R.Jayyakkan, M/Aged 54 Years v. The Deputy Commissioner Of

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED:03.06.2020

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN CRL.O.P.No.18960 of 2017 and Crl.M.P.Nos.11505 &14359 of 2017

1. R.Jayyakkan

2. J.Vasanthi

...Petitioners

Vs.

1. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Adyar Range, Adyar, Chennai - 600 020.

2. The State by The Inspector of Police (Crime) E4, Abiramapuram Police Station, Chennai.

...Respondents

PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. praying to call for the records of the proceedings in Crime No.594 of 2017 dated 3.05.2017, on the file of the second respondent police, and to quash the FIR as against the petitioner.

For Petitioners : M/S.P.Ananda Kumar For Respondents : Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz Additional Public Prosecutor.

O R D E R

This petition has been filed to quash the FIR in Crime No.594 2017 registered by the second respondent police for the offences under Sections 409 and 420 of IPC, as against the petitioners.

2.

Heard Mr.P.Ananda Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents.

3.

The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are innocent persons and they have not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Without any base, the second respondent police registered a case in Crime No.594 of 2017 for the offences under Sections 409 and 420 of IPC, as against the petitioners. Hence he prayed to quash the same.

4.

The learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the FIR in Crime No.594 of 2017 pending on the file of the second respondent has been transferred to the Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch, Vellore on 05.12.2018 and renumbered in Crime No.49 of 2018. 5.

It is seen from the First Information Report that there are specific allegations as against the petitioners to attract the offences, which has to be investigated in depth. 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 Report, as such this Criminal Original Petition is liable to be dismissed.

8.

However, the Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch, Vellore is directed to complete the investigation and to file a final report in Crime No.49 of 2018 within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 9.

With the above directions, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. Consequently, the connected Criminal Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS IV) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar ebsi To 1.Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch, Vellore.

2.The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Adyar Range, Adyar, Chennai - 600 020.

3.The Inspector of Police (Crime) E4, Abiramapuram Police Station, Chennai.

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

Crl.O.P.No.18960 of 2017 and Crl.M.P.Nos.11505 &14359 of 2017 AK(CO) KKV/04/09/2020