MUHAMMAD RAFIQUE Versus State
This matter concerns a petition for post-arrest bail filed by an accused, Muhammad Rafique, who was charged with criminal breach of trust and corruption under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947. The petitioner, a cashier for the Market Committee, Pakpattan, was accused of embezzling funds. The core legal question was whether the petitioner was entitled to post-arrest bail given the circumstances of the alleged misappropriation and subsequent departmental actions. The Court observed that the petitioner had already deposited a portion of the disputed amount into the government exchequer. Furthermore, the Director of Agriculture (Economics and Marketing), Punjab, had reinstated the petitioner and ordered the recovery of the remaining balance in sixty equal installments. Holding that further incarceration would serve no useful purpose in light of this departmental settlement, the Court allowed the petition and admitted the petitioner to bail. The judgment reinforces the principle that where an accused has been reinstated and a recovery mechanism for the alleged loss is established by the employer, continued detention may be unnecessary.
- Is an accused entitled to post-arrest bail when the alleged embezzled amount is being recovered through departmental installments?
- Does the reinstatement of an accused by their employer impact the necessity of continued incarceration in a corruption case?
- Section 409, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 5(2), Prevention of Corruption Act 1947
ORDER
1. MIAN MUHAMMAD NAJUM UZ-ZAMAN, J.-- -Seeks post-arrest bail in case F.I.R. No. 31 of 2003 dated 13-11-2003 for the offence under section 409. P.P.C. read with section 5(2) of P.C.A., 1947 registered at Police Station A.C.E., Pakpattan Sharif, which reads as under: --
2. "To, The Additional Director, Anti-Corruption Establishment, Multan Region, Multan. Through the Circle Officer, Anti-Corruption Establishment, Pakpattan. No.1052-MKT.C/PPN/03 dated 21-6-2003.
3. Subject: Registration of case against . Muhammad Rafique Cashier, Market Committee, Pakpattan.
4. The Secretary Market Committee, Pakpattan submitted a report after conducting a preliminary inquiry and perusal of office record that Muhammad Rafique, Cashier, Market Committee, Pakpattan, received cash from Mr. Zahoor Ahmed and Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Khan Sub Inspectors on 17-6-2003 as detailed below and did not deposit the same day and day after in the account of Market Committee, he has not turned up as yet and he embezzled, misappropriated the said money and disappeared with this cash and the cash is already with him on 18-6-2003.
5. Sr.
6. Name of Sub-
7. Receipt
8. Amount
9. No
10. Inspector/from whom he received the cash and dated
11. 1
12. 17-6-2002
13. 502
14. (ii)71838/
15. 27 to 28
16. 2
17. Mr. Iqbal Ahmed
18. 71839/36
19. 6637
20. Khan to 48
21. 3
22. The cash
23. 69961/10
24. 1233 available with the to 24 accused official
TOTAL
25. Rs.187261
26. The local police was moved for the registration of the case vide this office Letter No.1052/ MKT. C/ PPN/03 dated 19-6-2003 who have informed that this case may be got registered with Anti-Corruption Establishment. You are therefore requested to kindly register a case against the accused Muhammad Rafique and recover embezzled amount at the earliest. Chairman, Market Committee, Pakpattan"
27. During the investigation petitioner was arrested on 16-1-2007 and his bail application was dismissed by Senior Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Punjab, Lahore, Camp at Pakpattan Sharif vide order dated 13-2-2007, hence this petition.
2. After hearing learned counsel for the parties and perusing the record, I have observed that out of the disputed amount Rs.87,261 has already been deposited by the petitioner in the government exchequer. With regard to the remaining amount, Director of Agriculture (Economics and Marketing), Punjab vide order dated 16-2-2006 has not only reinstated the petitioner but also directed that the remaining amount along with interest i.e. Rs.1,18,726 shall be recovered from the petitioner in sixty equal instalments (copy of the order passed by Director of Agriculture is available at pages 10 to 12).
3. In the light of the said order passed by Director of Agriculture (Economics and Marketing) wherein the petitioner has been reinstated and the amount recoverable from him has been directed to be paid in instalments, further incarceration of the petitioner would not serve any purpose. Accordingly this petition is allowed and petitioner is admitted to bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds amounting to Rs.1,00,000 (Rupees One lac only) with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of D.R. (Judicial) of this Court.
28. H.B.T./M-137/L Bail granted.