file_exists() function is not working in CI Helper

[eluser]Sumon[/eluser]
thanks. i highly appreciate your suggestions. still i am confused about why file_exists() function does not work where the image is in proper location. Moreover, is try by fopen() for an image function is good practice? i am confused.

Once again here is a function i test in my controller

Code:

function ImageLoc()
{
   if(file_exists(base_url()."/gallery/member_picture/member_no_image.gif"))
        echo "File Exist.";
   else
    echo "File Not Exist.";
}

I get the result File Not Exist. But the fact is file is in there.