Central Bureau Of Investigation … vs Anil Dixit on 18 February, 2026

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    Jharkhand High Court

    Central Bureau Of Investigation … vs Anil Dixit on 18 February, 2026

    Author: Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi

    Bench: Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi

                                                     [2026:JHHC:4799]
    
    
           IN     THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
                              Cr.M.P. No. 4322 of 2022
           Central Bureau of Investigation through Awdhesh
           Kumar Suman, son of Shri Ram Vinay Thakur,
           aged about 37 years, hold and presently posted as
           Inspector of Police / HIO, CBI, ACB, Ranchi,
           Jharkhand, P.O. Ranchi University, P.S. Lalpur,
           District-Ranchi.
                                                       .....   ...    Petitioner
                                     Versus
           Anil Dixit, son of Shri V.N. Dikshit, resident of
           C/173, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi-76, P.O. and P.S.-
           Sarita Vihar, District South East Delhi, New
           Delhi-76.
                                                       .....   ...    Opposite Party
                                  --------
    

    CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI

    ——

    SPONSORED
          For the Petitioner      :        Mr. Prashant Pallav, A.S.G.I.
                                  :        Mr. Ayush, A.C. to A.S.G.I.
          For the Sole O.P.       :        Mr. Manoj Tandon, Advocate.
                                  ------
    05/ 18.02.2026     Heard Mr. Prashant Pallav, learned A.S.G.I. appearing for
    
    

    the petitioner-CBI and Mr. Manoj Tandon, learned counsel appearing

    for the sole opposite party.

    2. This petition has been filed for quashing of the order dated

    18.07.2022, passed in R.C. 12(A)/2014-R by the learned AJC-XVIII-

    cum-Special Judge, CBI, Ranchi, whereby the petition filed by the

    opposite party under Section 91 of the Cr.P.C. seeking direction for

    supply of documents have been allowed.

    3. The FIR was registered on 31.10.2014 against the different

    accused persons alleging therein that during the period 2010 to 2014 the

    accused persons in criminal conspiracy with each other and awarded

    the consultancy work for preparation of master plan and comprehensive

    architectural building, designing and engineering design for the

    permanent campus of Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi on the

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    [2026:JHHC:4799]

    basis of fake documents and making fraudulent payments to the said

    firms thereby causing a wrongful loss of Rs. 1,92,08,774/-.

    4. Mr. Prashant Pallav, learned A.S.G.I. appearing for the

    petitioner-CBI submits that after completion of investigation, the

    chargesheet was submitted under Sections 120B read with Section 420

    of the Indian Penal Code and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1) (d)

    of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. He next submits that the

    petitioner herein has filed a petition for supply of certain documents,

    which was allowed by the learned court by order dated 21.09.2019. He

    then submits that thereafter the petitioner-CBI has filed the compliance

    affidavit of that order disclosing the reasons that how certain documents

    have not been supplied to the opposite party. He further submits that

    thereafter further petition was filed by the sole opposite party on

    27.05.2022, whereby, the learned court by the impugned order dated

    18.07.2022 has been pleased to pass the order to supply the documents,

    sought to be desired by the sole opposite party. He also submits that the

    learned court has erred in passing the said order, as the said documents

    are not available with the CBI or some of the documents are

    confidential in nature. He further submits that even the prosecution

    witnesses have not been started to be examined as yet and when the

    opposite party will reach the stage of his defence, he is having the right

    to invoke Section 91 read with Section 242 of the Cr.P.C., as the case is

    arising before the implementation of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha

    Sanhita, 2023.

    5. Learned A.S.G.I. appearing for the petitioner-CBI relied in

    the case of Sarla Gupta & Anr. Versus Directorate of Enforcement,

    reported in (2025) 7 SCC 626 and by way of referring Paras-68.3 to

    68.8, he submits that at the stage of defence of the opposite party only,

    the required documents can be procured.

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    [2026:JHHC:4799]

    6. He also submits that the second judgment in the case of

    Manoj & Ors. Versus State of Madhya Pradesh, reported in (2023) 2

    SCC 353 and in light of para-205 of the said judgment, the said stage

    has not come as yet.

    7. Learned A.S.G.I. appearing for the petitioner-CBI on the

    above grounds submits that the impugned order of the learned court

    may kindly be set aside.

    8. On the other hand, Mr. Manoj Tandon, learned counsel

    appearing for the sole opposite party has opposed the prayer and

    submits that the learned court has not committed any error, as in spite

    of several orders, passed by the learned court, the CBI has not complied

    the said order and thereafter the said order has been passed, whereby

    the CBI was directed to supply the documents in question, which was

    not challenged by the CBI and subsequently, when the documents have

    not been supplied, further petition has been filed by the sole opposite

    party and the learned court has further directed the CBI to supply the

    desired documents. He next submits that in view of that the CBI is

    required to supply the said documents.

