Pradeep Chandrakar v. State Of Chhattisgarh
NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR WPCR No. 834 of 2019 • Pradeep Chandrakar S/o Surendra Chandrakar Aged About 28 Years Occupation Patwari, Posted At Kawardha, R/o Ghorpendri, Police Station- Pandatarai, Tahsil- Pandaria, District- Kabirdham, Chhattisgarh., District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh ---- Petitioner
Versus
1. State of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station, Sarkanda, District- Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh., District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
2. Vijendra Khandekar S/o Shri Khemdas Khandekar Aged About 31 Years R/o Nootan Colony, Sarkanda, Bilapsur, Chhattisgarh., District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ---- Respondent WPCR No. 835 of 2019 • Pradeep Chandrakar S/o Surendra Chandrakar Aged About 28 Years Occupation - Patwari, Posted At Kawardha, R/o Ghorpendri, Police Station - Pandatarai, Tahsil - Pandaria, District - Kabirdham Chhattisgarh., District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh ---- Petitioner
Versus
1. State of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station, Koni, District - Bilaspur Chhattisgarh., District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
2. Ajay Kumar Dhruw S/o Shri Geeta Prasad Dhruw Aged About 29 Years R/o Kapil Nagar, Sarkanda, District - Bilaspur Chhattisgarh., District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ---- Respondent WPCR No. 838 of 2019 • Pradeep Chandrakar S/o Surendra Chandrakar Aged About 28 Years Occupation Patwari, Posted At Kawardha, R/o Ghorpendri, Police Station Pandatarai, Tahsil Pandaria District Kabirdham Chhattisgarh., District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh ---- Petitioner
Versus
1. State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station Kotwali, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh., District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
2. Rakesh Rathore S/o Shri K. P. Rathore Aged About 34 Years R/o Chandan Awas Rajkishore Nagar, Bilaspur Chhattisgarh., District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ---- Respondent WPCR No. 839 of 2019 • Pradeep Chandrakar S/o Surendra Chandrakar Aged About 28 Years Occupation Patwari, Posted At Kawardha, R/o Ghorpendri , Police
Station Pandatarai, Tahsil Pandaria District Kabirdham Chhattisgarh., District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh ---- Petitioner
Versus
1. State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station, Kotwali, District Bilaspur Chhattigarh., District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
2. Chandramani Singh Thakur S/o Shri Rudrapratap Singh Thakur Aged About 40 Years R/o Yadav Mohalla, Tikrapara, Bilapsur Chhattisgarh., District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ---- Respondent WPCR No. 844 of 2019 • Pradeep Chandrakar S/o - Surendra Chandrakar Aged About 28 Years Occupation-Patwari, Posted At Kawardha, R/o - Ghorpendri, Police Station Pandatarai, Tahsil Pandaria, District Kabirdham Chhattisgarh, District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh ---- Petitioner
Versus
• State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station Sarkanda District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh, District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh • Vyasnarayan Kashyap S/o - Ramkumar Kashyap Aged About 43 Years R/o - Bangeli Para, Sarkanda, Police Station Sarkanda, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh, District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh ---- Respondent For Petitioner : Mr. Goutam Khetrapal, Advocate.
For State : Mr. Gurudev I Sharan, Govt. Advocate.
For Respondent No.2 : Mr, Qamrul Aziz, Advocate Hon'ble Shri Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas Order on Board 05-08-2021
1. Since all the aforesaid writ petitions (cr) arise out of same issue, they are heard analogously and are being disposed of by this common order.
2. The petitioner has filed all the petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking quashment of FIRs in connection with Crime No. 1026 of 2018 registered at Police Station
Sarkanda, District Bilaspur, Crime No. 370 of 2018, registered at Police Station Koni, Districty Bilaspur, Crime No. 515 of 2018 registered at Police Station Kotwali, District Bilaspur, Crime No. 514 of 2018 registered at Police Station Kotwali, District Bilaspur, Crime No.1028 of 2018 registered at Police Station Sarkanda, District Bilaspur for the offence punishable under Section 420, 409, 120-B of IPC and Sections 6 & 10 of the Chhattisgarh Protection of Depositors Interest Act, 2005.
3. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the complainant/respondent No.2 lodged FIR in different Police Stations alleging that Arun Verma, who is proprietor of Education Academy with the help of one Satanand and present petitioner induced him to pay sum of Rs.6,96,000/-, 1,50,000/-, 3,00,000/-, 2,00,000/- and Rs.2,00,000/- respectively in the business. Thereafter, some amount invested by the complainants was refunded by Arun Verma and remaining amount has not been returned. Therefore, the complainants filed complaint in Police Station on the basis of which FIR was lodged against the present petitioner for the offence punishable under Section 420, 409, 120-B of IPC and Sections 6 & 10 of Chhattisgarh Protection of Depositors Interest Act, 2005.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that after filing of FIR, petitioner and complainants/respondent No.2 have settled their disputes and the petitioner has returned their money. He would further submit that he has filed the present Writ (cr) for quashing of the FIR registered in various Police Stations against the petitioner on the strength of settlement arrived at between the petitioner and respondent No. 2 and now they don't want to continue with the criminal case.
5. This Court vide its order dated 23-7.2021 has directed the petitioner and respondent No. 2 to appear before the Additional Registrar (Judicial) of this Court for recording of their statements on 31-7-021. In pursuance of the direction of this Court, the petitioner and respondent No. 2 entered their appearance and stated in unequivocal terms that now there is no dispute between
them, respondent No. 2 is not willing to continue with the criminal proceedings and prayed for quashment of the FIR in connection with aforesaid crime numbers. Complainants/respondent No.2 have stated that they have voluntarily deposed that statement, it has been executed without fear, pressure or undue influence from the petitioner.
6. Hon'ble the Supreme Court in case of State of Madhya Pradesh Vs. Laxmi Narayan & others1, has summarized the law for quashing of FIR, the relevant paragraphs are extracted below:- "15.1 That the power conferred under Section 482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings for the noncompoundable offences under Section 320 of the Code can be exercised having overwhelmingly and predominantly the civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes and when the parties have resolved the entire dispute amongst themselves;
15.5 While exercising the power under Section 482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings in respect of noncompoundable offences, which are private in nature and do not have a serious impart on society, on the ground that there is a settlement/compromise between the victim and the offender, the High Court is required to consider the antecedents of the accused; the conduct of the accused, namely, whether the accused was absconding and why he was absconding, how he had managed with the complainant to enter into a compromise, etc."
7. Though the offence under Sections 420, 409, 120-B of IPC and Sections 6 & 10 of Chhattisgarh Protection of Depositors Interest Act, 2005 is non-compoundable but this can be quashed with the leave of this Court.
8. In view of the said legal position, considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the fact that the parties have amicably settled dispute between them and they do not want to continue with the criminal case, this court is of the considered opinion that there is sufficient material for this court to form an opinion to quash FIR registered against the petitioner. Further, (2019) 5 SCC 688
this court is of the opinion that the continuation of criminal proceeding will be nothing, but to an abuse of process of law. Accordingly, FIR registered against the petitioner at aforesaid Police Stations for committing offence punishable under Sections 420, 409, 120-B of IPC and Sections 6 & 10 of the Chhattisgarh Protection of Depositors Interest Act, 2005 deserves to be and are hereby quashed in the interest of justice.
9. In view of the above, all the writ petitions (cr) are allowed. No order as to costs.
Sd/- (Narendra Kumar Vyas) Judge Raju NanNare