R.Parthiban v. The Inspector Of Police
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 06.03.2020
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN CRL.O.P.No.2400 & 2436 of 2020 and Crl.MP.Nos.1485 & 1510 of 2020 Crl.O.P.No.2400 of 2020 R.Parthiban
...Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Inspector of Police, T-2, Ambattur Estate Police Station, Ambattur, Chennai - 600 058 2.Prakashkumar
...Respondents
PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. praying to call for the records relating to the case in Crime No.15 of 2020 on the file of the first respondent and quash the same as against the petitioner, by allowing this criminal original petition.
For Petitioner : Mr.P.Siva Muruganantham For Respondents For R1 : Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz Additional Public Prosecutor.
For R2 : Mr.D.Nagaraj Crl.O.P.No.2436 of 2020 R.Parthiban
...Petitioner
Vs.
1. The Inspector of Police, V-1, Villivakkam Police Station, Villivakkam, Chennai - 600 049
2. Navaneethan ... Respondents
PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. praying to call for the records relating to the case in Crime No.44 of 2020 on the file of the first respondent and quash the same as against the petitioner, by allowing this criminal original petition.
For Petitioner : Mr.P.Siva Muruganantham For Respondents For R1 : Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz Additional Public Prosecutor.
For R2 : Mr.D.Nagaraj COMMON O R D E R These petitions have been filed to quash the F.I.R. in Crime Nos.15 of 2020 registered for offences under Sections 420, 406 and 506(i) of IPC and Crime No.44 of 2020 registered for offences under Sections 420, 406 and 506(i) of IPC as against the petitioner.
2.
The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Without any base, the first respondents police registered the cases in Crime No.15 of 2020 registered for offences under Sections 420, 406 and 506(i) of IPC and Crime No.44 of 2020 registered for offences under Sections 420, 406 and 506(i) of IPC, as against the petitioner. Hence he prayed to quash the same. 3.
The learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the investigation is almost completed and the respondents police have only to file final report.
4.
Heard Mr.P.Siva Muruganantham, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the first respondent and Mr.D.Nagaraj, learned counsel appearing for the second respondent.
5.
It is seen from the First Information Report that there are specific allegations as against the petitioner to attract the offences, which has to be investigated in deapth. Further the FIR is not an encyclopedia and it need not contain all facts and it cannot be quashed in the threshold. This Court finds that the FIR discloses prima facie commission of cognizable offence and as such this Court cannot interfere with the investigation. The investigating machinery has to step in to investigate, grab
and unearth the crime in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the Code.
6.
It is relevant to rely upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India passed in Crl.A.No.255 of 2019 dated 12.02.2019 in the case of Sau. Kamal Shivaji Pokarnekar vs. the State of Maharashtra & ors., as follows:- "4. The only point that arises for our consideration in this case is whether the High Court was right in setting aside the order by which process was issued. It is settled law that the Magistrate, at the stage of taking cognizance and summoning, is required to apply his judicial mind only with a view to taking cognizance of the offence, or in other words, to find out whether a prima facie case has been made out for summoning the accused persons. The learned Magistrate is not required to evaluate the merits of the material or evidence in support of the complaint, because the Magistrate must not undertake the exercise to find out whether the materials would lead to a conviction or not.
5. Quashing the criminal proceedings is called for only in a case where the complaint does not disclose any offence, or is frivolous, vexatious, or oppressive.
If the allegations set out in the complaint do not constitute the offence of which cognizance has been taken by the Magistrate, it is open to the High Court to quash the same. It is not necessary that a meticulous analysis of the case should be done before the Trial to find out whether the case would end in conviction or acquittal. If it appears on a reading of the complaint and consideration of the allegations therein, in the light of the statement made on oath that the ingredients of the offence are disclosed, there would be no justification for the High Court to interfere.
......................
9. Having heard the learned Senior Counsel and examined the material on
record, we are of the considered view that the High Court ought not to have set aside the order passed by the Trial Court issuing summons to the Respondents. A perusal of the complaint discloses that prima facie, offences that are alleged against the Respondents. The correctness or otherwise of the said allegations has to be decided only in the Trial. At the initial stage of issuance of process it is not open to the Courts to stifle the proceedings by entering into the merits of the contentions made on behalf of the accused. Criminal complaints cannot be quashed only on the ground that the allegations made therein appear to be of a civil nature. If the ingredients of the offence alleged against the accused are prima facie made out in the complaint, the criminal proceeding shall not be interdicted."
7.
In view of the above discussion, this Court is not inclined to quash the First Information Reports. Accordingly, these Criminal Original Petitions stand dismissed. However, considering the facts and circumstances of the cases, the respondent police in both the petitions are directed to complete the investigation in Crime Nos.15 of 2020 and 44 of 2020 and file final report within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this Order, before the jurisdiction Magistrate, if not already filed.
Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar lok To
1. The Inspector of Police, T-2, Ambattur Estate Police Station, Ambattur, Chennai - 600 058
2. The Inspector of Police, V-1, Villivakkam Police Station, Villivakkam, Chennai - 600 049
3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
+1cc to Mr.P.Sivamuruganantham, Advocate, S.R.No.20437 +1cc to Mr.K.Sudharajan, Advocate, S.R.No.20545 CRL.O.P.No.2400 & 2436 of 2020 RK(CO) RN(02/06/2020)