RADHAKISHAN vs STATE OF U. P.

The Supreme Court held that entrustment is not a necessary ingredient of the offence under Section 52 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. The Court clarified that to 'secrete' means to hide, and retention of undelivered postal articles in an almirah for an extended period constitutes hiding. However, the Court found that the appellant was not in exclusive possession of the articles, as the key was produced by his father, and thus, no inference of secretive possession could be drawn. The conviction under Section 52 was overturned.