vyapam scam bail judgment

8/9/2019 Vyapam Scam Bail Judgment

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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 220 OF 2015(ARISING OUT OF SLP (CRL.) NO.7506 OF 2014)

DR. VINOD BHANDARI APPELLANT

VERSUS

STATE OF M.P. RESPONDENT

J U D G M E N T

ADARSH KUMAR GOEL J.

1. Leave granted.

. T!"# a$$ea% !a# &een $re'erred aga"n#t '"na% ()dg*ent and +rder

dated 11t!A)g)#t, -1 $a##ed &/ t!e H"g! C+)rt +' Mad!/a Prade#!

at Ja&a%$)r "n M"#0. Cr"*"na% Ca#e N+.1-21 +' -1 3!ere&/ a D"v"#"+n

Ben0! +' t!e H"g! C+)rt d"#*"##ed t!e &a"% a$$%"0at"+n '"%ed &/

t!e a$$e%%ant.

. M.P. V/av#a/"4 Paree4#!a Manda% 5M.P. Pr+'e##"+na% E6a*"nat"+n

B+ard7 4n+3n a# V/a$a* 0+nd)0t# var"+)# te#t# '+r ad*"##"+n t+

$r+'e##"+na% 0+)r#e# and #trea*#. It "# a #tat)t+r/ &+d/ 0+n#t"t)ted

)nder t!e $r+v"#"+n# +' M.P. Pr+'e##"+na% E6a*"nat"+n B+ard A0t, --2.

A# $er FIR N+.1 +' -1 reg"#tered +n -t!O0t+&er, -1 at $+%"0e

#tat"+n, S.T.F., B!+$a% )nder Se0t"+n# -, 82, 89, 21, 1-B +' t!e

Ind"an Pena% C+de 5:IPC;7 read 3"t! Se0t"+n 5d7, 1,


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Prade#! Man/ata Pra$t Par"4#!a Ad!"n"/a*, 1=2 and )nder Se0t"+n#

8> and 88 +' t!e I.T. A0t, S!r" D.S. Bag!e%, DSP 5STF7, M.P. P+%"0e

Head?)arter#, B!+$a% d)r"ng t!e "nve#t"gat"+n +' an+t!er 0a#e '+)nd

t!at 0+$/"ng 3a# arranged "n PMT E6a*"nat"+n, -1 at t!e "n#tan0e +'

0+n0erned +''"0er# +' t!e V/a$a* and *"dd%e*en 3!+ '+r *+netar/

0+n#"derat"+n !e%$ed t!e )nde#erv"ng #t)dent# t+ $a## t!e entran0e

e6a*"nat"+n t+ get ad*"##"+n t+ t!e M.B.B.S 0+)r#e "n @+vern*ent and

Pr"vate Med"0a% C+%%ege# "n t!e State +' M.P. A# $er t!e *ater"a%

0+%%e0ted d)r"ng "nve#t"gat"+n, "n $)r#)an0e +' 0+n#$"ra0/, t!e

a$$e%%ant Dr. V"n+d B!andar", 3!+ "# t!e Manag"ng D"re0t+r +' S!r"

A)r&"nd+ In#t"t)te +' Med"0a% S0"en0e#, Ind+re, re0e"ved *+ne/ 'r+*

t!e 0and"date# t!r+)g! 0+a00)#ed Pradee$ Rag!)van#!" 3!+ 3a#

3+r4"ng "n B!andar" H+#$"ta% Re#ear0! Centre, Ind+re a# @enera%

Manager and 3!+ 3a# a%#+ %++4"ng a'ter t!e ad*"##"+n# and

*anage*ent 3+r4 +' S!r" A)r&"nd+ In#t"t)te +' Med"0a% S0"en0e#,

Ind+re, '+r arrang"ng t!e )nde#erv"ng 0and"date# t+ $a## t!r+)g! t!e

MBBS Entran0e E6a*"nat"+n &/ )n'a"r *ean#. He gave $art +' t!e

*+ne/ t+ N"t"n M+!"ndra, Sen"+r S/#te*# Ana%/#t "n V/a$a*, 3!+ 3a#

t!e 0)#t+d"an +' t!e *+de% an#3er 4e/, a%+ng 3"t! Dr. Pan4a( Tr"ved",

C+ntr+%%er +' V/a$a*. D)r"ng "nve#t"gat"+n, d"#0%+#)re #tate*ent 3a#

*ade &/ Pradee$ Rag!)van#!" 3!"0! %ed t+ t!e re0+ver/ +' *+ne/ and

d+0)*ent#. T!e 0and"date#, t!e"r g)ard"an#, #+*e +''"0er# +' t!e

V/a$a* and *"dd%e*en 3ere '+)nd t+ &e "nv+%ved "n t!e #0a*. It

a$$ear# t!at t!ere are "n a%% >18 a00)#ed +)t +' 3!"0! = $er#+n#


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!ave &een arre#ted and 192 are d)e t+ &e arre#ted. S)tant"a%

