P.C. MISHRAversusSTATE (C.B.I.) & ANR.

                      [2014] 4 S.C.R. 183


                          P.C. MISHRA                                   A
                                 v.
                    STATE (C.B.I.) & ANR.
             (Criminal Appeal No. 1310 of 2010)
                        MARCH 27, 2014
                                                                        B
  [K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN AND VIKRAMAJIT SEN JJ.]

     CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973:

      s. 306 r/w s. 460 (g) - Power of Magistrate to grant pardon       c
to accomplice during investigation before submission of
charge-sheet - Held: During investigation, both, Special
Judge as well as the Magistrate acting u/s 306, have
concurrent jurisdiction to entertain application of pardon, which
facilitates proper investigation of crime - In a case, where            0
Magistrate has exercised his jurisdiction u/s 306 even after
appointment of a Special Judge under PC Act and has
passed an order granting pardon, the same is only a curable
irregularity, in terms of s. 460 (g) Cr.P. C., which will not vitiate
the proceedings, provided the order is passed in good faith -           E
However, after committal of the case, pardon granted by
Magistrate is not a curable irregularity - In the instant case,
there is no error in Special Judge directing the Magistrate to
pass appropriate orders on the application of CBI in granting
pardon to second respondent so as to facilitate the
investigation - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 - s. 337.              F
     The instant appeal arose out of the order dated
2.11.1996 passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate granting
pardon to the second respondent in a case uls 7 of the
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PC Act) against him                 G
and the main accused, namely, the appellant. The said
order attained finality. Later, charges were framed ulss 7
and 13(1)(d) read with s. 13(2) of the PC Act against the
appellant by order dated 8.2.2000. During the trial in the
                                183                                     H
    184      SUPREME COURT REPORTS           (2014] 4 S.C.R.


A Court of Special Judge when evidence had been
  concluded as against the appellant and the second
  respondent had been examined as PW9 by the
  prosecution and cross-examined by the appellant, the
  latter moved an application under the proviso to s. 234
B Cr.P.C. before the Special Judge on 24.7.2008,
  questioning the pardon granted to second respondent by
  the Metropolitan Magistrate on 2.11.1996. The Special
  Judge rejected the application. The High Court dismissed
  the appellant's revision petition.
c     In the instant appeal, the issue that arose for
  consideration before the Court was the correctness of the
  order passed by the Magistrate in granting pardon,
  exercising powers u/s 306 Cr.P.C. during the course of
  investigation of the case and before the submission of
D the charge-sheet before the Special Judge.
          Dismissing the appeal, the Court

      HELD: 1.1 The power to grant pardon enjoined u/s
E 306 Cr.P.C. is a substantial power and the reasons for
  tendering pardon must be recorded. It is for the
  prosecution to ask that a particular accused, out of
  several, may be granted pardon, if it thinks that it is
  necessary in the interest of successful prosecution of
  other offenders or else the conviction of those offenders
F would not be easy. [para 11) [193-F-G]

        Kanta Prashad v. Delhi Administration 1958 SCR 1218
    =AIR 1958 SC 350 and State of U.P. v. Kai/ash Nath Agarwal
    and others 1973 (3) SCR 728 = (1973) 1 sec 751 -- relied
G on.
       A. Devendran v. State of Tamil Nadu 1997 (4) Suppl.
    SCR 591 = (1997) 11 sec 720 - referred to.

