MOHAN LAL vs. THE STATE OF PUNJAB

Case Type: Criminal Appeal

Date of Judgment: 16-08-2018

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REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION   CRIMINAL APPEAL   NO.1880 OF 2011 MOHAN LAL ....APPELLANT(S) VERSUS THE STATE OF PUNJAB      ...RESPONDENT(S) JUDGMENT NAVIN SINHA, J. The appellant assails his conviction under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred as “the NDPS Act”), sentencing him to rigorous   imprisonment   for   10   years   and   a   fine   of Rs.1,00,000/­   (Rupees   one   lakh   only),   with   a   default stipulation. Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by NEETU KHAJURIA Date: 2018.08.16 17:51:14 IST Reason: 1 2. An F.I.R. was lodged on 03.02.1997 by PW­1, Chand Singh, Sub­Inspector of Balianwali Police Station, that while on   patrol   duty,   he   was   accompanied   by   Darshan   Singh, Sarpanch   and   Assistant   Sub­Inspector   Balwinder   Singh. The witness entertained doubts about the appellant upon seeing him.  PW­4, Shri Rajinder N. Dhoke, IPS, a gazetted officer, was called and the appellant was searched, leading to recovery of 4 kg of opium in a bag carried by him.   The consent memo, Exhibit­ PB was signed by Darshan Singh and PW­1.  The seized opium was separated into a sample of 20 gm. and 3kg 980 gm.  The specimen seal was prepared by PW­1   and   after   use,   the   seal   was   handed   over   to   ASI, Balwinder   Singh.     “Ruqa”   was   prepared   by   PW­1   and forwarded   to   Balianwali   Police   Station.     PW­3,   Assistant Sub­Inspector, Darshan Singh registered the formal F.I.R. and handed over investigation to PW­1.  Upon conclusion of investigation, the appellant was charge­sheeted, put on trial, and convicted.  3. Sh. Chanchal Kumar Ganguli, learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the NDPS Act being a stringent law 2 carrying a reverse burden of proof, there had to be strict adherence to the law and procedures.  The investigation was not only required to be fair and judicious, but must also appear to have been so.  The investigation ought not to be in a manner leaving a genuine apprehension in the mind of the accused that it was not fair and bonafide.  No reasons have been furnished why Darshan Singh and ASI Balwinder Singh have not been examined by the prosecution.  No explanation has been furnished by PW­1 why he did not deposit the seized narcotics in the malkhana.  Likewise, the delay of 9 days   in   sending   the   sample   for   chemical   analysis   also remains unexplained.  The investigation was fundamentally flawed.  PW­1, being the informant, he could not have been the   investigating   officer   himself.   Reliance   was   placed   on Bhagwan Singh vs. State of Rajasthan , (1976) 1 SCC 15, , 1996 (11) SCC 709, Megha Singh vs. State of Haryana State   by   Inspector   of   Police,   Narcotics   Intelligence 2010 (15) Bureau, Madurai,  Tamilnadu vs. Rajangam ,   SCC 369. 3 4. Ms. Jaspreet Gogia, learned counsel for the respondent contended that the appellant was searched in presence of a Gazetted   Officer,   PW­4.     The   failure   to   examine   Darshan Singh or ASI Balwinder Singh was inconsequential as the search and recovery were duly proved by PW­1 and PW­4. Merely because they were police officers, their evidence does not stand vitiated. There shall be a presumption that official duties were regularly performed.   The burden of proof for innocence   lay   upon  the   accused  in   view  of  the   statutory presumption under Sections 35 and 54 of the NDPS Act, which   he   failed   to   discharge.     The   investigation   was   not vitiated because PW­1 may have been the informant himself. Reliance was placed on  State of Punjab vs. Baldev Singh , (1999) 6 SCC 172,   Bhaskar Ramappa Madar & Ors.   vs. State   of   Karnataka ,   (2009)11   SCC   690,   Surender   vs. State of Haryana , (2016) 4 SCC 617.  5. We have considered the submissions on behalf of the parties.   The primary question for our consideration in the present appeal is, whether in a criminal prosecution, it will 4 be in consonance with the principles of justice, fair play and a fair investigation, if the informant and the investigating officer were to be the same person.   In such a case, is it necessary   for   the   accused   to   demonstrate   prejudice, especially under laws such as NDPS Act, carrying a reverse burden of proof. 6. Darshan Singh was an illiterate person.  