K.Hemalatha, Aged 38 Years, v. State Rep. By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED 01.08.2018

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE P.N.PRAKASH Crl.O.P.No.18863 of 2018 K.Hemalatha .. Petitioner Vs 1.State rep. by The Inspector of Police C-5, Oragadam Police Station Kanchipuram District.

2.The Manager Karnataka Bank Thiruvallur Branch Thiruvallur 602 001.

..Respondents (R2 suo motu impleaded vide order of this Court dated 01.08.2018) Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to call for the records in Cr.No.315 of 2016 and de-freeze the petitioner bank account and jewels maintained at Karnataka Bank, Thiruvallur Branch in A/c 7832500100014201.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Suresh For R1 : Mr.C.Iyyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor

O R D E R

This petition has been filed to call for the records in Cr.No.315 of 2016 and de-freeze the petitioner's bank account and jewels maintained at Karnataka Bank, Thiruvallur Branch in A/c 7832500100014201.

2.On the complaint lodged by Lee Jae Young, Manging Director, M/s.Doowon Automotive Systems India Pvt. Ltd., SIPCOT Industrial Park, Oragadam, the respondent Police registered a case in Crime No.315 of 2016 on 12.10.2016 under Section 381 and 109 IPC against Kandaswamy [A1], Aravindhan [A2] and Arun Kumar [A3] and others. It is the case of the de facto complainant that the accused had stolen some raw materials from the complainant's factory to a tune of Rs.47,18,427/-. The Police arrested Kandaswamy [A1] and Aravindan [A2] and during the course of investigation, it came to light that Kandaswamy [A1] had secreted the proceeds of the crime in his locker with

Karnataka Bank, Thiruvallur Branch, Tiruvallur District. Hence, the Investigating Officer sent a requisition under Section 102 of Cr.P.C. to the Branch Manager, Karnataka Bank, Thiruvallur Branch, to freeze the locker and bank account of Kandaswamy [A1], pursuant to which, the Branch Manager has frozen the locker and the bank account, challenging which, Kandaswamy [A1] is before this Court.

3.Heard Mr.Suresh, learned counsel for the petitioner; the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the first respondent-State and perused the materials placed on record. This Court suo motu impleaded the Manager, Karnataka Bank, Thiruvallur Branch as second respondent.

4.Mr.Suresh contended that after passing orders under Section 102 Cr.P.C., the Police have failed to inform the jurisdictional Magistrate and therefore, the order of the learned Magistrate stands vitiated, in the light of the judgment of this Court in B.Ranganathan Vs. State and Others [2003 (Crl.) L.J.2779].

5. The petitioner filed Crl.O.P.No.4983 of 2017 for similar relief, in which, the Investigating Officer filed a counter affidavit dated 16.03.2017, on the strength of which, final orders were passed on 09.07.2018 giving certain directions. Since the facts of the case have been set out in the order dated 09.08.2018 in Crl.O.P.No.4983 of 2017, it may not be necessary to re-state them again here.

6. Therefore, this Court directs the Branch Manager, Karnataka Bank, Thiruvallur Branch, Tiruvallur District to deposit the amount standing in the credit of the petitioner's bank A/c.No.7832500100014201 in Crime No.315 of 2016 before the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court, Sriperumbudur within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On such deposit, the learned District Munsif-cumJudicial Magistrate, Sriperumbudur is directed to re-deposit the amount in any Nationalised bank, so that the amount accrues interest.

7.Thereafter, liberty is given to the holder of the account to file an application under Section 451 Cr.P.C. before the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate, Sriperumbudur for interim custody of the amount by giving satisfactory explanation that the said amount is not connected to the proceeds of the crime. On such application being filed, the same shall be dealt with by the learned Magistrate in accordance with law. The Investigating Officer is directed to approach the bank and take inventory of the articles in the locker, photographs of them in the presence of an official of the bank and intimate the same to the jurisdictional Magistrate. The account holder will be entitled to operate her savings bank A/c.No.7832500100014201,

after the amount standing in the account is transferred to the file of District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate in Crime No.315 of 2016.

With the above direction, this petition is closed. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS VIII) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar To 1.The Inspector of Police C-5, Oragadam Police Station Kanchipuram District.

2.The Manager,Karnataka Bank Thiruvallur Branch,Thiruvallur 602 001.

3.The District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate, Sriperumbudur.

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

+1cc to Mr.S.Suresh, Advocate, S.R.No.53546 Crl.O.P.No.18863 of 2018 NRL(CO) GSP(10/09/2018)