"nve#t"gat"+n !a# &een 0+*$%eted and 0!arge #!eet# '"%ed &)t 0erta"n

a#$e0t# are #t"%% &e"ng "nve#t"gated and a# $er d"re0t"+n +' t!"# C+)rt "n

a Pet"t"+n '+r S$e0"a% Leave t+ A$$ea% 5C7 . CC N+.18>8 +' -1

t"t%ed :A(a/ D)&e/ ver#)# State +' M.P. Or#.;, '"na% 0!arge #!eet "# t+

&e '"%ed &/ t!e S$e0"a% Ta#4 F+r0e +n +r &e'+re Mar0! 1>, -1> aga"n#t

t!e re*a"n"ng a00)#ed. A%%egat"+n# a%#+ "n0%)de t!at #+*e !"g! #0+rer

0and"date# 3ere arranged "n t!e e6a*"nat"+n 0entre 3!+ 0+)%d g"ve

0+rre0t an#3er# and t!e 0and"date# 3!+ $a"d *+ne/ 3ere $er*"tted t+

d+ t!e 0+$/"ng. Ot!er modus operandiad+$ted 3a# t+ %eave t!e OMR

#!eet# &%an4 3!"0! &%an4 #!eet# 3ere %ater '"%%ed )$ 3"t! t!e 0+rre0t

an#3er# &/ t!e 0+rr)$t +''"0er# +' V/a$a*. F)rt!er, t!e *+de% an#3er

4e/ 3a# 0+$"ed and *ade ava"%a&%e t+ 0+n0erned 0and"date# +ne n"g!t

&e'+re t!e e6a*"nat"+n. Ea0! 0and"date $a"d 'e3 %a4!# +' r)$ee# t+

t!e *"dd%e*en and t!e *+ne/ 3a# #!ared &/ t!e *"dd%e*en 3"t! t!e

+''"0er# +' t!e V/a$a*. T!e a$$e%%ant re0e"ved 'e3 0r+re# +' r)$ee# "n

t!e $r+0e## 'r+* )nde#erv"ng 0and"date# t+ get ad*"##"+n t+ t!e

M.B.B.S. and, a# $er a%%egat"+n "n t!e +t!er 0+nne0ted *atter, ".e., FIR

N+.1 +' -1 reg"#tered +n -t!N+ve*&er, -1 3"t! t!e #a*e $+%"0e

#tat"+n, t+ t!e P@ *ed"0a% 0+)r#e#.


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Criminal Appeal No. of 2015 @ SLP (Crl.) No.7506 of 2014

. In t!e $re#ent 0a#e, t!e a$$e%%ant 3a# arre#ted +n -t! Jan)ar/,

-1 3!"%e "n t!e +t!er FIR !e 3a# granted ant"0"$at+r/ &a"% +n 18 t!

Jan)ar/, -1. Se0+nd Ba"% a$$%"0at"+n +' t!e a$$e%%ant "n t!e $re#ent

0a#e 3a# 0+n#"dered &/ t!e =t!Add"t"+na% Se##"+n# J)dge, B!+$a% and

d"#*"##ed v"de Order dated =.>.-1. Ear%"er, '"r#t &a"% a$$%"0at"+n !ad

&een d"#*"##ed +n >t!Fe&r)ar/, -1. !"%e de0%"n"ng $ra/er '+r &a"%,

"t 3a#, inter-alia, +erved

In the present case, it is alleged againstthe accused that he in connivance with theofficers of coordinator State level institution(VYAPAM in lieu of huge amount got thecandidates selected in the e!aminationafter getting them passed in the Pre-Medical"est (PM" #!amination, which is mandator$and important for admission in the medicaleducation institution% According to theprosecution, applicant snatched right ofdeserving and scholar students, he got

selected ineligi&le candidates in the field ofmedical education% "his case is not onl$related to economic offence, rather apartfrom depriving rights of deserving andscholar students, it is related to the humanlife and health%'

>. T!e D"v"#"+n Ben0! +' t!e H"g! C+)rt, "n "t# Order, re'erred t+ t!e

#)$$%e*entar/ challan'"%ed aga"n#t t!e a$$e%%ant +n t!A$r"%, -1,

"nd"0at"ng t!e '+%%+3"ng *ater"a%

ffence of the accused )

