Gangireddy Ramachandra Reddy, v. Pollolu Masthanaiah,
THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE T.SUNIL CHOWDARY CRIMINAL PETITION No.11013 OF 2009 ORDER:
This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to quash the proceedings against the petitioners/A-1 to A-10 in Crime No.160 of 2009 on the file of Kota Police Station, S.P.S.R. Nellore District registered for the offences under Section 352 I.P.C. and Section 3(1)(X) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
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 A-1 to A10 and the first respondent is the de facto complainant in Crime No.160 of 2009. As per the allegations made in the complaint, on 5.10.2007, at about 8.30 p.m., the first petitioner herein insulted the first respondent in the name of his caste. It is further alleged that the petitioners herein threatened the first respondent with dire consequences.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the first respondent foisted a false case at the instance of some of the villagers.
5. Whether the petitioners have committed the alleged offences or not will come to light during the course of investigation only. If this Court expresses any opinion, the same may cause prejudice to one of the parties to the proceedings.
6. It is needless to say that the Court has to take into consideration the allegations made in the complaint while exercising inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C., in order to quash the criminal
proceedings at the initial stage of investigation. The Court is not justified in embarking upon an enquiry to ascertain the truthfulness, genuineness or otherwise of the allegations made in the complaint. It is a settled principle of law that the inherent power should not be exercised to stifle a legitimate investigation. If the allegations made in the complaint do not constitute the offence much less the offence alleged to have been committed by the petitioners, then this Court can quash the proceedings in order to prevent abuse of process of Court thereby to secure the ends of justice.
7. I have carefully perused the material available on record in order to ascertain whether the allegations made in the complaint are patently absurd and inherently improbable thereby to quash the proceedings. The material available on record 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 in R.P.KAPOOR v. STATE OF PUNJAB[1], STATE OF HARYANA v. BHAJAN LAL[2], V.Y.JOSE V STATE OF GUJARAT[3] AND TEEJA DEVI v. STATE OF RAJASTHAN[4], I am of the considered view that this is not a fit case to quash the criminal proceedings at the threshold.
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 investigation.
10. A perusal of the record reveals that this Court granted interim stay on 31.12.2009.
11. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and also the interim order of this Court, the Station House Officer, Kota
Police Station, S.P.S.R. Nellore District is hereby directed not to arrest the petitioners/A-1 to A-10 till completion of investigation in Crime No.160 of 2009.
12.
With the above direction, the Criminal Petition is dismissed. Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Criminal Petition shall stand closed.
_______________________________ JUSTICE T.SUNIL CHOWDARY Date:3.3.2016 AMD THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE T.SUNIL CHOWDARY
CRIMINAL PETITION No.11013 OF 2009 DATE:03.3.2016 AMD [1] AIR 1960 SC 866 [2] AIR 1992 SC 604 [3] (2009) 3 SCC 78 [4] 2015 (1) ACR 564 (SC)