Charges framed against exACP for suppressing info

New Delhi: A Delhi court has ordered framing of charges against a former assistant commissioner of police (ACP) for allegedly suppressing material information about a pending criminal case while applying for a fresh passport in 2013.

Judicial Magistrate Preeti was hearing a case against Vinod Kumar Pandey, who had not disclosed information regarding a criminal case against him while applying for a fresh passport.

The magistrate rejected the accused’s objections to the prosecution’s version of the events and held that a prima-facie case under section 12 of the Passport Act, 1967, was made out against him.

In an order dated August 25, the court said, “Suppressing information with respect to the pendency of any criminal trial is a material information. The record reflects that on the date of filling the application, a criminal trial was pending against the accused and therefore, a prima-facie case for the offence punishable under section 12 of the Passport Act is made out against the accused for suppressing the material information.

“ Pandey had argued that the Delhi court lacked territorial jurisdiction as his passport was issued by the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Ghaziabad. The court rejected the contention, noting that the affidavit supporting his passport application was executed and notarised in New Delhi.

It held that part of the alleged offence was committed within Delhi’s jurisdiction and relied on section 179 (offence triable where act is done or consequence ensues) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.