S.Sarunraj v. Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 25.11.2021

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR Crl.O.P.No.19639 of 2021 in Crl. MP. No.10270 of 2021 S.Sarunraj

...Petitioner/Sole Accused

Versus

The Inspector of Police, Mangalam Police Station, Crime No.497 of 2020, Tiruppur District.

...Respondent/Complainant

Prayer: This Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 482 of Criminal Procedure Code praying to call for the records relating to F.I.R in Crime No.497 of 2020 on the file of the first respondent police and quash the same.

For Petitioner :

Mr.R.Prabakar For Respondent :

Mr.E.Raj Thilak Additional Public Prosecutor

O R D E R

The petitioner, who is an accused in Crime No.497 of 2020 dated 25.04.2020 for the offence under Sections 269 and 270 of IPC has filed this quash petition.

2. The gist of the case is that on 25.04.2020, at about 13.30 hrs, despite the prohibitory order under Section 144 Cr.P.C. was in force, the petitioner was driving the two wheeler bearing Registration No.TN-39-BJ-9922. Hence, the respondent Police registered a case in Crime No.497 of 2020 for the offence under Sections 269 and 270 IPC, as against which, the present quash petition is filed.

3. The contention of the petitioner is that he has completely unaware of the impugned FIR. At the time of passport verification only, he knows about the said FIR is pending with respect to the lock down violation. The learned counsel for the

petitioner submitted that the petitioner is a law abiding citizen. He has not involved in any offence as alleged by the respondent police. In such case, implicating the petitioner under this offence is void ab initio. The petitioner had not indulged in any activity of spreading the disease to others, hence, the FIR is liable to be quashed.

4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent submitted that the government had implemented prohibitory order under Section 144 Cr.P.C. due to Corona Pandemic. The respondent police also warned the petitioner not to roam unnecessarily. In spite of the warning, he was roaming without any reason and involved in the spreading of Corona virus. Hence, the complaint came to be registered against the petitioner.

5. This Court considered the rival submissions and perused the materials available on record.

6. On a perusal of records and submissions of both sides, it is seen that on 25.04.2020, the petitioner went out without any reason in two wheeler bearing No.TN-39-BJ-9922. While prohibiting order was in force under Section 144 Cr.P.C., and a case can be registered only if a person indulges in the act to believe that the disease can be spread to others. But in this scenario, the petitioner went out to fulfill his family needs and as such, there is no possibility to believe about the spread of disease. The offence is not made out because the petitioner did not indulge in any activity that may spread disease to others. Hence, this Court is inclined to allow this petition.

7. In the result, the impugned order in Crime No.497 of 2020 dated 25.04.2020 on the file of the respondent is quashed. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS-VII) //True copy// Sub Assistant Registrar Rkp To

1. The Inspector of Police, Mangalam Police Station, Crime No.497 of 2020, Tiruppur District.

2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras-104 +1cc to Mr.R.Prabakar, Advocate SR.No.61321 Crl.O.P.No.19639 of 2021 in Crl. MP. No.10270 of 2021 SJ(CO) GMY(03/12/2021)