"he accused *r% Vinod +handari has &eenthe Managing *irector of S%A%I%M%S%, Indoreand prior to the P%M%"% #!amination . hehad in collusion with /itin Mohindra, SeniorS$stem Anal$st of V$apam, for gettingsome of his candidates passed in the P%M%"%#!amination, . and stating to send listof his candidates and cash amount through

4


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his 0eneral Manager Pradeep 1aghuvanshi,su&se2uentl$ he sent list of his 3candidates and 4 la5h rupees in cashthrough his 0eneral Manager and 6candidates out of aforesaid candidates were

got passed &$ using unfair means with theconnivance of /itin Mohindra &$ wa$ offilling up the circles in their %M%1% sheetsand received the amount in illegall$ manner&$ hatching conspirac$ which has &eenrecovered7sei8ed from his 0eneral ManagerPradeep 1aghuvanshi% In this manner, theaccused has committed a serious crime inwell designed conspirac$ &$ hatchingconspirac$ and committed organi8ed crime%

#vidences availa&le against the accused )-.% "he certified cop$ of the e!cel sheetof the data retrieved from the harddisc sei8ed from the office of theaccused /itin Mohindra9% "he documents, note sheets and theactivit$ chart of P%M%"% #!amination,. sei8ed from V$apam9:% "he list of .; candidates sei8ed fromShri Aur&indo Institute of MedicalSciences


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sponsor 3 candidates who were to appear inthe VYAPAM e!amination9 and is alsoprosecuted for another offence of similart$pe of having sponsored 3 othercandidates9 and has the potential of

influencing the witnesses and otherevidence and more importantl$ theinvestigation of the large scale conspirac$ isstill incomplete9 as also 5eeping in mind thepast conduct of the applicant in goinga&road soon after the registration of the, -1>.

T!ere are a&+)t >18 a00)#ed and %arge n)*&er +' 3"tne##e# and

d+0)*ent#. T!)#, t!e tr"a% 3"%% ta4e %+ng t"*e. In t!e#e 0"r0)*#tan0e#,

t!e a$$e%%ant 0ann+t &e 4e$t "n 0)#t+d/ '+r "nde'"n"te $er"+d &e'+re !"#

g)"%t "# e#ta&%"#!ed &/ a00e$ta&%e ev"den0e. O)r attent"+n !a# &een

"nv"ted t+ +rder dated 2t!

N+ve*&er, -1 $a##ed &/ t!e tr"a% C+)rt,

re0+rd"ng t!e re?)e#t +' t!e S$e0"a% P)&%"0 Pr+#e0)t+r '+r de'err"ng t!e

$r+0eed"ng# +' t!e 0a#e t"%% t!e 0a#e# +' +t!er a00)#ed aga"n#t 3!+*

#)$$%e*entar/ 0!arge #!eet# 3ere '"%ed 3ere 0+**"tted t+ t!e C+)rt

+' Se##"+n and t"%% #)$$%e*entar/ 0!arge #!eet 3a# '"%ed aga"n#t

#evera% +t!er a00)#ed $er#+n#. In t!e #a"d +rder, t!e C+)rt d"re0ted

6


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t!e Inve#t"gat"ng O''"0er t+ "nd"0ate a# t+ aga"n#t !+3 *an/ a00)#ed

$er#+n# "nve#t"gat"+n "# $end"ng and t!e t"*e 'ra*e '+r '"%"ng 0!arge

#!eet#


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1-. Re'err"ng t+ t!e 0+)nter a''"dav"t '"%ed +n &e!a%' +' t!e State, !e

$+"nt# +)t t!at "n t!e e60e% #!eet re0+vered 'r+* N"t"n M+!"ndra, t!e

a$$e%%ant !a# &een na*ed and "n t!e #tate*ent )nder Se0t"+n 18

Cr.P.C. Dr. M++%0!and Harg)nan" d"#0%+#ed t!at !e !ad *et t!e

a$$e%%ant 3!+ a#4ed !"* t+ *eet Pradee$ Rag!)van#!" '+r ad*"##"+n

t+ PMT and !e 3a# a#4ed t+ $a/ R#.- %a4!#. He 0+)%d n+t $a/ t!e

#a"d a*+)nt and !"# #+n 0+)%d n+t get t!e ad*"##"+n. A #)* +' R#.>-

%a4! '+r PMT E6a*"nat"+n and 1. 0r+re# '+r Pre P@ E6a*"nat"+n, -1

3a# re0e"ved 'r+* Pradee$ Rag!)van#!" 3!+ 3a# @enera% Manager +'

t!e a$$e%%ant# !+#$"ta% and "n 0!arge +' ad*"##"+n t+ t!e "n#t"t)te +'

t!e a$$e%%ant.

