Delhi High Court: While deciding the instant matter which revolved around the interplay and interpretation of Sections 306 and 308 of the CrPC, C. Hari Shankar, J., observed that pardoning an accomplice under Section 306 (1) CrPC, and his conversion into an approver, must mandatorily be followed by his examination as a witness under Section 306 (4) of CrPC. However, during the course of such statement, if the Public Prosecutor is able to discern that the approver is not abiding by the conditions, subject to which pardon was tendered to him, i.e. making a full and true disclosure of all facts within his knowledge; or the approver is concealing something essential; or is tendering false evidence, then the Public Prosecutor would so certify under Section 308 (1) of CrPC.
As per the facts, a case was registered against the respondent under various provisions of IPC and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The respondent filed application under Section 306 of CrPC, for grant of pardon, which was allowed by the Special Judge, CBI. Later on the petitioner (Directorate of Enforcement) moved an application for revocation of the pardon. However, the Special Judge, in his Order dated 05-03-2020, disposed off the application moved by the petitioner on the ground that the application is premature and there is no merit in the interpretation of Sections 306 and 308 implying that pardon granted to any person can be revoked at any stage, even before the approver is examined before Session Court/Trial Court. The ED therefore challenged the impugned Order in the instant case. Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, Aman Lekhi, ASG, contended that the Special Judge has misconstrued the scheme of Sections 306 and 308 of CrPC and has erred fundamentally in holding that the statement of the approver is required to be recorded, before deciding on the issue of revocation of the pardon extended to him. R.K. Handoo on behalf of the respondent submitted that at the first instance, the application of the petitioner, before the learned Special Judge, was itself not maintainable, as the CrPC does not contemplate revocation of pardon tendered to an accused; pardon, once granted cannot be revoked, cancelled or withdrawn.
Perusing the rival contentions and referring to various Supreme Court decisions, especially State v. Jagjit Singh, 1989 Supp (2) SCC 770 and Bipin Behari Sarkar v. State of West Bengal, AIR 1959 SC 13, the Court observed that examination of the approver, as a witness under Section 306 (4) is intended, inter alia to ascertain whether the approver is abiding by the conditions of his pardon, or is an untrustworthy witness. It was further observed that a holistic and conjoint reading of Sections 306 and 308 reveals an “inexorable sequence”, in which the most mandatory step is the examination, of the approver, as a witness, under Section 306 (4).
The Court therefore observed that ex facie, the view adopted by the Special Judge in the impugned order is in sync with the law laid down in multiple Supreme Court decisions and as well as the statutory scheme of Sections 306 and 308 of the CrPC, and does not merit any interference. Thus endorsing the view expressed by the Special Judge, the Bench therefore decided to dismiss the instant petition. [Directorate of Enforcement v. Rajiv Saxena, 2020 SCC OnLine Del 719 , decided on 08-06-2020]