    9. learned counsel has relied in the case of Sarla Gupta &

    Anr. Versus Directorate of Enforcement, reported in (2025) 7 SCC

    626 and he refers to paras-68.3 and 68.8, which are as under:-

    “68.3. We hold that a copy of the list of
    statements, documents, material objects and
    exhibits that are not relied upon by the
    investigating officer must also be furnished to
    the accused. As held by this Court, the object
    is to ensure that the accused has knowledge of
    the documents, objects, etc. in the custody of
    the investigating officer which are not relied
    upon so that at the appropriate stage, the
    accused can apply by invoking the provisions
    of Section 91CrPC (Section 94 BNSS) for

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    [2026:JHHC:4799]

    providing copies of the documents which are
    not relied upon by the prosecution.
    68.8. At the time of hearing of an application
    for bail governed by Section 45(1)(ii) in
    connection with the offences under Section 3
    of the PMLA, an accused is entitled to invoke
    Section 91CrPC (Section 94 BNSS) seeking
    production of unrelied upon documents. If
    investigation or further investigation in
    progress, the ED is entitled to raise objection
    to production of documents sought by the
    accused on the ground that if the documents
    are disclosed at this stage to the accused, it
    may prejudice the investigation. Only if the
    court after perusing the documents is satisfied
    that the disclosure of the documents at that
    stage may prejudice the ongoing investigation,
    it can deny the prayer for the production of
    such documents.”

    10. Relying on the above judgment, he submits that the CBI is

    bound to supply the desired documents to the accused for the fair trial.

    11. Learned counsel has further relied in the case of Manoj &

    Ors. Versus State of Madhya Pradesh, reported in (2023) 2 SCC 353

    and he refers to Paras-205 and 209 of the said judgment, which are as

    under:-

    “205. In the present case, the trial court ought
    to have inquired more deeply into the role of
    DW 1, given that by her own deposition she
    had admitted to analysing call detail records
    and involvement in Neha’s arrest — all of
    which had been suppressed by the prosecution
    side, for reasons best known to them. In this
    context, a reading of Sections 91 and
    243CrPC as done in Manu Sharma [Manu
    Sharma v. State (NCT of Delhi
    ), (2010) 6 SCC
    1 : (2010) 2 SCC (Cri) 1385] , is important to
    refer to : (Manu Sharma case [Manu
    Sharma v. State (NCT of Delhi
    ), (2010) 6 SCC
    1 : (2010) 2 SCC (Cri) 1385] , SCC p. 85,

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    [2026:JHHC:4799]

    para 217)
    “217. … Section 91 empowers the court to
    summon production of any document or thing
    which the court considers necessary or
    desirable for the purposes of any
    investigation, inquiry, trial or another
    proceeding under the provisions of the Code.
    Where Section 91 read with Section 243 says
    that if the accused is called upon to enter his
    defence and produce his evidence there he has
    also been given the right to apply to the court
    for issuance of process for compelling the
    attendance of any witness for the purpose of
    examination, cross-examination or the
    production of any document or other thing for
    which the court has to pass a reasoned order.”

    209. In view of the above discussion, this
    Court holds that the prosecution, in the
    interests of fairness, should as a matter of
    rule, in all criminal trials, comply with the
    above rule, and furnish the list of statements,
    documents, material objects and exhibits
    which are not relied upon by the investigating
    officer. The presiding officers of courts in
    criminal trials shall ensure compliance with
    such rules.”

    12. Relying on the above two judgments, he submits that the

    prosecution in the interests of fairness is required to supply the

    documents and as such, the learned court has rightly passed the said

    order.

    13. In view of the above submissions of respective parties, it

    appears that it is an admitted position that the petitioner has filed a

    petition on 27.05.2019, which was allowed by the learned court on

    21.09.2019 and the said order has not been challenged before any

    higher court, as such, the said order has attained the finality and after

    giving several opportunity to the CBI, the compliance report has been

    filed, saying that available documents has already been supplied and

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    [2026:JHHC:4799]

    certain documents have not been supplied. The other petition has also

    been filed by the sole opposite party before the learned court and on

    that petition the impugned order has been passed on 18.07.2022.

    14. The CBI has taken the following grounds of not supplying

    the documents and that has been stated in para-10 of the present

    petition, which is as under:-

    (a) Photocopies of all seizure memos, through
    which documents have been seized by the IO during
    investigation of from various departments/
    authorities. Photocopies of all seizure memos this
    case through which documents have been seized by
    the 10 during investigation are supplied.

