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TMI Blog2021 (2) TMI 1218X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ized by the Central Government and the special public prosecutor appearing on behalf of the appellant fairly admitted that the complainant was not empowered by the Central Government to file the appeal. Second, the appeal was not filed by the public prosecutor as contemplated under Section 377(2) of Cr.P.C., but it was filed by the special public prosecutor. Admittedly NIA Act is a special law to which Section 4(2) of Cr.P.C. may apply in respect of investigation, inquiry, trial, etc. Viewing the rival contentions in this background, it is found that the challenges raised against maintainability of the appeals are not sustainable, especially when we consider the fact that the appeals were presented by the public prosecutor appointed by NIA under Section 15 of NIA Act. We, therefore, find that the appeals filed by NIA are competent. Smuggling of gold simplicitor will fall within Section 15(1)(a) (iiia) of UA(P) Act. In other words, gold smuggling clearly covered by the provisions of the Customs Act will not fall within the definition of terrorist act in Section 15 of UA(P) Act unless evidence is brought out to show that it is done with the intent to threaten or it is likely t ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... gopal, Abu Mathew, R. Devika, Aju Mathew, Babu S. Nair, Nireesh Mathew, E.C. Ahamed Fazil, Manu Tom Cheruvally, K.R. Jithin, Balamurali K.P., Shaji T.M., Advs. and S. Sreekumar, Senior Advocate JUDGMENT A. Hariprasad, J. 1. This batch of criminal appeals are directed against the orders passed by the learned Judge presiding over the Special Court for trial of NIA Cases, Ernakulam on applications for bail submitted by various accused in R.C. 2/2020/NIA/KOC. It is seen that two common orders are passed by the learned Judge of the Special Court. Bail was granted to accused 8, 9, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 as per order dated 15.10.2020 and to accused 17 and 18 as per order dated 23.10.2020. Both the orders are challenged before this Court by the Union of India represented by the National Investigation Agency, Kochi ( NIA , in short). 7Th accused, whose bail plea was rejected, has preferred a separate appeal challenging the order dated 15.10.2020. Since identical factual and legal questions arise in all these cases, they are heard together. We dispose them by this common judgment. 2. Heard Shri Surya Prakash V. Raju, learned Additional Solicitor General of ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ted to have used the proceeds for financing terrorism. 12th accused herein is one of the accused in the infamous handchopping case having a linkage to terrorism in which some of the accused were convicted. However, he had been acquitted in that case. 5. Allegation against accused 13 and 14 is that they had associated with accused 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 to smuggle gold 21 times in various forms and after November 2019, they assisted other accused persons for exchanging the smuggled gold at various places. 16th accused had conspired with 8th accused and arranged funds for smuggling gold multiple times in June 2020 through the diplomatic channel. 19th accused had funded ₹ 65 lakhs for smuggling gold since June 2020 and obtained 1.5kgs of smuggled gold at Thiruvananthapuram on multiple occasions. He did so by conspiring with accused 5, 6, 7 and 16. It is further alleged that 21st accused had conspired with accused 8, 16 and 23 and handed over ₹ 70 lakhs during June 2020 for purchasing smuggled gold. He had also travelled to Thiruvananthapuram along with accused 16 and 23 to receive the smuggled gold from accused 4 and 5 in the month of June 2020. Accusation against 22nd accuse ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... nce from 22 devices only could be decoded and examined which itself produced voluminous and substantial evidence in respect of the roles played by the accused persons. Having found that there are legal reasons for granting an extension of time to 180 days to complete the investigation, the court below should not have granted bail to some of the accused persons. 7. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the accused contended that despite consuming much time, the investigating agency could not find out any reason justifying further detention of the accused persons. It is also contended that Section 15 of the UA(P) Act is totally inapplicable to the facts of this case. In the appeal filed by 7th accused, he questioned the legal and factual reasons stated by the trial court for denying bail. 8. Learned ASG contended that the court below viewed the matter as a simple case of smuggling. According to him, the inconsistent views taken by the learned Judge can be seen on a conjoint reading of paragraphs 2 to 6, wherein the facts have been mentioned, and in paragraph 19, it is indicated that the case on hand is a mere act of smuggling gold without attracting the offence of terroris ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e Superintendent of Police, NIA, Kochi has no authority to file the appeals and they should have been filed through