Rajesh Aggarwal vs C B I

Impugned order of 1st March, 2017 declines petitioner's application under Section 91 of Cr. P.C. vide which petitioner had sought the details of the calls made by him from his mobile phone to various persons during the period from 3rd August, 2013 to 8th August, 2013. Petitioner had also sought copy of letter of 6th August, 2013, vide which permission was granted for recording  telephonic  conversation of  petitioner's mobile phone for a period not exceeding 60 days from 3rd August, 2013.

Trial court vide impugned order of 1st March, 2017, declines petitioner's aforesaid application under Section 91 of Cr. P.C. by observing that the case is based on source information and disclosure of other call details would be contrary to public interest and that prosecution is only relying upon 155 calls and the details of these calls have been already supplied to petitioner. Trial court gives no reason for declining to supply the copy of aforesaid letter of 6th August, 2013 to petitioner.

Upon hearing and on perusal of the impugned order, I find that petitioner needs the call details for the period from 3rd August, 2013 to 8th August, 2013 to show that the conversation recorded in the incriminating calls is no different from the conversation petitioner makes in the course of his business. For effective cross-examination of the witnesses, the information sought is relevant. There is no justification to deny copy of letter of 6th August, 2013 relating to permission accorded for recording of telephonic conversation of petitioner's mobile phone.

In view of the aforesaid, the impugned order is hereby set aside with direction to respondent to obtain and supply the copy of the aforesaid letter of 6th August, 2013 and call details sought, provided these documents are not destroyed. There is no justification to supply the documents which led to issuance of letter of 6th August, 2013. Let aforesaid documents and details be supplied to petitioner before the cross-examination of the relevant witnesses. The call details from petitioner's mobile phone from 3rd August, 2013 to 8th August, 2013 is required to be supplied to him for an effective cross-examination of the witnesses. It is made clear that unless it is so done, the cross-examination of the relevant witnesses be not closed.

Trial court be apprised of this order forthwith.

With aforesaid directions, this petition and the application are accordingly disposed of.