          1.2 During investigation, both the Special Judge as
H
        P.C. MISHRA v. STATE (C.B.I.) & ANR.             185


well as the Magistrate acting u/s 306 Cr.P.C. have              A
concurrent jurisdiction to entertain application of pardon,
which facilitates proper investigation of the crime. But,
after the committal of the case, the pardon granted by the
Magistrate is not a curable irregularity. [para 14] [195-E-F]
                                                                B
    Bangaru Laxman v. State (through CBI) and another
2011 (13) SCR 268 = (2012) 1 SCC 500 - referred to.
     1.3 In a case, where the Magistrate has exercised his
jurisdiction u/s 306 Cr.P.C. even after the appointment of
a Special Judge under the PC Act and has passed an              C
order granting pardon, the same is only a curable
irregularity, in terms of s. 460 (g) Cr.P.C., which will not
vitiate the proceedings, provided the order is passed in
good faith. In fact, in the instant case, the Special Judge
himself has referred the application to Chief Metropolitan      o
Magistrate/Metropolitan Magistrate to deal with the same
since the case was under investigation. [para 15 - 16]
[195-H; 196-D-E]
    1.4 In the circumstances, there is no error in Special
Judge directing the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the        E
Metropolitan Magistrate to pass appropriate orders on the
application of CBI in granting pardon to second
respondent so as to facilitate the investigation. [para 17]
[196-F]
                                                                F
    A.R. Antulay v. Ramdas Sriniwas Nayak and another
                    =
1984 (2) SCR 914 (1984) 2 SCC 500; Dilawar Singh v.
Parvinder Singh alias Iqbal Singh and another 2005 (5 )
               =
Suppl. SCR 83 (2005) 12 SCC 709 and Harshad S. Mehta
and others v. State of Maharashtra 2001 (2) Suppl. SCR 577      G
= (2001) 8 sec 257 - cited
                    Case Law Reference:
    2011 (13) SCR 268             referred to     para 7
    1984 (2) SCR 914              cited           para 7        H
    186       SUPREME COURT REPORTS               [2014] 4 S.C.R.


A         2005 (5) Suppl. SCR 83      cited             para 7
          2001 (2) Suppl. SCR 577     cited             para 7
          1997 (4) Suppl. SCR 591     referred to       para 10
          1958 SCR 1218               relied on         para 11
B
          1973 (3) SCR 728            relied on         para 11

        CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal
    No. 1310 of 2010.
c       From the Judgment and Order dated 06.11.2008 of the
    High Court of Delhi at New Delhi in Criminal M.C. No. 3514 of
    2008.

          Appellant-in-person.
D
          Rajiv Nanda, C.K. Sharma, B.V. Balaram Das, V. Mohana
    for the Respondents.

          The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

E       K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN, J. 1. We are, in this appeal,
    concerned with the question whether the pardon granted by the
    Metropolitan Magistrate, Tis Hazari, Delhi, under Section 306
    Cr.P.C. to the second Respondent, against whom R.C.
    No.1 S(A) 96 DLI dated 29.2.1996 under Section 7 of the
F   Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered by the
    Central Bureau of Investigation, is legally sustainable.

       2. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered
  R.C. No.1 S(A) 96 DLI dated 29.2.1996 under Section 7 of the
  Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short "PC Act") on
G receipt of a written complaint on 29.2.1996 from Gulshan Sikri,
  proprietor of M/s Filtrex India, Nangal Raya, New Delhi, against
  P.C. Mishra, the then Assistant Commissioner of Sales Tax
  (Appeals), Appellant herein, for demanding Rs.4,000/- as bribe
  for settling the appeal filed against the order of Sales Tax
H Officer.
        P.C. MISHRA v. STATE (C.B.I.) & ANR.                187
             [K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN, J.]
      3. CBI, on 1.3.1996, laid a trap and the accused, PC         A
Mishra, and his Reader Ravi Bhatt, second Respondent herein,
were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the
bribe from the complainant. Both the accused persons were
arrested by the CBI on 1.3.1996 and, during the course of
investigation, an application was filed by the co-accused Ravi     B
Bhatt before the Special Judge, CBI, for recording his
confessional statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C., which was
marked by Special Judge to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate,
who assigned the same to the Metropolitan Magistrate and the
statement of second Respondent under Section 164 Cr.P.C.           c
was recorded on 7.8.1996. During the course of investigation,
the witnesses had been examined and records scrutinized and
it transpired that the co-accused Ravi Bhatt had accepted the
bribe money for and on behalf of the Appellant. The CBI, on
investigation, noticed that the second Respondent was not a        D
leading accused in the case and it was considered necessary
to take him as an approver to prove the various missing links
in the chain of circumstantial evidence, which was otherwise
not available to the investigating agency. Consequently, the CBI
on 24.10.1996 filed an application under Section 306 Cr.P .C.
before the Special Judge, Tis Hazari, Delhi for grant of pardon
                                                                   E
to the second Respondent, Ravi Bhatt. The Special Judge
marked that application to the learned Chief Metropolitan
Magistrate for the said purpose, who, in turn, marked the same
to the Metropolitan Magistrate.
                                                                   F
     4. The Metropolitan Magistrate examined the application
of the CBI and pass.ed an order dated 2.11.1996, in exercise
of powers conferred under Section 306 Cr.P.C., holding that it
was a fit case where pardon should be granted to the second
accused to enable the prosecution to unveil all circumstances      G
of the case and to unearth the truth, stating the following
reasons:

    "Accused Sh. Ravi Bhatt is a privy to the offence. He is
    not the principal/leading accused in this case. It is not
                                                                   H
    188       SUPREME COURT REPORTS                [2014] 4 S.C.R.