the public prosecutor. To advance this argument, reliance is placed on two decisions rendered by Division Benches of this Court in State of Kerala v. Krishnan (1981 KLT 839) and Benny P. Jacob and another v. Rajesh Kumar Unnithan and another (2019 KHC 737). In Krishnan's case, the Division Bench noticed the admitted fact that the State had filed appeals against an acquittal through Additional Advocate General at a time when admittedly there was no public prosecutor appointed for the High Court. Therefore, the question was whether the State Government could have directed the Advocate General or Additional Advocate General to present an appeal under Section 378(1) of Cr.P.C. without appointing them as public prosecutors under Section 24(1) of Cr.P.C. in view of Article 165 of the Constitution of India and the Rules framed by the Government under Clauses 2 and 3 of Article 165. The Bench, after an elaborate consideration, refused leave to appeal sought for by the State finding that the appeals were not filed by the public prosecutor as required under Section 378(1) o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ers arising out of the case in the revisional or appellate courts established by law of the country. Sources of power for appointing them are Section 15 of NIA Act and Section 24(8) of Cr.P.C. On a conjoint reading of Section 24(8) of Cr.P.C. and Section 15 of NIA Act, it will be clear that the appeals are properly laid before this Court. Section 378(1)(b) of Cr.P.C. specifically says that the State Government may direct the public prosecutor to present an appeal to the High Court from an original or appellate order of acquittal passed by any court other than a High Court. Interpreting this provision, in Krishnan and Benny P. Jacob (supra) it was held that what is important is the presentation of criminal appeals under Section 378 of Cr.P.C. through a public prosecutor appointed under Section 24 of Cr.P.C. Section 15 of NIA Act is extracted hereunder as it is also relevant for our purpose: Public Prosecutors.-(1) The Central Government shall appoint a person to be the Public Prosecutor and may appoint one or more persons to be the Additional Public Prosecutor or Additional Public Prosecutors: Provided that the Central Government may also appoint for any case or class or g ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... others ( (2002) 9 SCC 389). In that case the State approached the High Court for enhancement of sentence imposed against the accused by the Special Judge for economic offences, Hyderabad. The appeal was dismissed by the High Court for two reasons. First, the appeal for enhancement of sentence under Section 377(2) of Cr.P.C. could be filed by the public prosecutor duly authorized by the Central Government and the special public prosecutor appearing on behalf of the appellant fairly admitted that the complainant was not empowered by the Central Government to file the appeal. Second, the appeal was not filed by the public prosecutor as contemplated under Section 377(2) of Cr.P.C., but it was filed by the special public prosecutor. The first ground on which the appeal was dismissed is affirmed by the Supreme Court. However, in respect of the second ground the following observations are made: 6. This submission of the learned Additional Solicitor-General requires to be accepted. Section 24(8) CrPC specifically empowers the Central Government or the State Government to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor for conducting any case or class of cases. Such Special Public Prosecutor woul ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... oreign country; or (iiia) damage to, the monetary stability of India by way of production or smuggling or circulation of high quality counterfeit Indian paper currency, coin or of any other material; or (iv) damage or destruction of any property in India or in a foreign country used or intended to be used for the defence of India or in connection with any other purposes of the Government of India, any State Government or any of their agencies; or (b) overawes by means of criminal force or the show of criminal force or attempts to do so or causes death of any public functionary or attempts to cause death of any public functionary; or (c) detains, kidnaps or abducts any person and threatens to kill or injure such person or does any other act in order to compel the Government of India, any State Government or the Government of a foreign country or an international or inter-governmental organization or any other person to do or abstain from doing any act; or commits a terrorist act. Explanation.