[Arnab Goswami Case] What Is 'A Summary', 'B Summary' & 'C Summary'? Amit Desai Explains To Bombay High Court

During the hearing held by the Bombay High Court on Saturday in the petition filed by Arnab Goswami against his custody in the 2018 abetment to suicide case, Senior Advocate Amit Desai, appearing for the State of Maharashtra, explained to the bench the concepts of 'A summary', 'B summary' and 'C summary' reports filed by the police.It may be noted that the Raigad police had submitted 'A summary' report in the case relating to the suicide of interior designer Anvay Naik in 2019. Later, the case was re-opened, leading to the arrest of Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami, whose name is mentioned in Naik's suicide note.In the backdrop, the division bench comprising Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik asked Desai the difference between 'A summary', 'B summary' and 'C summary'. Goswami's lawyers had raised an argument that the police needed a judicial order to re-open the investigation after the acceptance of 'A summary' report by the Magistrate.Responding to this, Desai, referring to the Bombay Police Manual. explained that an 'A summary' report is filed in a case where the offence is made out but the evidence is untraceable or the accused persons are not found.On the other hand, 'B' summary report is filed in a case where the allegations are found to be false or there no evidence is found against the accused after the completion of investigation. 'C summary' report is filed in cases where the FIR is found to be based on a mistake of fact."If it is "A" summary, it means that evidence was not sufficient but offence was there. If it was a case of wrong accused, it would have been 'B' summary", he submitted.He explained that 'A summary' means that the investigation is yet to reach completion due to lack of evidence. On the other hand, 'B summary' and 'C summary' reports mean that investigation is complete and that no offence is made out against the accused."When Magistrate accepts 'A' Summary, it means that there is an offence. It is not a case of discharge or closure. It means it was a genuine case of offence but the investigation could not collect evidence", he explained."A Summary reflects incomplete investigation. In "B" and "C" summary, the investigation is complete and either there is no offence or wrong accused. The distinction is important", he added. Based on this, he rebutted the petitioners' argument that the Magistrate had closed the case. To accept the petitioners' argument that judicial order is necessary to revive investigation in a case where 'A Summary' has been filed would mean to place curbs on the powers of the investigation agency. He sought to explain this point through an example of a terrorism case."Take a case of terrorism where evidence is not traceable. After a period of time, police files 'A' summary before Magistrate. After some time, police gets evidence of terrorist. Should police wait for Magistrate order to nab him?", he asked.He added,"The power of the investigating officer to make further investigation under Section 173(8) and the power of the Court to order the same is different."Reliance was placed on Nirmal Singh Kahlon v. State of Punjab where the Top Court had observed that it is one thing to say that the court will have supervisory jurisdiction to ensure a fair investigation and correctness whereof is open to question, but it is another thing to say that the investigating officer will have no jurisdiction whatsoever to make any further investigation without the express permission of the Magistrate.Desai also referred to Section 4 of the Maharashtra Police Act as per which the superintendence of the Police Force throughout, the State of Maharashtra, vests in and exercisable by the State Government. "So State govt has power to direct investigation," he said.Nevertheless, he informed the Bench that the Magistrate, who had passed the order of closure, was informed of the revival of the FIR so that he can supervise the case. (In terms of Sakiri Vasu v. State of UP & Anr.)He submitted that Section 164 statements were also recorded by the Magistrate in the case and allowing the recording of those statements mean that the Magistrate is aware of the revival of investigation and has approved the same.Right of victim to seek fair & complete investigationHighlighting the Complainant's plight, who had lost her father and grandmother, Desai submitted that she had been "knocking on the doors for justice" for almost a year."Today the State is in the process of collecting evidence. Article 14 applies to the victim as well. Victim also a fundamental right to seek fair and complete investigation… From February, the victim (Adnya Naik) has been knocking on the doors for justice. The victim discovered the closure report only in Twitter… Petitioner has rights. Also, the victim has rights. It is the duty of the State to balance the rights of the victim and the accused," he vehemently argued.He submitted that the investigation cannot be brought to a standstill when it is under progress. He insisted that...

[Arnab Goswami Case] What Is 'A Summary', 'B Summary' & 'C Summary'? Amit Desai Explains To Bombay High Court

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[Arnab Goswami Case] What Is 'A Summary', 'B Summary' & 'C Summary'? Amit Desai Explains To Bombay High Court

Manu Sebastian

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