He is stated to have been accompanying PW­1 in a police vehicle while on official duty along with ASI Balwinder Singh.   This to our mind, is certainly not in the normal course of events.  The consent memo Exhibit­PB was stated to have been signed by Darshan Singh, despite his being an illiterate, along with PW­1.  The seal sample was prepared by PW­1, and signed by Darshan Singh and ASI Balwinder Singh.  The seal was then handed over to ASI Balwinder Singh.  The case property was   retained   by   PW­1   in   his   possession   and   was   not deposited in the malkhana nor entered in the roznamcha. There is no explanation for the same.     The sample was retained   by   PW­1   in   his   private   custody   in   a   rented accommodation.     No  explanation  is   forthcoming   from   the 5 prosecution why Darshan Singh, and ASI Balwinder Singh were not examined despite service of summons on the official witness   and   issuance   of   bailable   warrants   against   the private witness.  In their absence, neither the consent memo nor the seal can be stated to have been proved.  There was nine days’ delay in sending the sample for chemical analysis. No explanation has been furnished in respect of the same. PW­4 acknowledged that the recovery memo, Exhibit­PC was not signed by the accused and that copies of documents were   not  supplied   to  the   accused   nor   any   memo   in  this regard prepared in his presence.   Exhibit­PB, the consent memo only mentioned that he was the ASP, Phul.  7.  The presence of a private person in a police vehicle while on patrol duty, the individual being an illiterate, but having signed   the   consent   memo   were   surely   matters   for investigation. Similarly, why the signature of ASI Balwinder Singh or PW­4 was not obtained on the consent memo was again a subject matter of investigation.   The veracity of the sample seal handed over to ASI Balwinder Singh was likewise a matter for investigation as to whether it was the same as 6 the seal on the case property retained in his private custody by PW­1 and that sent for chemical analysis.  The mere fact that   there   may   have   been   a   seal   cannot   lead   to   any presumption in absence of the examination of ASI Balwinder Singh.   Likewise, it was also a subject of investigation why PW­1   did   not   make   any   roznamcha   entry   of   the   seized property and the reason why he retained the case property and sample in his private custody in a rented house despite the availability   of  a  malkhana.     The   delay  in  sending  the sample for chemical analysis, in the facts and circumstances of the case was again a matter for investigation.     Had the investigator been different from the complainant, the issues for   consideration   may   have   been   entirely   different.     The appellant   in   his   defence   under   Section   313   Cr.P.C.   had specifically   taken   a   plea   of   false   implication   by   PW­1   on account of a dispute with regard to purchase of a tractor.     8.  The view taken by the High Court that under Section 55 of the NDPS Act, that PW­1 was empowered to keep the case property and sample in his individual safe custody is 7 completely erroneous on the face of it.  The provision reads as follows: “55. Police to take charge of articles seized and delivered­ An officer­in­charge of a police station shall take charge of and keep in safe custody, pending the orders of the Magistrate, all articles seized under this Act within the local area of that police station and which may be delivered to him, and shall allow   any   officer   who   may   accompany   such articles   to   the   police   station  or   who   may   be deputed for the purpose, to affix his seal to such articles or to take samples of and from them and all samples so taken shall also be sealed with a seal   of   the   officer­in­charge   of   the   police station.”(emphasis added) A plain reading of the provision makes it manifest that it   is   the   duty   of   the   police   officer   to   deposit   the   seized material in the police station malkhana.   9. Standing Order No. 1 of 88 issued by the Narcotics Control Bureau in clause 1.13 reads as follows: “Mode and time limit for dispatch of sample to Laboratory. The  samples  should be sent either by insured post   or   through   special   messenger   duly authorised for the purpose. Dispatch of samples 8 by registered post or ordinary mail should not be resorted to.  Samples must be dispatched to the   Laboratory   within   72   hours   of   seizure   to avoid any legal objection.”