A         mentioned in the written complaint of the complainant that
          accused Sh. Ravi Bhatt demanded Rs.4000/- from him.
          The role played by him, however, is minimal. Considering
          that the matter relates to corruption in the Government
          Department and no direct independent evidence is
B         available, I think it appropriate to obtain evidence of the
          accused, Sh. Ravi Bhatt in order to prove the various
          missing links in the chain of the circumstantial evidence
          which are not otherwise available to the investigating
          agency. The offence mentioned in the FIR is triable
c         exclusively by the Court of a Special Judge appointed
          under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1952 (46 of
          1952)."

      5. The above mentioned order was not challenged and
  has attained finality. Later, charges· were framed under
D Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of the PC Act
  against the Appellant vide order dated 8.2.2000 after getting
  sanction. Trial proceeded in the Court of Special Judge and
  evidence was concluded as against the Appellant. Second
  Respondent, Ravi Bhatt, was examined as PW9 by the
E prosecution and was also cross-examined by the Appellant.

       6. The Appellant moved an application under the proviso
  to Section 234 Cr.P.C. for the first time, before the Special
  Judge on 24.7.2008, questioning the pardon granted to second
F Respondent by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate on
  2.11.1996 in exercise of powers conferred under Section 306
  Cr.P.C. It was contended that the pardon could have been
  granted only by the Special Judge under Section 5(2) of the
  PC Act and not by the Metropolitan Magistrate, being not a
G designated Court under the PC Act. It was also contended that
  the Magistrate did not have any power to grant pardon. The
  Special Judge rejected the application vide order dated
  31.10.2008 holding that the Metropolitan Magistrate had the
  power to grant pardon during investigation under Section 306
  Cr.P.C. and even if the Magistrate was not empowered by law
H
         P.C. MISHRA v. STATE (C.8.1.) & ANR.                 189
              [K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN, J.]
to tender a pardon and the order was passed in good faith, then      A
such an order is protected under Section 460 Cr.P.C.
Aggrieved by the same, the Appellant filed Criminal Revision
being Crl. M.C. No.3514 of 2008 before the High Court of Delhi,
which was dismissed by the High Court vide its order dated
6.11.2008, against which this appeal has been preferred.             B

      7. Shri P.C. Mishra, the Appellant, appeared in person
and submitted that the learned Metropolitan Magistrate has
committed a grave error in granting pardon to the second
Respondent, that too, without hearing him. Shri Mishra               C
submitted that the order passed by the learned Metropolitan
Magistrate on 2.11.1996 is without jurisdiction, since no power
is conferred on him to grant pardon to second Respondent as
the matter is already seized before the Special Judge appointed
under Section 3 of the PC Act. It was pointed out that Section
5(2) of the PC Act deals with all matters pertaining to offences     D
under the Prevention of Corruption Act, starting from registration
of FIR to passing of final judgment. Consequently, it was only
Special Judge, who could have granted pardon to the second
Respondent and not the Metropolitan Magistrate. Shri Mishra
also placed considerable reliance on the Constitution Bench          E
judgment of this Court in AR. Antulay v. Ramdas Sriniwas
Nayak and another (1984) 2 sec 500 and various other
decisions in support of his contention. Further, it was pointed
out that the Special Act lays down some procedure under which
the Special Judge has to function and no other procedure, apart      F
from what has been prescribed by the PC Act, could be
followed. In support of his contention reliance was placed on
the judgment of this Court in Dilawar Singh v. Parvinder Singh
alias Iqbal Singh and another (2005) 12 sec 709 to
emphasise the power of the Special Judge under Section 5(2)          G
of the PC Act. Reliance was also placed on the judgment of
this Court in Harshad S. Mehta and others v. State of
Maharashtra (2001) 8 SCC 257 and Bangaru Laxman v. State
(through CBI) and another (2012) 1 sec 500. It was also
pointed out that since the issue with regard to the jurisdiction     H
    190      SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2014) 4 S.C.R.