11. e !ave g"ven d)e 0+n#"derat"+n t+ t!e r"va% #)&*"##"+n# and

$er)#ed t!e *ater"a% +n re0+rd.

1. It "# 3e%% #ett%ed t!at at $re0+nv"0t"+n #tage, t!ere "# $re#)*$t"+n

+' "nn+0en0e. T!e +&(e0t +' 4ee$"ng a $er#+n "n 0)#t+d/ "# t+ en#)re

!"# ava"%a&"%"t/ t+ 'a0e t!e tr"a% and t+ re0e"ve t!e #enten0e t!at *a/ &e

$a##ed. T!e detent"+n "# n+t #)$$+#ed t+ &e $)n"t"ve +r $revent"ve.

Ser"+)#ne## +' t!e a%%egat"+n +r t!e ava"%a&"%"t/ +' *ater"a% "n #)$$+rt

t!ere+' are n+t t!e +n%/ 0+n#"derat"+n# '+r de0%"n"ng &a"%. De%a/ "n

0+**en0e*ent and 0+n0%)#"+n +' tr"a% "# a 'a0t+r t+ &e ta4en "nt+

a00+)nt and t!e a00)#ed 0ann+t &e 4e$t "n 0)#t+d/ '+r "nde'"n"te

$er"+d "' tr"a% "# n+t %"4e%/ t+ &e 0+n0%)ded 3"t!"n rea#+na&%e t"*e.

Re'eren0e *a/ &e *ade t+ de0"#"+n# +' t!"# C+)rt "n Kalyan Chandra

8


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Sarkar v#.Rajesh Ranjan1, State of U.P. v#.Amarmani Tripathi2,

State of Kerala v#.Raneef3 andSanjay Chandra v#.C!".

1. In Kalyan Chandra Sarkar #s$pra%, "t 3a# +erved

&'. It is trite law that personal li&ert$cannot &e ta5en awa$ e!cept in accordancewith the procedure esta&lished &$ law%Personal li&ert$ is a constitutionalguarantee% >owever, Article . whichguarantees the a&ove right alsocontemplates deprivation of personal li&ert$&$ procedure esta&lished &$ law% ?nder thecriminal laws of this countr$, a person

accused of offences which are non-&aila&leis lia&le to &e detained in custod$ duringthe pendenc$ of trial unless he is enlargedon &ail in accordance with law% Suchdetention cannot &e 2uestioned as &eingviolative of Article . since the same isauthorised &$ law% +ut even personsaccused of non-&aila&le offences areentitled to &ail if the court concerned comesto the conclusion that the prosecution hasfailed to esta&lish a prima facie case against

him and7or if the court is satisfied forreasons to &e recorded that in spite of thee!istence of prima facie case there is aneed to release such persons on &ail wherefact situations re2uire it to do so% In thatprocess a person whose application forenlargement on &ail is once re@ected is notprecluded from filing a su&se2uentapplication for grant of &ail if there is achange in the fact situation% In such cases if

the circumstances then prevailing re2uirethat such persons &e released on &ail, inspite of his earlier applications &eingre@ected, the courts can do so%'

1. InAmarmani Tripathi #s$pra%, "t 3a# +erved

1'.It is well settled that the matters to &econsidered in an application for &ail are (i

1 (2005) 2 SCC 42

2 (2005) 8 SCC 213 (2011) 1 SCC 784

4 (2012) 1 SCC 40


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whether there is an$ prima facie orreasona&le ground to &elieve that theaccused had committed the offence9 (iinature and gravit$ of the charge9 (iiiseverit$ of the punishment in the event of

conviction9 (iv danger of the accuseda&sconding or fleeing, if released on &ail9(v character, &ehaviour, means, positionand standing of the accused9 (vi li5elihoodof the offence &eing repeated9 (viireasona&le apprehension of the witnesses&eing tampered with9 and (viii danger, ofcourse, of @ustice &eing thwarted &$ grant of&ail see Prahlad Singh +hati v% /


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necessar$ for the court granting&ail to consider among othercircumstances, the followingfactors also &efore granting &ail9the$ are)

(a "he nature of accusation andthe severit$ of punishment incase of conviction and the natureof supporting evidence%(& 1easona&le apprehension oftampering with the witness orapprehension of threat to thecomplainant%(c Prima facie satisfaction of thecourt in support of the charge%(See 1am 0ovind ?padh$a$ v%Sudarshan Singh ( : S


