Medepalli Ramamohana Rao v. Kommi Sireesha, )Jadrlamudi Sireesha, W/O Kommi Kiran Kumar,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE T.SUNIL CHOWDARY CRIMINAL PETITION No.627 of 2016 ORDER:

This petition is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to quash the proceedings against the petitioners/A.3 to A.5 in Crime No.7 of 2016 on the file of the Station House Officer, Ponnur Urban Police Station, Guntur District, registered for the offences under Sections 498-A, 506 and 509 I.P.C. and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Public Prosecutor representing the State.

3. A perusal of the record reveals that the petitioners are accused Nos.3 to 5 and the first respondent is the de facto complainant in Crime No.7 of 2016. It further reveals that the marriage of the first respondent was performed with accused No.1 on 03.01.2013 at Sajja Function Hall, Ponnuru, Guntur District, as per Hindu Rites and Caste Custom.

4. As per the allegations made in the complaint, the parents of the first respondent gave Rs.6,00,000/- of cash and gold ornaments to accused No.1 towards dowry at the time of marriage. It is further alleged that the petitioners along with the other accused subjected the first respondent to cruelty for additional dowry.

5. The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioners is that the petitioners are not the blood relatives or family members of accused No.1.

6. Whether the petitioners are family members of accused No.1 or not will come to light during the course of investigation only. If this Court expresses any opinion with regard to the relation of the parties, the same may cause prejudice to one of the parties to the proceedings.

7. While exercising the inherent power under Section 482 Cr.P.C.,

the Court has to take into consideration the allegations made in the complaint only. The Court is not justified in embarking upon an enquiry as to probability, reliability or genuineness of the allegations made in the complaint at the initial stage of investigation. The material placed before the Court is prima facie sufficient to investigate into the matter in order to ascertain the truthfulness or otherwise of the allegations made in the complaint.

8. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and also the principles enunciated by the Supreme Court in R.P.Kapoor v. State of Punjab[1] and State of Haryana v. Bhajanlal[2], I am of the considered view that it is not a fit case to quash the proceedings at the initial stage of the investigation.

9. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the concerned Station House Officer may be directed not to arrest the petitioners till completion of the investigation.

10. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to direct the Station House Officer, Ponnur Urban Police Station, Guntur District, not to arrest the petitioners/A.3 to A.5 in Crime No.7 of 2016 till completion of the investigation.

11. With the above direction, the Criminal Petition is dismissed.

12. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed.

________________________ T.SUNIL CHOWDARY, J Date: 22.01.2016 Ivd [1] AIR 1960 SC 866 [2] AIR 1992 SC 604