A could be raised at any point of time, the contention of the
  Respondents that the order of 1996 was challenged only in the
  year 2008 cannot be sustained. Further, it was also pointed out
  that the learned Metropolitan Magistrate had granted pardon
  under Section 306 Cr.P.C. without issuing notice to the
B Appellant which has caused serious prejudice to him.

       8. Shri Rajiv Nanda, learned counsel appearing for the CBI,
  submitted that the application for pardon could be moved by
  the prosecution at the stage of investigation, till its culmination
C and in the instant case the application for pardon was moved
  by the prosecution at the stage of investigation and that too
  after recording the statement of Ravi Bhatt under Section 164
  Cr.P.C. Learned Metropolitan Magistrate, it was pointed out,
  has exercised his jurisdiction to grant pardon under Section 306
  Cr.P.C. at the investigation stage. The Special Judge, in the
D instant case, had directed the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or
  the Metropolitan Magistrate to deal with the application for
  pardon, since the case was at the investigation stage. In any
  view, it was submitted, even if there was some irregularity in
  the order passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate, that irregularity
E was a curable irregularity in view of Section 460(g) Cr.P.C.

       9. Ms. V. Mohana, learned Amicus Curiae addressed
  elaborate arguments on the scope of Sections 306 and 460
  Cr.P.C. as well as the powers of the Special Judge under
F Section 5(2) of the PC Act. Learned Amicus Curiae pointed
  out that power of the Magistrate during investigation to grant
  pardon is not taken away or deprived by the provisions of the
  PC Act. In any view, the order passed by the Metropolitan
  Magistrate is protected under Section 460(g) Cr.P.C. since the
G Magistrate had acted bona fide and in good faith. Learned
  Amicus Curiae also submitted, assuming that the Special Judge
  under the PC Act also has power to grant pardon during
  investigation, that will not take away the inherent powers on the
  Magistrate during investigation to grant pardon while exercising
H powers under Section 306 Cr.P.C. Learned Amicus Curiae
          P.C. MISHRA v. STATE (C.B.I.) & ANR.                  191
               [K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN, J.]
 further submitted that the order granting pardon was passed           A
 as early as on 2.11.1996, which was revisable and, since no
 revision had been filed, the order had attained finality and hence
 the same could not have been challenged by the Appellant at
 the fag end of the trial, in which, it was pointed out, he had been
 convicted by the Special Judge vide his judgment dated                B
 24.5.2010.

       10. We are, in this appeal, concerned with the correctness
  or otherwise of the order passed by the Magistrate in granting
  pardon exercising powers under Section 306 Cr.P.C. during            C
. the course of investigation of the case and before the
  submission of the charge-sheet before the Special Judge. The
  CBI, as already stated, had filed an application for grant of
  pardon before the Special Judge at a stage when investigation
  was going on and the Special Judge, in its wisdom, thought it
  appropriate that the application be dealt with by the Chief          D
  Metropolitan Magistrate, since investigation was not over and
  charge-sheet was not submitted before him. The Chief
  Metropolitan Magistrate, however, assigned the matter to the
  Metropolitan Magistrate. Situation would have been different if
  the investigation was over, charge-sheet had been submitted          E
  and the charges were framed against the accused. In our view,
  at the stage of investigation, the power conferred on the
  Magistrate under Section 306 Cr.P.C. (Section 337 of Cr.P.C.
  1898 Old Code) has not been taken away, even ifthe offence
  can ultimately be tried by a Special Judge. Section 306 Cr.P.C.      F
  is applicable in a case where the order of committal has not
  been passed, while Section 307 Cr.P.C. is applicable after the
  committal of the case before the judgment is pronounced. This
  Court in A. Devendran v. State of Tamil Nadu (1997) 11 SCC
  720 opined that after committal of the case, the power to grant      G
  pardon vests in the Court to which the case has been
  committed and the pardon granted by the Chief Judicial
  Magistrate is not a curable irregularity. For easy reference, we
  refer to Section 306 Cr.P.C., which reads as follows :
                                                                       H
    192          SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2014) 4 S.C.R.