(emphasis added) The Drug Law Enforcement­Field Officer’s Hand Book issued by the Narcotics Control Bureau also provides that: “28.  Were   the   seized   goods   and   samples deposited   in   the   Malkhana   at   the   earliest opportunity after seizure, an acknowledgement receipt obtained from the Malkhana­in­Charge? (emphasis added) 29. Were the samples sent to the designated laboratory   for   analysis   and   report   within   72 hours of seizure?” In  , (2008) 16 SCC 417, Noor Aga vs. State of Punjab under the NDPS Act, it was held :  91.   The   logical   corollary   of   these discussions is that the guidelines such as those present in the Standing Order cannot be   blatantly   flouted   and   substantial compliance   therewith   must   be   insisted upon   for   so   that   sanctity   of   physical evidence   in   such   cases   remains   intact. Clearly,   there   has   been   no   substantial compliance   with   these   guidelines   by   the investigating   authority   which   leads   to drawing   of   an   adverse   inference   against them to the effect that had such evidence been produced, the same would have gone against the prosecution.” 9 10. Unlike the general principle of criminal jurisprudence that an accused is presumed innocent unless proved guilty, the   NDPS   Act   carries   a   reverse   burden   of   proof   under Sections 35 and 54.  But that cannot be understood to mean that the moment an allegation is made and the F.I.R. recites compliance with statutory procedures leading to recovery, the   burden   of   proof   from   the   very   inception   of   the prosecution shifts to the accused, without the prosecution having   to   establish   or   prove   anything   more.     The presumption is rebuttable.   Section 35 (2) provides that a fact  can be said  to have  been proved if  it is  established beyond   reasonable   doubt   and   not   on   preponderance   of probability. The stringent provisions of the NDPS Act, such as Section 37, the minimum sentence of ten years, absence of  any   provision   for   remission,   do   not   dispense   with   the requirement of the prosecution to establish a prima facie case beyond reasonable doubt after investigation, only after which the burden of proof shall shift to the accused.   The 10 case   of   the   prosecution   cannot   be   allowed   to   rest   on   a preponderance of probabilities.     11. A fair trial to an accused, a constitutional guarantee under   Article   21   of   the   Constitution,   would   be   a   hollow promise if the investigation in a NDPS case were not to be fair or raises serious questions about its fairness apparent on the face of the investigation.  In the nature of the reverse burden   of   proof,   the   onus   will   lie   on   the   prosecution   to demonstrate on the face of it that the investigation was fair, judicious   with   no   circumstances   that   may   raise   doubts about   its   veracity.       The   obligation   of   proof   beyond reasonable   doubt   will   take   within   its   ambit   a   fair investigation, in absence of which there can be no fair trial. If the investigation itself is unfair, to require the accused to demonstrate prejudice will be fraught with danger vesting arbitrary powers in the police which may well lead to false implication also.   Investigation in such a case would then become   an   empty   formality   and   a   farce.     Such   an interpretation therefore naturally has to be avoided. 11 12.   That investigation in a criminal offence must be free from   objectionable   features   or   infirmities   which   may legitimately lead to a grievance on part of the accused was noticed in  Babubhai vs. State of Gujarat , (2010) 12 SCC 254 as follows:  “   The   investigation   into   a   criminal   offence 32. must   be   free   from   objectionable   features   or infirmities   which   may   legitimately   lead   to   a grievance   on   the   part   of   the   accused   that investigation was unfair and carried out with an ulterior   motive.   It   is   also   the   duty   of   the investigating  officer to conduct the investigation avoiding any kind of mischief and harassment to any   of   the   accused.   The   investigating   officer should be fair and conscious so as to rule out any possibility of fabrication of evidence and his impartial conduct must dispel any suspicion as to its genuineness. The investigating officer “is not merely to bolster up a prosecution case with such evidence as may enable the court to record a   conviction   but   to   bring   out   the   real unvarnished truth”.  