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witnesses have alread$ turnedhostile% "he onl$ other evidenceavaila&le to the prosecution toconnect the respondent with thecrime is an alleged confession of

the co-accused which accordingto the learned counsel wasinadmissi&le in evidence%"herefore, he contends that the>igh igh


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for a long period ma$ end up li5e *r%Manette in


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the onl$ test or the factor) the other factor

that also re2uires to &e ta5en note of is the

punishment that could &e imposed after

trial and conviction, &oth under the Penal


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(e+$ard"#"ng t!e "ntere#t +' ()#t"0e, 3e d+ n+t '"nd an/ gr+)nd t+

"nter'ere 3"t! t!e v"e3 ta4en &/ t!e tr"a% C+)rt and t!e H"g! C+)rt "n

de0%"n"ng &a"%.

19. It "# 0erta"n%/ a *atter +' #er"+)# 0+n0ern t!at t!e a$$e%%ant !a#

&een "n 0)#t+d/ '+r a&+)t +ne /ear and t!ere "# n+ $r+#$e0t +'

"**ed"ate tr"a%. !en a $er#+n "# 4e$t "n 0)#t+d/ t+ 'a0"%"tate a 'a"r

tr"a% and "n t!e "ntere#t +' t!e #+0"et/, "t "# d)t/ +' t!e $r+#e0)t"+n and

t!e C+)rt t+ ta4e a%% $+##"&%e #te$# t+ e6$ed"te t!e tr"a%. S$eed/ tr"a% "#

a r"g!t +' t!e a00)#ed and "# a%#+ "n t!e "ntere#t +' ()#t"0e. e are

t!)#, +' t!e +$"n"+n t!at t!e $r+#e0)t"+n and t!e tr"a% C+)rt *)#t

en#)re #$eed/ tr"a% #+ t!at r"g!t +' t!e a00)#ed "# $r+te0ted. T!"#

C+)rt !a# a%read/ d"re0ted t!at t!e "nve#t"gat"+n &e '"na%%/ 0+*$%eted

and '"na% 0!arge #!eet '"%ed +n +r &e'+re Mar0! 1>, -1>. e !ave a%#+

&een "n'+r*ed t!at a #$e0"a% $r+#e0)t+r !a# &een a$$+"nted and t!e

*atter "# &e"ng tr"ed &e'+re a S$e0"a% C+)rt. T!e H"g! C+)rt "#

*+n"t+r"ng t!e *atter. e e6$e0t t!at "n t!e#e 0"r0)*#tan0e#, t!e

tr"a% 3"%% $r+0eed da/ t+ da/ and "t# $r+gre## 3"%% &e d)%/ *+n"t+red.

Mater"a% 3"tne##e# *a/ &e "dent"'"ed and e6a*"ned at t!e ear%"e#t.

Hav"ng regard t+ #$e0"a% 'eat)re# +' t!"# 0a#e, 3e re?)e#t t!e H"g!

C+)rt t+ ta4e )$ t!e *atter +n0e "n t!ree *+nt!# t+ ta4e #t+04 +' t!e

$r+gre## +' tr"a% and t+ "##)e #)0! d"re0t"+n# a# *a/ &e ne0e##ar/. e

a%#+ d"re0t t!at "' t!e tr"a% "# n+t 0+*$%eted 3"t!"n +ne /ear 'r+* t+da/

'+r rea#+n# n+t attr"&)ta&%e t+ t!e a$$e%%ant, t!e a$$e%%ant 3"%% &e

1


16/16


ent"t%ed t+ a$$%/ '+r &a"% a're#! t+ t!e H"g! C+)rt 3!"0! *a/ &e

0+n#"dered "n t!e %"g!t +' t!e #"t)at"+n 3!"0! *a/ &e t!en $reva"%"ng.

1=. T!e a$$ea% "# a00+rd"ng%/ d"#$+#ed +' 3"t! t!e a&+ve

+ervat"+n#. e *a4e "t 0%ear t!at +ervat"+n# "n +)r a&+ve

()dg*ent 3"%% n+t &e treated a# e6$re##"+n +' an/ +$"n"+n +n *er"t# +'

t!e 0a#e and t!e tr"a% C+)rt *a/ de0"de t!e *atter 3"t!+)t &e"ng

"n'%)en0ed &/ an/ #)0! +ervat"+n.

J. 5T.S. THAUR7

J. 5ADARSH UMAR @OEL7

NE DELHIFEBRUARG , -1>

1

vyapam scam bail judgment

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