-For the purpose of this sub-section,- (a) public functionary means the constitutional authorities or any other functionary notified in the Official Gazette by th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 15(1)(a) that using bombs, dynamite or any explosive substances or inflammable substances or firearms or other lethal weapons or poisonous or noxious gases or other chemicals or by any other substances (whether biological radioactive, nuclear or otherwise) of a hazardous nature, the unity, integrity, etc. of the nation could be threatened or terror could be struck in people or any section of the people in India or in any foreign country. Clause (a) makes it abundantly clear that the illustrations of criminal acts therein are not exhaustive. The effects produced by such acts are dealt with in Sub-clauses (i) to (iv) thereunder. If by using bombs, dynamites, etc, death or injuries to any person or persons occur, it will be a terrorist act under Sub-clause (i). Likewise, under Sub-clause (ii), by using bombs, dynamites, etc. if loss or damage or destruction of property has happened, then also it will fall within the definition of terrorist act. Similarly, the disruption of any supplies or services essential to the life of the community in India or in any foreign country caused by any of the means referred to above will also be a terrorist act. Most importantly, under Sub-clause (iiia) ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... rganization or any other person to do or abstain from doing any act; or shall be substituted; ; (iv) after clause (c), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- (d) demands any bomb, dynamite or other explosive substances or inflammable substances or fire arms or other lethal weapons or poisonous or noxious or other chemicals or any biological, radiological, nuclear material or device with the intention of aiding, abetting or committing terrorism. ; (v) for the Explanation, the following Explanation shall be substituted, namely:- 'Explanation.-For the purpose of this section,- (a) public functionary means the constitutional authorities or any other functionary notified in the Official Gazette by the Central Government as public functionary: (b) high quality counterfeit currency means the counterfeit currency as may be declared after examination by an authorized or notified forensic authority that such currency imitates or compromises with the key security features as specified in the Third Schedule.'; (v) after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:- (2) The terrorist act under sub-section (1) includes an ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... lause (c) of section 15, since the existing provision does not explicitly mention such international or inter-governmental organization. (iii) act of demanding any bomb, dynamite or other explosive substances or inflammable substances or fire arms or other lethal weapons or poisonous or noxious or other chemicals or any biological, radiological, nuclear material or device with the intention of aiding, abetting or committing terrorism; xxxxxx 22. It is contended by the learned counsel for the accused that Section 15(1)(a)(iiia) cannot be invoked in the facts of the case to hold that the alleged activities by the accused amounted to a terrorist act. According to them, a smuggling activity simplicitor cannot amount to a terrorist act under the scheme of UA(P) Act. Forcefully it is argued that NIA has no authority to investigate into an offence of smuggling defined under Section 2(39) of the Customs Act, 1962 ( Customs Act , in short). It is pointed out that in the Schedule attached to the NIA Act, dealing with specified enactments, the Customs Act is not included. Specific case advanced by the learned counsel for the accused is that the materials on record do not justify the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... post office or private service provider, mail box as their address, without listing a corresponding box number are some of the instances of customer behaviour. Insofar as the trade based behaviour (also related to trade based money laundering) is concerned, cash payments for high value orders are indications of trade based money laundering activity. It is therefore argued on behalf of NIA that these aspects could be unearthed only on a wide spread probe involving scrutiny of voluminous evidence recovered in the paper form and also decoded from the electronic gadgets. It is true that the case involves a lot of transactions connecting various accused persons and accomplices. We are of the view that the investigating agency is justified in taking time for completing a threadbare investigation into all the aspects. 24. At the same time, the contention of the accused persons that the materials placed before the court at the time of considering their bail applications did not reveal any of the offences charged against them has also to be considered to assess the legality of the impugned order. 25. Learned senior counsel appearing for 22nd accused contended that no contention regar ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... own above. This is the split up of the above Sub-clause to Section 15(1). 28. It is therefore strongly argued that what is sought to be declared as a terrorist act in this Sub-clause is the production, smuggling or circulation of high quality counterfeit Indian paper currency, coin or any other material so as to cause damage to the monetary stability of India. Learned counsel for the accused persons emphasized that the words high quality counterfeit Indian paper currency, coin or any other material will have to be understood as one class of items intended to be produced or smuggled or circulated in order to damage the monetary stability of India. In other words, it is contended that high quality counterfeit Indian paper currency or coin cannot be disassociated or separated from the words any other material . According to them, the principle of ejusdem generis should be applied to interpret this provision. 