33.   In   State of Bihar   v.   P.P. Sharma   this Court has held as under:  “ 57 .   …   Investigation   is   a   delicate painstaking and dextrous process. Ethical conduct   is   absolutely   essential   for investigative  professionalism. …  Therefore, before   countenancing   such   allegations   of mala   fides   or   bias   it   is   salutary   and   an onerous   duty   and   responsibility   of   the court,   not   only   to   insist   upon   making specific and definite allegations of personal 12 animosity against the investigating officer at the start of the investigation but also must insist to establish and prove them from the facts and circumstances to the satisfaction of the court. * 59 .   Malice   in   law   could   be   inferred   from doing of wrongful act intentionally  without any just cause or excuse or without there being reasonable relation to the purpose of the exercise of statutory power. … 61 .   An  investigating  officer   who   is   not sensitive   to   the   constitutional   mandates, may be prone to trample upon the personal liberty of a person when he is actuated by mala fides.” 13.        The duty of the prosecution under the NDPS Act, considering the reverse burden of proof, was noticed in  Noor (supra) observing: ­ Aga  “58……An   initial   burden   exists   upon   the prosecution   and   only   when   it   stands satisfied, would the legal burden shift. Even then, the standard of proof required for the accused  to  prove his  innocence is not  as high   as   that   of   the   prosecution.   Whereas the standard of proof required to prove the guilt of the accused on the prosecution is “beyond   all   reasonable   doubt”   but   it   is “preponderance   of   probability”   on   the accused. If the prosecution fails to prove the foundational   facts   so   as   to   attract   the rigours of Section 35 of the Act, the actus reus which is possession of contraband by 13 the   accused   cannot   be   said   to  have  been established.  59. With a view to bring within its purview the requirements of Section 54 of the Act, element of possession of the  contraband  was essential so as to shift the burden on the accused. The provisions being exceptions to the   general   rule,   the   generality   thereof would continue to be operative, namely, the element of possession will have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt.” Furthermore, the sample not having been deposited in the malkhana, coupled with non­examination of the private witnesses, an adverse inference was drawn therein against the prosecution.  This principle has been reiterated in  Bhola , 2011(11) SCC 653.   Singh vs. State of Punjab 14. In a criminal prosecution, there is an obligation cast on the investigator not only to be fair, judicious and just during investigation, but also that the investigation on the very face of   it   must   appear   to   be   so,   eschewing   any   conduct   or impression   which   may   give   rise   to   a   real   and   genuine apprehension   in   the   mind   of   an   accused   and   not   mere fanciful,   that   the   investigation   was   not   fair.     In   the 14 circumstances, if an informant police official in a criminal prosecution, especially when carrying a reverse burden of proof, makes the allegations, is himself asked to investigate, serious doubts will naturally arise with regard to his fairness and impartiality.  It is not necessary that bias must actually be proved.  It would be illogical to presume and contrary to normal human conduct, that he would himself at the end of the investigation submit a closure report to conclude false implication   with   all   its   attendant   consequences   for   the complainant himself.  The result of the investigation would therefore be a foregone conclusion. 15. The   discussion   in   the   present   case   may   not   be understood   as   confined   to   the   requirements   of   a   fair investigation under the NDPS Act only carrying a reverse burden   of   proof.       (supra)   related   to   a Baldev   Singh prosecution under Section 165A of the IPC.  Nonetheless, it observed   that   if   the   informant   were   to   be   made   the investigating officer, it was bound to reflect on the credibility of the prosecution case.    Megha Singh  (supra) concerned a 15 prosecution   under   the   Terrorist   and   Disruptive   Activities (Prevention) Act , 1985.  