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Synopsis

The Allahabad High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into allegations surrounding the manipulation of the High Court’s Photo Identification Center.

A criminal revision petition was filed by one Gurendra alias Golu, who claimed that his alibi was wrongfully disregarded by the trial court in a criminal proceeding. During the hearing of the plea, court raised serious concerns about possible forgery in the verification process at the court’s Photo Identification Center.

The petitioner, Gurendra, was accused of a shooting incident in District Amroha on May 12, 2022, which left the complainant’s sister seriously injured. Following the police investigation, a charge sheet was filed against Gurendra and another co-accused, Kallu. Thereafter, a discharge application was filed by Gurendra before the trial court, which was rejected. Challenging trial court's decision, Gurendra moved the high court primarily on the basis of an alibi.

He argued that at the time of the incident, he was present at the Photo Identification Center of the Allahabad High Court, some 700 kilometers away, getting his photograph clicked for an affidavit related to a different case.

The petitioner had previously been granted bail based on this alibi by a coordinate bench of the high court in December 2022. However, this evidence came under scrutiny when allegations arose that the verification photo could have been falsified to support his alibi.

The opposition party, represented by counsel Adv Rajneesh Kumar Sharma, raised doubts about the authenticity of the verification photo provided by the petitioner. Sharma argued that the photo, dated May 12, 2022, was not submitted during the initial investigation, and there were no records corroborating its use in the case under Section 125 CrPC filed by the petitioner’s wife, Pushpa, the victim of the shooting. 

Adv Sharma further alleged that a network of individuals at the Photo Identification Center could manipulate dates on verification photos for a fee. A specific incident involving Pushpa was cited, where she allegedly paid Rs. 3000 to backdate a verification photo to May 12, 2022, despite the picture being taken in 2023. This raised further suspicions about a potential nexus between court officials and individuals exploiting the verification process.

Given the gravity of the allegations, the court deemed it necessary to initiate an independent investigation.

The bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh ordered the Joint Director of the CBI in Lucknow to appoint an officer to investigate the matter.

The investigation will focus on verifying the authenticity of the verification photos and the extent of any possible forgery or misconduct at the Photo Identification Center. All individuals involved, including officials from the High Court Bar Association and the Photo Identification Center, have been directed to cooperate fully with the inquiry.

The CBI has been asked to submit its findings to the court by November 4, 2024.

Further, regarding the trial against Gurendra, court emphasized that it will continue, as charges have already been framed in the case. Court did not extend the interim stay granted in April 2024.

Case Title: Gurendra @ Golu Vs. State of U.P. and Another