The Federal Bank Ltd., v. The Inspector Of Police,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 30.11.2017
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH Crl.O.P.No.26152 of 2017 The Federal bank Ltd., Federal Towers, Aluva, Ernakulam District, Kerala and having one of its branches at Anakaputhur, Chennai, Represented by the Branch manager Mr.Prathap mahadev.B.
...Petitioner
Vs.
1. The Inspector of Police, Bank Fraud Cell, Office of the Commissioner of Police, 132, Commissioner Office Building, EVK Sampath Rd, Vepery, Periyamet, Chennai - 600 007.
2. G.Surender ... Respondents PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. praying to direct the first respondent police to register FIR on the basis of Petitioner's complaint dated 21.07.2017 and to take necessary action against the 2nd respondent.
For Petitioner :
Mr.S.Sathyiyanarayanan For respondents :
Mr.C.Iyyappa Raj Additional Public Prosecutor.
ORDER
This petition is filed seeking a direction to the first respondent to register a case on the basis of the petitioner's complaint dated 21.07.2017.
2.By consent of both sides, this Criminal Original Petition is taken up for final disposal.
3.The grievance of the petitioner is that inspite of a complaint given by him on 21.07.2017 to the first respondent , the same has been kept in abeyance without any action. It is well settled in the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari Vs. Government of Uttar Pradesh and others [2013
(6) CTC 353], that registration of an FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure if an information furnished to the police officer disclose commission of a cognizable offence and in cases where the information does not disclose a cognizable offence, a preliminary enquiry has to be conducted.
4. The first respondent is not justified in having received the complaint and keeping it unattended without any further action. In view of the same, the petitioner has made out a case for this Court to invoke its inherent powers under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
5.In the result, the petitioner is directed to give a copy of the complaint dated 21.07.2017 to the Station House Officer having territorial jurisdiction over the issue. On receipt of the said copy of the complaint, the concerned Station House Officer shall adhere to the following directions. 1)If the information received by the first respondent discloses commission of a cognizable offence, then, the same shall be forthwith registered.
2)If an information received does not disclose a cognizable offence, the first respondent shall conduct a preliminary inquiry to ascertain whether cognizable offence is disclosed therein or not and such inquiry shall be completed within a period of fifteen days from the date of information.
3) If the inquiry discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, the FIR must be registered, if not already registered or closed.
4) If the preliminary inquiry ends in closing the complaint, the closure report must be recorded along with the reasonings and a copy of the same shall be furnished to the complainant within one week.
5)All information relating to cognizable offences whether resulting in registration of FIR or leading an inquiry must be reflected in the general
diary/station diary/daily diary of the first respondent police station.
6. In the result, the Criminal Original Petition is allowed with the above directions.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS VII) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar vum/ak To
1. The Inspector of Police, Bank Fraud Cell, Office of the Commissioner of Police, 132, Commissioner Office Building, EVK Sampath Rd, Vepery, Periyamet, Chennai - 600 007.
2.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
+1cc to Mr.S.Sathyanarayanan, Advocate, S.R.No.85487 Crl.O.P.No.26152 of 2017 LRS(CO) RRK(19/12/2017)