, be adopting a dangerous principle to hold that moneys suspected or proved to be stolen cease to be in possession of the thief so soon as he has been able to deposit them in a bank or post office.
21. As regards the second contention that the conviction is illegal because no charge was framed under Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act, it may be observed, that the offence under Section 54, Calcutta Police Act, being summarily triable the framing of a formal charge is not necessary : vide 242, Criminal P.C. Apart from this under Section 362(4), Criminal P. C, the case not being one in which’ an appeal lies the Magistrate was not bound to irame a charge. The point also seems to be covered by Section 237, Criminal P.C. Tulsi Teloni v. Emperor A.I.R.1923 Cal. 596.
22. For the reasons stated T am of opinion that the rule in this case should be discharged. (On difference of the two Judges the ‘case was put before Buck-land, J.)
Buckland, J.
23.The facts of the case sufficiently appear from the judgments of my learned brothers Mukerji and Graham, JJ., who have had the misfortune to differ so that the case has been laid before me under Section 439. Criminal, P.C.
24. The learned advocate who has appeared for the complainant whose argument has been adopted by the learned advocate for the Crown, has informed me that his case is that the property the subject matter of the conviction is the sum of Bs. 4,000 deposited in the bank and the sum of Bs. 800 paid by the accused for the postal cash certificate. I will take that to be correct though the judgment of the Magistrate is anything but clear as to this. The point to be decided is whether these sums of money are in the possession of the petitioner within the meaning of Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act.
25. The cash postal certificate and the fixed deposit receipt were found, on 7th February 1928 in the possession of the petitioner. If he is to be held as being in possession of the money which those documents represent and is now in the bank and with the Postal Department such possession must have begun at the time when he paid, in the money, and received the documents in exchange. Whatever may have since become of the documents there must have been a period of time long or short, it makes no difference, when if the view urged is correct he must have been in possession of both the documents and the money. Such a, result to my mind proves the fallacy of the argument advanced, which appears to involve a confusion between actual possession and such right to possession as these documents may confer. Such right may, I conceive be or become qualified, and, in. the case of the bank, must depend upon the terms of the contract under which the deposit was made, These cannot be matters to be considered under Section 54-A, Calcutta Police Act, in determining the meaning of possession. Substantially the same considerations apply to the money represented by the cash postal certificate.
26. Without attempting to lay down any general rule as to the meaning of the word possession in the section, it is suffient to say that in my judgment the petitioner cannot be held to be in possession of the money represented by the documents in question and the rule must be made absolute.
27. As regards the cash postal certificate and fixed deposit receipt, I set aside the order of the Magistrate directing that they be made over to the complainant and direct that they be detained in Court for three months from to-day and held meantime subject to any order that may be made by this Court in its original civil jurisdiction. If no such order shall have been made within the period stated they may be returned to the petitioner.
