MOHAMED THAHA vs FIRST Income Tax OFFICER, NAGAPATTINAM, AND ANOTHER.

Petitioner, Mohamed Thaha, was taken into custody by the Sub-Inspector of Police, Railway Police, Mayuram, on July 22, 1964, as he was

possession of currency notes of one hundred rupees denomination to the tune of Rs. 1,70,000 and he could not satisfactorily account for the same.

The said currency notes were sent to the court of the Sub-Magistrate, Mayuram. After investigating by the C.I.D., Crime Branch, Madras, further

action was dropped by the police and the petitioner, Mohamed Thaha, was released. The case of petitioner is that the amount was entrusted to

him by his employer, Mohamed Ibrahim. On November 10, 1964, Mohamed Thaha and Mohamed Ibrahim filed a joint petition, C.M.P. No. 523

of 1964, before the Sub-Magistrate, Mayuram, for the return of the said sum to Mohamed Ibrahim in view of the fact that further action had been

dropped by the Railway Police. The First Income Tax Officer, Nagapattinam, filed a petitioner before the Sub-Magistrate, Mayuram, praying that

the amount in deposit claimed by Mohamed Ibrahim may be ordered to be handed over to the Income Tax department towards the Income Tax

assessment on Mohamed Ibrahim for the year 1964-65. On November 21, 1964, Mohamed Ibrahim filed a memo before the Sub-Magistrate,

Mayuram, agreeing to the withdrawal of Rs. 1,70,000 from the court by the Income Tax Officer without prejudice to the rights of the partners of

Yakoobia Traders Company. In dealing with a transfer application filed by the petitioner, the Sessions Judge, East Thanjavur Division, directed the

Sub-Magistrate to act on the memo filed by Mohamed Ibrahim and to comply with the demand of the Income Tax Officer. Accordingly the Sub-

Magistrate, Mayuram, has directed the sum of Rs. 1,70,000 lying in court deposit to be transferred to the account of the Income Tax department

in accordance with the provisions of section 226(4) of the Income Tax Act.

The first petition, Criminal Miscellaneous Petition No. 465 of 1965, has been filed for the return of the sum of Rs. 1,70,000 to the petitioner. The

second petition, Criminal Miscellaneous Petition No. 466 of 1965, has been filed to direct the Sub-Magistrate, Mayuram, to retain in court

custody the sum of Rs. 1,70,000. The last petition, Criminal Miscellaneous Petition No. 771 of 1965, has been filed to direct the Sub-Magistrate,

Mayuram, to get back the sum of Rs. 1,70,000 from the Income Tax department. I have already pointed out that the petitioner has admitted that

the sum of Rs. 1.70,000 belonged to Mohamed Ibrahim and in fact he filed a petition for the amount being paid over to the said Mohamed

Ibrahim. The said Mohamed Ibrahim has consented to the amount being transferred to the Income Tax Officer, Nagapattinam. Even without his

consent, the lower court was entitled to comply with the demand of the Income Tax Officer u/s 226(4) of the Income Tax Act. There is no ground

to interfere with the order of the Sub-Magistrate regarding the disposal of the amount by giving any of the directions sought for by the petitioner.

The above criminal miscellaneous petitions are therefore dismissed.

Petitions dismissed.