1998 (1) TMI 88 - HC - Central Excise

Issues Involved:
1. Territorial jurisdiction of the High Court of Calcutta.
2. Maintainability of the FIR initiated by the CBI.
3. Allegations of evasion of Central Excise Duty.
4. Allegations of criminal conspiracy and cheating.
5. Applicability of Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
6. Overlap between civil and criminal proceedings.
7. Mens rea (criminal intent) requirement.
8. Sanction for prosecution of a public servant.

Issue-wise Detailed Analysis:

1. Territorial Jurisdiction of the High Court of Calcutta:
The respondents raised a preliminary objection regarding the territorial jurisdiction of the High Court of Calcutta. The petitioners argued that the Deputy Superintendent of Police, CBI, who lodged the FIR, is under the control of the Joint Director (Eastern India), CBI, whose office is in Calcutta. The respondents countered that the FIR was filed in a court at Balasore, which falls outside the jurisdiction of the Calcutta High Court. The court concluded that the place where the FIR is filed determines the jurisdiction, and since the records are in Balasore, they are beyond the jurisdiction of the Calcutta High Court.

2. Maintainability of the FIR Initiated by the CBI:
The petitioners argued that the Commissioner of Central Excise & Customs, Bhubaneswar, is the proper authority to investigate the matter. They contended that the FIR was initiated prematurely and without proper sanction, aiming to harass them. The court found that the FIR disclosed prima facie offenses and could not be quashed at this stage.

3. Allegations of Evasion of Central Excise Duty:
The petitioners were accused of not maintaining a daily production register and of clandestine removal of tyres, leading to evasion of Central Excise Duty amounting to more than 10 crores. The court noted that these allegations were serious and warranted a criminal investigation.

4. Allegations of Criminal Conspiracy and Cheating:
The FIR alleged that the petitioners conspired with a Superintendent of Central Excise to suppress actual production figures and evade excise duty. The court found that these allegations, if proven, constituted offenses under Section 420 read with Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

5. Applicability of Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code:
The petitioners sought to quash the FIR under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, arguing that the inherent powers of the court should be exercised to prevent abuse of process. The court held that the inherent jurisdiction should not be exercised in this case, as the FIR disclosed prima facie offenses.

6. Overlap Between Civil and Criminal Proceedings:
The petitioners argued that the Central Excises and Salt Act, along with its rules, provided a complete code for investigating offenses and imposing penalties, making the CBI's case redundant. The court disagreed, stating that the criminal proceedings could not be stayed merely because civil proceedings were ongoing, especially given the serious nature of the allegations.

7. Mens Rea (Criminal Intent) Requirement:
The petitioners contended that there was no mens rea, a prerequisite for criminal offenses. The court found that the allegations in the FIR, if proven, indicated a clear intention to evade excise duty, thus fulfilling the mens rea requirement.

8. Sanction for Prosecution of a Public Servant:
The petitioners argued that the investigation against the public servant (G.P. Panda) was initiated without obtaining the necessary sanction, violating mandatory provisions. The court did not find this argument sufficient to quash the FIR at this stage.

Conclusion:
The court dismissed the revisional application, stating that the FIR disclosed prima facie offenses and that the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court of Calcutta should not be exercised in this case. The court also vacated all stay orders, allowing the investigation to proceed.

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