29. In this context, it will be apposite to consider the wafer-thin distinction between noscitur a sociis and ejusdem generis . According to Black's Law Dictionary the expression noscitur a sociis means thus: A canon of construction holding that the meaning ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... rules of language for they simply refer to the way in which people speak in certain contexts. They are no more than rough guides to the intention of the speaker or writer. 31. Learned senior counsel for the accused placed reliance on Ishwar Singh Bagga v. State of Rajasthan ( (1987) 1 SCC 101) to contend that high quality counterfeit Indian paper currency, coin or any other material should be read and understood as anything directly related to currency or coin. In the above decision, the Supreme Court considered the interpretation of Section 129-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 wherein the power to detain vehicles used without certificate of registration or permit had been dealt with. Opening words of the Section showed that any police officer authorized in this behalf or other person authorized in this behalf by the State Government may, if he has reason to believe that a motor vehicle has been or is being used in contravention of the provision of law, he may seize and detain the vehicle. The words any police officer authorized in this behalf or other person authorized in this behalf by the State Government may were interpreted in paragraphs 7 and 9 of the decision. In pa ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... police officer, or, in the absence of a police officer, take such person or cause him to be taken in custody to the nearest police station. We are of the view that the expression other person mentioned in Section 129-A of the Act which has to be read ejusdem generis with the words 'any police officer' which precede that expression in Section 129-A of the Act can only refer to an officer of the government and not to any officer or employee of any statutory Corporation or to any other private person. We have a similar provision in Section 129 of the Act. That section authorizes the State Government to empower any police officer or other person to exercise the powers under that section. Such police officer or other person may, if he has reason to believe that any identification mark carried on a motor vehicle or any licence, permit, certificate of registration, certificate of insurance or other document produced to him by the driver or person in charge of a motor vehicle is a false document within the meaning of Section 464 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), seize the mark or document and call upon the driver or owner of the vehicle to account for his possession of or th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... . Here in the group of other persons fall those who, on full-time basis, are teaching or giving instructions in colleges affiliated with the University and they are also teachers even if they are unapproved. This seems to be the purport of Section 2(35) of the Act. xxxxx 27. The Latin expression ejusdem generis which means of the same kind or nature is a principle of construction, meaning thereby when general words in a statutory text are flanked by restricted words, the meaning of the general words are taken to be restricted by implication with the meaning of the restricted words. This is a principle which arises from the linguistic implication by which words having literally a wide meaning (when taken in isolation) are treated as reduced in scope by the verbal context . It may be regarded as an instance of ellipsis, or reliance on implication. This principle is presumed to apply unless there is some contrary indication [see Glanville Williams, The Origins and Logical Implications of the Ejusdem Generis Rule. 7 Conv (NS) 119]. 28. This ejusdem generis principle is a facet of the principle of noscitur a sociis. The Latin maxim noscitur a sociis contemplates th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... , then rejection of the rule may be favoured because its adoption would make the general words unnecessary; if, however the specific words do not exhaust the class, then adoption of the rule may be favoured because its rejection would make the specific words unnecessary. 