It was held that the Head Constable being   the   complainant   himself   could   not   have   proceeded with the investigation and it was a practice, to say the least, which should not be resorted to so that there may not be any   occasion   to   suspect   fair   and   impartial   investigation. Rajangam   (supra) was a prosecution under the NDPS Act, an   objection   was   taken   that   PW­6   who   apprehended   the accused could not have investigated the case.  Upholding the objection, relying on  Megha Singh  (supra) the accused was acquitted.   The   view   taken   by   the   Madras   High   Court   in , 1999 (113) ELT 785 (Mad.), was Balasundaran vs. State also noticed as follows : “16.   Learned   Counsel   for   the   appellants also stated that P.W. 5 being the Inspector of Police who was present at the time of search and he was the investigating officer and as such it is fatal to the case of the prosecution.   P.W.   5,   according   to   the prosecution, was present with PWs 3 and 4 at  the time of  search.  In fact, P.W. 5 alone took up investigation in the case and he had examined the witnesses. No doubt the successor to P.W. 5 alone had filed the charge sheet. But there is no material to show   that   he   had   examined   any   other witness.   It   therefore   follows   that   P.W.   5 16 was the person who really investigated the case.   P.W.   5   was   the   person   who   had searched the appellants in question and he being the investigation officer, certainly it is not proper and correct. The investigation ought   to   have   been   done   by   any   other investigating   agency.   On   this   score   also, the investigation is bound to suffer and as such   the   entire   proceedings   will   be vitiated.” 16. Bhaskar   Ramappa   Madar   (supra)   concerned   a prosecution under Section 304B, I.P.C. which also carries a reverse   burden   of   proof.   The   Trial   Court   held   that   the investigating officer who was also the complainant could not have investigated, and on that ground, held the prosecution to be tainted.  The acquittal was reversed by the High Court. In   appeal,   this   Court   declined   to   interfere   with   the conviction.   After referring to   Bhagwan Singh   (supra) and   (supra), it was observed that the principles Megha Singh laid down therein had to be confined to the facts of the said cases and that the matter would have to be decided on the facts of each case without any universal generalisation. 17 17. Hardip Singh vs. State of Punjab,  2008 (8) SCC 557 concerned   a   prosecution   under   the   NDPS   Act.     The contention   was   that   the   Inspector,   PW­5   being   the complainant   himself   would   be   an   interested   person   and should not have been made the investigating officer.   The argument was repelled relying on   State rep. by Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti­Corruption, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu vs. V. Jayapaul,  2004 (5) SCC 223 observing as follows: “6…. We find no principle or binding authority to hold   that   the   moment   the   competent   police officer,   on   the   basis   of   information   received, makes out an FIR incorporating his name as the informant, he forfeits his right to investigate. If at all, such investigation could only be assailed on the ground of bias or real likelihood of bias on the part of the investigating officer. The question of   bias   would   depend   on   the   facts   and circumstances of each case and it is not proper to lay down a broad and unqualified proposition, in the manner in which it has been done by the High   Court,   that   whenever   a   police   officer proceeds to investigate after registering the FIR on his own, the investigation would necessarily be unfair or biased.” 18 Significantly,   V.   Jayapaul ,   (supra)   related   to   a prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act which sought to distinguish  , (supra) on its facts. Megha Singh 18. Baldev   Singh ,   (supra)   relied   upon   by   the   State   is distinguishable on its own facts concerning an irregularity in an   investigation   by   an   officer   not   especially   empowered under the NDPS Act to do so. 19. In   Surender   (supra),   the   prosecution was under the NDPS Act. There was no independent witness.  