A         306. Tender of pardon to accomplice.

          (1) With a view to obtaining the evidence of any person
          supposed to have been directly or indirectly concerned in
          or privy to an offence to which this section applies, the
          Chief Judicial Magistrate or a Metropolitan Magistrate at
B
          any stage of the investigation or inquiry into, or the trial of,
          the offence, and the Magistrate of the first class inquiring
          into or trying the offence, at any stage of the inquiry or trial,
          may tender a pardon to such person on condition of his
          making a full and true dis- closure of the whole of the
c         circumstances within his knowledge relative to the offence
          and to every other person concerned, whether as principal
          or abettor, in the commission thereof.

          (2) This section applies to-
D
           (a)    any offence triable exclusively by the Court of
                  Session or by the Court of a Special Judge
                  appointed under the Criminal Law Amendment Act,
                  1952 (46 of 1952 );
E          (b)     any offence punishable with imprisonment which
                  may extend to seven years or with a more severe
                  sentence.

          (3) Every Magistrate who tenders a pardon under sub-
F         section (1) shall record-

           (a)    his reasons for so doing;

           (b)    whether the tender was or was not accepted by the
                  person to whom it was made, and shall, on
G                 application made by the accused, furnish him with
                  a copy of such record free of cost.

          (4) Every person accepting a tender of pardon made under
          sub- section (1 )-
H
            P.C. MISHRA v. STATE (C.B.I.) & ANR.                 193
                 [K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN, J.]
      (a)     shall be examined as a witness in the Court of the        A
              Magistrate taking cognizance of the offence and in
              the subsequent trial, if any;

      (b)     shall, unless he is already on bail, be detained in
              custody until the termination of the trial.               8
    (5) Where a person has, accepted a tender of pardon
    made under sub- section (1) and has been examined
    under sub- section (4), the Magistrate taking cognizance
    of the offence shall, without making any further inquiry in
    the case,-                                                          C

      (a)     commit it for trial-

              (i) to the Court of Session if the, offence is triable
              exclusively by that Court or if the Magistrate taking
                                                                        0
              cognizance is the Chief Judicial Magistrate;

              (ii) to a Court of Special Judge appointed under the
              Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1952 (46 of 1952
              ), if the offence is triable exclusively by that Court;
                                                                        E
      (b)     in any other case, make over the case to the Chief
              Judicial Magistrate who shall try the case himself."

    11. Power to grant pardon enjoined under Section 306
Cr.P.C. is a substantial power and the reasons for tendering
pardon must be recorded. It is for the prosecution to ask that a        F
particular accused, out of several, may be granted pardon, if it
thinks that it is necessary in the interest of successful
prosecution of other offenders or else the conviction of those
offenders would not be easy. This Court in State of UP. v.
Kai/ash Nath Agarwal and others (1973) 1 SCC 751                        G
recognised the power of the District Magistrate to grant pardon
at the investigation stage. This Court in Kanta Prashad v. Delhi
Administration AIR 1958 SC 350 had the occasion to examine
the scope of Section 337 and 338 of the old Code (Cr.P.C.
1898) vis-a-vis the powers of a Special Court constituted under         H
    194       SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2014] 4 S.C.R.


A the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1952. This Court h~1d that,
  reading the proviso to Section 337 and provisions of Section
  338 together, the District Magistrate is empowered to tender
  a pardon even after a commitment, if the Court so directs. It
  was also held that under Section 8(2) of the Criminal Law
B (Amendment) Act, 1952, the Special Judge has also been
  granted power to tender pardon. The conferment of this power
  on the Special Judge in no way deprives the District Magistrate
  of his power to grant a pardon under Section 337 of the Code.
  It was held if at the time when the District Magistrate tenders
c the pardon, the case was not before the Special Judge, then
  there is no illegality committed by the District Magistrate.

