Maharudra @ Aba Narayan Muley v. The State Of Maharashtra And Another

2025:BHC-AUG:9106-DB

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 3315 OF 2024 1.

Maharudra @ Aba S/o Narayan Muley, Age: 40 years, Occup: Agri R/o: Ghodka Rajuri, Ta. And District Beed.

.....APPLICANT

VERSUS

1.

The State of Maharashtra Through: The Police Inspector, Neknoor Police Station, Tq. Beed, District: Beed Copy of respondents to be served on Public Prosecutor High Court Bench at Aurangabad 2.

Mr. Dilip S/o Chandrabhan Gitte, Age: 35 years, Occup: Police Naik, B.No. 1837, S.P.O. Office Kaij, R/o: Sub-Divisional Office Police Kaij, Tq. Kaij, District. Beed.

.....RESPONDENTS ...

Mr. S. S. Solanke, Advocate for Applicant Mr. A. R. Kale, APP for Respondent-State ...

CORAM : SMT. VIBHA KANKANWADI AND ROHIT W. JOSHI, JJ.

Dated : March 26, 2025

ORDER :- .

Present application is filed for quashment of the proceedings in Regular Criminal Case No.293 of 2024 pending before learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Beed, District, Beed arising out of First Information Report vide Crime No.289 of 2023 dated 24.09.2023 registered with Neknoor Police Station, Tq. & Dist. Beed for the offence punishable under Sections 188, 272, 273 and 328 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. 2.

Heard learned Advocate for the applicant and learned APP for respondent-State. In order to cut short, it may be stated that both of them have made submissions in support of their respective contentions.

3.

Perusal of the entire charge-sheet including the First Information Report which has been lodged by respondent No.2 in his capacity as Police Hawaldar would show that raid was conducted and a person by name Rameshwar Kisan Khindkar was found with Gutkha being Masala and Scented Tobacco. It is then stated that in presence of Panchas, when inquiry was made with Rameshwar, he had stated that he had purchased the said articles from the present applicant and other persons. Thus, only on the basis of such statement, it appears that he has been made as co-accused. The

statement of the co-accused is inadmissible. Even if we consider the statement of the co-accused for a while, yet, the police have not utilized the said statement and have not recovered anything from the present applicant.

4.

Learned APP submits that other 18 offences of similar nature are registered against the present applicant. We are basically on the point that what is the evidence that has been collected in the matter and whether it would give rise to the ingredients of the offences for which the charge-sheet has been filed. As aforesaid except the statement of the co-accused, there is nothing. Under such circumstance, it would be abuse of process of law, if the applicant is directed to face the trial. Hence following order:

ORDER

i.

Application stands allowed.

ii.

Proceedings in Regular Criminal Case No.293 of 2024 pending before learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Beed, District, Beed arising out of First Information Report vide Crime No.289 of 2023 dated 24.09.2023 registered with Neknoor Police Station, Taluka Beed, District Beed, for the offence punishable

under Sections 188, 272, 273 and 328 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, stands quashed and set aside as against applicant viz. Maharudra @ Aba S/o Narayan Muley.

( ROHIT W. JOSHI, J. ) ( SMT. VIBHA KANKANWADI, J. ) Rushikesh/2025