The objection that   PW­6,   Sub­inspector   Satbir   Singh   being   the complainant   could   not   have   investigated   relying   on Rajangam , (supra) and  Megha Singh , (supra) was rejected on the ground that he was not the sole person investigating the case, and that the ground had not been raised before the High Court in appeal.  19 20. In the nature of the controversy, it would be useful to also notice the view taken by different High Courts on the issue.   In   State of Himachal Pradesh vs. Atul Sharma 2015 (2) shimLC 693 (Crl. Appeal No. 246 of 2008, decided on 28.02.2015), under the NDPS Act, it was observed as follows: “10.8  In present case it is proved on record that complainant   is   SI   Bahadur   Singh   as   per   FIR Ext.PW12/A   and   it   is   proved   on   record   that entire   investigation   has   been   conducted   by complainant himself and there is no evidence on record in order to prove that investigation was handed   over   to   some   other   independent Investigating   Officer.   It   is   not   the   case   of prosecution   that   no   other   independent Investigating   Officer   was   available   to   conduct impartial   investigation.   We   are   of   the   opinion that   conducting   entire   investigation   i.e. preparation of seizure memo, site plan, recording statements of witnesses by complainant himself has caused miscarriage of justice to accused qua fair investigation.” 21. A similar view has been taken in   Shri Fayas Ali vs. State   of   Mizoram   Crl.   Appeal  No.   26   of   2013   (J)  dated 19.09.2013, relating to prosecution under the NDPS Act, by the Gauhati High Court as follows:  20 “From the evidence of PWs 1 and 4, it is clearly found   that   the   major   part   of   the   investigation including the arrest of the accused, preparation of seizure, taking of sample, examination of the seizure   witnesses   and   examination   of   the accused person, was completed by the PW1, who was   the   informant/complainant   in   the   present case.   Therefore,   it   is   clearly   found   that   the investigation, in its true sense, was done by the complainant   himself.   In   the   case   of   State   by Inspector of Police, Narcotic Intelligence Bureau, Madurai(supra), the Supreme Court, relying on the   decision   held   in   the   case   of   Megha   Singh (supra), observed that the investigation is to be done   by   a   person   other   than   the   complainant and   that   the   investigation   done   by   the complainant is bound to suffer and vitiate the entire proceeding.” 22. The Punjab & Haryana High Court in  Gannu and Ors. vs.   State   of   Punjab,   2017   (3)   RCR   (criminal)   566   (Crl. Appeal No. 1688­SB of 2004 dated 26.05.2017) relating to the NDPS Act, after referring to  (supra) and the Noor Aga,    views   of   the   Calcutta   High   Court   also   apart   from   Atul  (supra), concluded as follows: Sharma “14. Another aspect of the matter is that in sheer violation of the principles of fair and impartial investigation,   the   complainant   and   the investigating officer  is the  same person,  which makes  the  prosecution case  doubtful.  In Laltu Prasad v. State of West Bengal, 2017(2) R.C.R. 21 (Criminal) 237 (Calcutta) (DB), it was held that the   complainant   himself   acting   as   the investigating officer violating the principles of fair and impartial investigation is a practice, to say the least, should not be resorted to and it is a disturbing   feature.   To   the   same   effect,   is   a Division   Bench   judgment   of   Hon'ble   Himachal Pradesh   High   Court   reported   as   State   of Himachal  Pradesh  v.  Atul  Sharma  and  others, 2015 (6) R.C.R. (Criminal) 949, wherein, it has been   held   that   where   the   complainant   himself conducts investigation, it causes miscarriage of justice to accused qua fair investigation.” 23. A Single Judge of the Kerala High Court in   Naushad vs. State of Kerala , 2000 (1) KLT 785, relating to the NDPS Act held as follows: “…In   a   case   of   this   nature,   when   the complainants himself is a Police Official, the investigation   should   have   been   conducted by   his   top   ranking   officer   and   the   final report also ought to have been filed by the higher official. A complainant being a police officer   cannot   be   an   Investigating   Officer. For,   in   such   case,   the   accused   and   the prosecution   will   be   deprived   of   their valuable   rights   of   contradicting   and corroborating,   the   previous   information recorded under Ss. 154 or 155 Cr.P.C. and previous statement of the witness, being a police officer, complaint recorded, under S. 161 Cr.P.C. enjoined in S. 145 and 157 of the Indian Evidence Act and proviso of S. 162 Cr.P.C. In the instant case, before me, PW1 is an Assistant Sub Inspector of Police, 22 and   I   understand   from   the   Public Prosecutor as well as from the Counsel for the   petitioner   that   the   particular   Police Station has got a Sub Inspector of Police. Therefore,   in   this   case,   the   investigation ought to have been conducted by the Sub Inspector   of   Police   or   any   other   Police Officer   above   the   rank   of   PW1.   