33. Sum and substance of the above discussion is that by applying the above mentioned well known rules of interpretation of statutes, we are unable to hold that smuggling of gold simplicitor will fall within Section 15(1)(a) (iiia) of UA(P) Act. In other words, gold smuggling clearly covered by the provisions of the Customs Act will not fall within the definition of terrorist act in Section 15 of UA(P) Act unless evidence is brought out to show that it is done with the intent to threaten or it is likely to threaten the economic security or monetary stability of India. In our view, what is made an offence under Section 15(1)(a)(iiia) of UA(P) Act is causing damage to the monetary stability of India by way of production or smuggling or circulation of high quality counterfeit Indian paper currency, coin or any other material relatable to currency or coin. Other material can be any material connected to counterfe ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... r Section 482 of Cr.P.C. requesting to quash FIR in respect of a crime registered under Section 16 of UA(P) Act read with Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Allegation against the accused therein is that he had smuggled huge quantity of gold. Prosecution therefore contended that he had smuggled gold with an intent to threaten the economic security of India as provided in Section 15(1)(a)(iiia) of UA(P) Act. It was argued that the words any other material do not specifically refer to smuggling of gold. Learned single Judge did not accept this contention. It is observed that smuggling of gold with intent to threaten or likely to threaten the economic security of the country is covered under the smuggling of any other material . It is clear from the decision that no analysis of the provision was made by the learned single Judge. Moreover, no specific reason has been stated for making the aforementioned observations. It is to be remembered that the learned single Judge was examining whether there was any sufficient reason to quash an FIR at the initial stage of the investigation. We do not find any law laid down in the above decision. We are, therefore, not persuaded by th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e whole section must be read and appreciated carefully. It is quite clear from such interpretation and understanding that the term security meant under the law is the country's security vis-a-vis., law and other situations and internal or external affairs of the country, and not financial or economic fabric. When the parliament in its wisdom realised that economic security of the country also must be brought within the definition of terrorist act, the Parliament inserted the words 'economic security' specifically in Section 15 of the U.A. (P) Act by a specific amendment. Though generally the objects and reasons of a statute cannot be given much weight or value or importance in the process of interpretation, the objects and reasons of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2012 will clearly indicate that the Parliament inserted words to cover economic security in Section 15 of the U.A. (P) Act because the existing provision did not cover such situations or instances of acts like smuggling or circulation of high quality counterfeit Indian paper currency causing damage to the finance of the country and economic stability of the country. We find that the Parlia ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... her regulations. Cambridge Dictionary defines the word smuggling as an act or process of taking things or people to or from a place secretly and often illegally. In all cases, smuggling need not be in respect of articles on which a duty could be levied. For example, narcotic drugs or other contraband articles are smuggled at times on which no duty could be levied. In our opinion, smuggling is a generic term indicating the illegal transport of various articles. Therefore, this argument raised by NIA cannot be accepted. We are therefore of the view that the learned trial Judge is right in holding that the materials presented before the court at the time of considering the bail application did not reveal prima facie that the accused persons released on bail are involved in a terrorist act, as defined under Section 15 of the UA(P) Act. 38. Learned trial Judge has observed that the case diary produced by NIA in six volumes consist of nearly 2500 pages and on scanning through the materials, the court below found that the persons to whom it had granted bail had funded the front line accused persons for smuggling gold through diplomatic channel and they did conspire with some others ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ima facie that the accused persons have committed a terrorist act. We shall not be understood as declaring that the accused persons have not committed any of the offences alleged against them. We make it clear that we are only endorsing the trial court's view that the materials placed before it for considering the bail plea are insufficient to hold prima facie that those released accused were involved in any terrorist act. We make it further clear that none of the observations in this judgment will preclude the investigating agency from collecting any evidence to establish the involvement of the accused in any of the offences alleged. Likewise, the investigating agency is free to take all steps to convince the trial court that the accused are liable for all the offences alleged in the final report. Moreover, we caution the court below not to be influenced by any of the observations in this judgment at the time of trial. 41. On a perusal of the operative portion of the bail order, we find that the trial court has carefully taken enough precautions to see that the accused persons, to whom bail had been granted, are obeying the directions and they do not interfere with progress ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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