Supreme Court of India · 1968-10-18
ROMESH CHANDRA MEHTA vs STATE OF WEST BENGAL
- Citation / case number
- SC 1967/183
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Petitioner
- ROMESH CHANDRA MEHTA
- Respondent
- STATE OF WEST BENGAL
- Author
- SHAHC.,RAMASWAMI, V.,MITTER, G.K.,HEGDE, K.S.,GROVER, A.N.
- Bench
- SHAH, J.C.,RAMASWAMI, V.,MITTER, G.K.,HEGDE, K.S.,GROVER, A.N.
Judgment text excerpt
The Supreme Court addressed the admissibility of confessional statements made to customs officers under the Sea Customs Act, 1878, and the Customs Act, 1962. It held that customs officers are not considered police officers under Section 25 of the Evidence Act, thus confessions made to them are admissible. The Court clarified that the powers of customs officers do not equate to those of police officers in terms of investigation, and the admissibility of statements must be evaluated based on the provisions of Section 25 and Article 20(3) of the Constitution.