In   the instant   case,   thus   an   incurable   infirmity and   flaw   have   been   committed   by   the prosecution, quite against the proposition of law.   Therefore,   on   that   score   itself,   the petitioner   is   entitled   to   get   an   order   of acquittal. In view of my above conclusion on the footing of position of law, this is a fit case, which has to be allowed by acquitting the petitioner." Disapproving of the same, a Division Bench in  Kader vs. State of Kerala,   2001 CriLJ 4044,   held: “6. Unlike usual cases   under the Criminal Procedure Code, in cases under the NDPS Act,   by   the   time   of   arrest,   main   part   of investigation will be completed  and duty of the investigating officer is mainly in sending the samples for chemical analysis and other routine work and there is no likelihood of any   prejudice   in   usual   circumstances. Therefore, we are of the opinion that merely because   a   detecting   officer   himself   is investigating   officer   or   the   officer   of   the same ranks as that of the detecting officer is investigating the case and files report before the   Court  will  not   vitiate   the   proceedings under N.D.P.S. act in the absence of proof of   specific   prejudice   to   the   accused. Therefore, legal position stated in  Naushad 23 v. State of Kerala  2000 (1) KLT 785 to the contrary is overruled.” 24. The   view  taken   by   the   Kerala   High  Court  in   Kader (supra)   does   to   meet   our   approval.     It   tantamounts   to holding   that   the   F.I.R.   was   a   gospel   truth,   making investigation an empty formality if not a farce. The right of the accused to a fair investigation and fair trial guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution will stand negated in that event, with arbitrary and uncanalised powers vested? with   the   police   in  matters   relating   to   the   NDPS   Act  and similar   laws   carrying   a   reverse   burden   of   proof.     An investigation is a systemic collection of facts for the purpose of describing what occurred and explaining why it occurred. The word systemic suggests that it is more than a whimsical process. An investigator will collect the facts relating to the incident under investigation.  The fact is a mere information and is not synonymous with the truth.      Kader   (supra) is, therefore,   overruled.     We   approve   the   view   taken   in  (supra).   Naushad 24 25.    In   view   of   the   conflicting   opinions   expressed   by different two Judge Benches of this Court, the importance of a fair investigation from the point of view of an accused as a guaranteed   constitutional   right   under   Article   21   of   the Constitution of India, it is considered necessary that the law in this regard be laid down with certainty.   To leave the matter for being determined on the individual facts of a case, may not only lead to a possible abuse of powers, but more importantly will leave the police, the accused, the lawyer and the courts in a state of uncertainty and confusion which has to be avoided.  It is therefore held that a fair investigation, which is but the very foundation of fair trial, necessarily postulates that the informant and the investigator must not be the same person.   Justice must not only be done, but must appear to be done also.   Any possibility of bias or a predetermined   conclusion   has   to   be   excluded.     This requirement is all the more imperative in laws carrying a reverse burden of proof. 25 26. Resultantly, the appeal succeeds and is allowed.   The prosecution is held to be vitiated because of the infraction of the   constitutional   guarantee   of   a   fair   investigation.   The appellant is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless wanted in any other case. …………...................J. [RANJAN GOGOI] …………...................J. [R. BANUMATHI] …………...................J. [NAVIN SINHA] NEW DELHI AUGUST 16, 2018 26