         12. The scope of above-mentioned provisions again came
    up for consideration before this Court in Kai/ash Nath Agarwal
    (supra), wherein this Court after referring to its earlier judgment
0   in Kanta Prashad (supra) held as follows:-

          "lt will be noted from this decision that emphasis is laid
          on the fact that the proviso to Section 337 contemplates
          concurrent jurisdiction in the District Magistrate and in the
E         Magistrate making an inquiry or holding the trial to tender
          pardon. It is also emphasised that the conferment of the
          power to grant pardon on the Special Judge does not
          deprive the District Magistrate of his power to grant pardon
          under Section 337."
F
       13. In Bangaru Laxman (supra), this Court has stated that
  the power of Special Judge to grant pardon is an unfettered
  power and held that, while trying the offences, the Special
  Judge has dual power of a Special Judge as well as that of a
G Magistrate. This Court, while interpreting Section 5, then went
  on to say as follows :-

          40. Thus, on a harmonious reading of Section 5(2) of the
          PC Act with the provisions of Section 306, specially
          Section 306(2)(a) of the Code and Section 26 of the PC
H         Act, this Court is of the opinion that the Special Judge
        P.C. MISHRA v. STATE (C.8.1.) & ANR.                  195
             [K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN, J.]
    under the PC Act, while trying offences, has the dual power       A
    of the Sessions Judge as well as that of a Magistrate.
    Such a Special Judge conducts the proceedings under the
    court both prior to the filing of charge-sheet as well as after
    the filing of charge-sheet, for holding the trial.
                                                                      B
    41. . .................. Since this Court has already held that
    the Special Court is clothed with the magisterial power of
    remand, thus in the absence of a contrary provision, this
    Court cannot hold that power to grant pardon at the stage
    of investigation can be denied to the Special Court.
                                                                      c
    42. In view of the discussion made above, this Court is of
    the opinion that the power of granting pardon, prior to the
    filing of the charge-sheet, is within the domain of judicial
    discretion of the Special Judge before whom such a prayer
    is made, as in the instant case by the prosecution."              D

     14. Bangaru Laxman (supra), therefore, emphasizes the
concurrent jurisdiction of the Special Judge as well as the Chief
Judicial Magistrate or Metropolitan Magistrate to grant pardon
during investigation, but does not say that the Metropolitan          E
Magistrate has no power under Section 306 Cr.P.C. to grant
pardon during the investigation i.e. before filing of charge-sheet
before the Special Judge. During investigation, in our view, both
the Special Judge as well as the Magistrate acting under
Section 306 .Cr.P.C. have concurrent jurisdiction to entertain
application of pardon, which facilitates proper investigation of      F
the crime. But, as already indicated, after the committal of the
case, the pardon granted by the Magistrate is not a curable
irregularity.

     15. We may, in this regard, refer to Section 460 Cr.P.C.         G
which refers to nine kinds of crurable irregularities, provided
they are caused erroneously and in good faith. Irregularity
caused while granting pardon is dealt with in Section 460(g)
Cr.P.C. The relevant part of that Section reads as follows :-
                                                                      H
    196        SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2014] 4 S.C.R.

A          "460. Irregularities which do not vitiate proceedings.

           If any Magistrate not empowered by law to do any of the
           following things, namely:-

           (g) to tender a pardon under section 306;
B
           erroneously in good faith does that thing, his proceedings
           shall not be set aside merely on the ground of his not being
           so empowered."

C       Section 461 Cr.P.C. speaks of irregularities which vitiate
    proceedings.

           16. We have already held, both the Magistrate as well as
  the Special Judge has concurrent jurisdiction in granting pardon
  under Section 306 Cr.P.C. while the investigation is going on.
D But, in a case, where the Magistrate has exercised his
  jurisdiction under Section 306 Cr.P.C. even after the
  appointment of a Special Judge under the PC Act and has
  passed an order granting pardon, the same is only a curable
  irregularity, which will not vitiate the proceedings, provided the
E order is passed in good faith. In fact, in the instant case, the
  Special Judge himself has referred the application to Chief
  Metropolitan Magistrate/Metropolitan Magistrate to deal with
  the same since the case was under investigation. In such
  circumstances, we find no error in Special Judge directing the
F Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Metropolitan Magistrate
  to pass appropriate orders on the application of CBI in granting
  pardon to second Respondent so as to facilitate the
  investigation.

           17. Appeal lacks merit and the same is dismissed.
G
    R.P.                                          Appeal dismissed.