    (b) Photocopies for Daily Dairy Register and
    FIR Register maintained in the office of SP,
    СВІ/НОВ, Ranchi, ACB, the for month October/
    November 2014-Not supplied as are of these
    confidential documents and neither
    seized/collected/relied upon in the instant case.

    (c) Photocopies of letter Dispatch Register of the
    office of the SP CBI/HOB, ACB, Ranchi for the
    month of October/November 2014. Not supplied as
    these are confidential documents and neither seized
    /collected/relied upon in the instant case.

    (d) Photocopies of Source Information Report
    (SIR) of case No. RC No. 12A/2014-R and its SIR
    verification report both are public document and
    mandatory part of FIR Itself.- Not supplied as these
    are confidential documents and neither seized
    /collected/relied upon in the instant case.

    (e) Photocopies of all documents seized by the IO
    but not relied upon in the charge sheet.- The un-

    relied upon documents collected during the
    investigation are voluminous the petitioner is
    requested inspect these to documents seized in this

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    [2026:JHHC:4799]

    case with the permission of this Hon’ble court.

    (f) Photocopies of minutes of 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th,
    13th, and 14th, Building Committee as frequent
    Reference appearing in Upon Documents of these
    meetings are the Charge Sheet and Relied at
    number of places. This established the pick and
    Choose theory of documents as blatantly followed
    prosecution documents, in supports of by the
    defense have been withheld by the prosecution with
    malafide intensions. Documents related to 11th
    meeting dated 27.01.12 are cited in the charge-
    sheet which has already been supplied to the
    accused Apart of any petitioner as relied upon
    document. from this, no other reference Building
    Committee meetings are concerned with this case.
    Since the un-relied documents voluminous are
    documents which can and un-relied be perused by
    the petitioner by the permission of this Hon’ble
    Court.

    (g) Videography/Photography of evaluation
    committee meeting for finalization of Master Plan
    dated 16 and 17/12/2011 and another meeting held
    on dated 21.01.2012 for finalization designs for
    Individual Buildings. The videography /
    photography of evaluation committee meetings for
    Finalization of Master Plan, was not collected
    during the investigation in this case and, hence, the
    same could not be supplied. As such no recording is
    available with CBI in this case.

    (h) Photocopies of minutes of the meeting held on
    21.01.2012 for Finalization of Individual Buildings
    attendance designs, with sheet.- the signed This
    document is not available with СВІ.

    (i) Photocopies of expression of Interest and the
    Technical bid as submitted by the applicant, while

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    [2026:JHHC:4799]

    applying for the process of selection in response of
    Expression of interest.- Relied upon document was
    marked D-2 which contains EOI, has already been
    supplied to the petitioner. Technical bid as
    submitted by the applicant, while applying for the
    process of selection in response to Expression of
    Interest, is not available in the file collected from
    CUJ by CBI.

    (j) Appointment files of M/s Grey Parikh
    Architects Pvt. Ltd. and MS Sandeep Shirke
    Architects & Associates Pvt. Ltd. the two accused
    with were named in FIR but dropped in
    Chargsheet.- Part of the unrelied upon and
    requested the petitioner for examination/ perusal
    with the approval of the court.

    15. The nature of the documents, which are said to be sought by

    the sole opposite party appears to be the public documents and the CBI

    has taken the ground of not supplying the documents, which prima

    facie appears that the CBI unnecessarily taken that ground.

    16. In the case of Manoj & Ors. Versus State of Madhya

    Pradesh, reported in (2023) 2 SCC 353, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in

    para-209 of the said judgment has categorically held that the

    prosecution in the interests of fairness, should be as a matter of rule, in

    all criminal trials, comply with the above rule and that has been

    discussed from paras-205 onwards.

    17. In the case of Sarla Gupta’s Case (Supra), it has been held

    by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in para-68.3 of the said judgment that

    the list of statements, documents, material objects and exhibits that are

    not relied upon by the Investigating officer must be supplied to the

    accused.

    18. In light of Section 91 of the Cr.P.C., the summons to

    produce, a document or other thing can be issued where the court finds
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    that the production of the document or thing “is necessary or desirable

    for the purpose of any investigation, trial or other proceeding” under the

    Cr.P.C and in the case in hand, the court has rightly exercised that

    aspect of the matter.

    19. In view of the above facts, reasons and analysis, the court is

    not inclined to set aside the impugned order, as there is no illegality in

    the impugned order. As such, this petition is dismissed.

    (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.)
    Dated:-18.02.2026
    Amitesh/- [A.F.R.]

    -9-



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