Delhi Court Acquits Accused in Fake Currency Case
In a recent ruling, a Delhi court has acquitted Deepak Mandal, who faced accusations of possessing and distributing counterfeit Indian currency. The court identified multiple investigative lapses, including the premature appearance of the First Information Report (FIR) number on documents, which were prepared before the official FIR was filed. This case, cited as State v. Deepak Mandal, was presided over by Judge Amit Bansal at the Rouse Avenue Courts.
Investigation Flaws Highlighted
Among the critical flaws noted by the court was the failure of the police to seize bags purportedly containing the fake currency notes, despite their significance to the prosecution’s claims. Judge Bansal expressed serious concerns over the presence of the FIR number on documents that predated the FIR’s registration. This anomaly raised substantial doubts regarding the prosecution’s account of the recovery process.
“The presence of the FIR number on these documents suggests either the FIR was recorded prior to the alleged recovery or the FIR number was added post-registration. Both scenarios severely question the credibility of the prosecution’s version and cast doubt on the recovery of the fake Indian currency notes (FICNs) as described,” the court observed.
Case Background and Legal Proceedings
Mandal was apprehended on August 10, 2018, following an operation by a special cell team near the DTC Bus Depot in Khanpur, Delhi. He faced charges under Sections 489B and 489C of the Indian Penal Code, accused of possessing and attempting to circulate counterfeit notes valued at ₹4 lakh in exchange for ₹2 lakh in genuine currency. The prosecution’s case relied on a police officer, HC Manoj, acting undercover, with a dummy wad prepared to simulate a cash exchange.
During the operation, Mandal allegedly handed over two wads of fake ₹2,000 notes, totaling ₹4 lakh, to the decoy customer. An additional 175 counterfeit notes, valued at ₹3.5 lakh, were reportedly found in Mandal’s possession. These notes were sent to the Currency Note Press in Nashik, where they were confirmed as counterfeit.
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Court’s Findings and Acquittal
The court found several inconsistencies in the prosecution’s narrative, leading to Mandal’s acquittal due to reasonable doubt. Notably, the alleged recovery occurred at approximately 9:50 pm on August 9, 2018. However, the FIR was registered only after 4 am on August 10, following the submission of the rukka at the police station. Despite this timeline, several critical documents, including those related to the seized notes and dummy wad, bore the FIR number prior to its official registration.
The court highlighted that no explanation was provided for this discrepancy, suggesting two possibilities: either the FIR was filed before the recovery, or the FIR number was retroactively added to the documents. This uncertainty undermined the prosecution’s claims and cast doubt on the authenticity of the recovery.
Additionally, the court noted the absence of independent witnesses at the reportedly public recovery scene, with no records or notices regarding individuals who declined involvement. The absence of testimony from Inspector Ishwar Singh, who allegedly oversaw the operation, further weakened the prosecution’s case.
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Concluding that the police failed to establish their case beyond a reasonable doubt, the court acquitted Deepak Mandal of all charges. The defense was represented by Amicus Curiae RHA Sikander, while the prosecution was led by Additional Public Prosecutor Gyan Prakash Ray.
