Kurichi Thangabalu Karthick, v. M/S.Raj Television

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

Reserved on :

13.10.2020 Pronounced on : 28.10.2020

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE P.N.PRAKASH Crl.O.P.No.23078 of 2015 and M.P.Nos.1 & 2 of 2015 1.Kurichi Thangabalu Karthick Son of Thangabalu Director of M/s.Silver Star Communications No.12-C, 6th Main Road, Kasturiba Nagar Adyar, Chennai - 600 020.

2.Kurichi Thangabalu Indra Daughter of Thangabalu Director of M/s.Silver Star Communications No.12-C, 6th Main Road, Kasturiba Nagar Adyar, Chennai - 600 020.

..

Petitioners / Accused 3 & 4 Vs.

M/s.Raj Television Network Ltd Rep by its Admin Manager Mr.Suresh No.32, Poes Road, 2nd Street, Teynampet, Chennai - 600 018.

.. Respondent / Complainant Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C., to call for the records in C.C.No.1719 of 2015 on the file of XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet at Chennai and quash the same.

For Petitioners: Mr.B.Kumar, Senior Counsel for Mr.T.Palanivel For Respondent : Mr.K.Venkateshwaran

ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash C.C.No.1719 of 2015 on the file of XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet at Chennai, as against the petitioners. 2.

Raj Television Network has launched a prosecution in C.C.No.1719 of 2015 before the XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate,

Saidapet at Chennai, against M/s.Silver Star Communications Ltd.[A1], Jayanthi Thangabalu [A2], Kurichi Thangabalu Karthick [A3] and Kurichi Thangabalu Indra [A4] for the offences under Section 51, 63, 66 & 69 of the CopyRight Act, 1957, for broadcasting the film songs viz., "Enna Satham Endha Neeram" and "Guruvayurappa Guruvayurappa Nanan Konda" from the Tamil feature films 'Punnagai Mannan' and 'Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal' respectively, at 03.28 a.m. on 17.02.2015 in their channel in 'Mega TV', without obtaining any telecast rights or licence from them.

3.

This quash petition has been filed by A3 and A4 on the short ground that there are no sufficient averments in the complaint to hold them vicariously liable, with the aid of Section 69 of the CopyRights Act, 1957, which provision is in parie materia with Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

4.

Heard Mr.B.Kumar, learned Senior Counsel for Mr.T.Palanivel, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.K.Venkateshwaran, learned counsel for the respondent. 5.

This Court carefully perused the impugned complaint, wherein in paragraph No.12, it reads as follows : "12. The complainant submits that the first accused is the company and all the Accused are whole time Director and of the company and responsible for the day to day affair of the company and the conduct of the business of the company. ..... ...... ..... "

6.

Mr.B.Kumar, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners contended that the aforesaid stray statement of the complainant in C.C.No.1719 of 2015 is insufficient to prosecute A3 and A4, with the aid of Section 69 of the CopyRight Act.

7.

Per contra, Mr.K.Venkateshwaran, learned counsel for the complainant/respondent argued vehemently to justify the complaint, by contending that A3 and A4 were the Directors at that relevant point of time in A1 company and hence, the prosecution against them cannot be quashed at the threshold. 8.

This Court gave its anxious consideration to the rival submissions.

9.

Mr.B.Kumar, learned counsel placed materials before this Court to show that the second petitioner was doing her Ph.D., in Anna University, Chennai at that relevant point of time. He submitted that the judgements of the Hon'ble Supreme Court on this aspect are a legion and also placed reliance on a few judgments in support of his contentions. 10.

In the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in

Gunmala Sales Private Limited vs. Anu Mehta [(2015) 1 SCC 103], it is suffice to refer to paragraph No.34.3 : 34.3 In the facts of a given case, on an overall reading of the complaint, the High Court may, despite the presence of the basic averment, quash the complaint because of the absence of more particulars about role of the Director in the complaint.

11. In this case, on an overall reading of the complaint, this Court is satisfied that in the absence of more particulars about the role of the petitioners in the affairs of the first accused company, the basic averment that the petitioners were responsible for the day to day affairs of the company and the conduct of the business of company, are by themselves insufficient to uphold the prosecution against the petitioners.

12.

In the result, this petition is allowed and the prosecution in C.C.No.1719 of 2015 on the file of XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet at Chennai, as against the petitioners [A3 & A4] alone is hereby quashed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

13. To a pointed query raised by this Court, Mr.B.Kumar, learned Senior Counsel placed materials to show that Jayanthi Thangabalu [A2] was the Managing Director of M/s.Silver Star Communications Ltd., Chennai, and that she is none other than the mother of the petitioners herein [A3 & A4]. Therefore, Jayanthi Thangabalu cannot plead total ignorance of the prosecution against her, and the proceedings pending before this Court. The petitioners are directed to inform Jayanthi Thangabalu to appear before the trial Court at 10.30 a.m., on 07.12.2020 and execute a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- without sureties under Section 88 Cr.P.C., and participate in the trial. The trial Court is directed to complete the trial within six months from 07.12.2020.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CS-III) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar ds To:

1.The XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate Saidapet, Chennai.

2. The Section Officer, Criminal Section, High Court, Madras. (For information) Crl.O.P.No.23078 of 2015 AD(CO) GN(05/11/2020)