Gokul Kannan v. The Inspector Of Police
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 17.02.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN and Crl.M.P(MD) No.2478 of 2022 Gokul Kannan ... Petitioner/Accused No.1 Vs
1. State through the Represented by The Inspector of Police, Uchipuli Police Station, Uchipuli.
...Respondent 1/Complainant
2. Samayadurai
...Respondent 2/
Defacto Complainant Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to Call for the entire records connected with the case in Crime No. 2 of 2019 on the file of the respondent no.1 and quash the same as illegal.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Abdul Rahuman For Respondents : Mr.R.M.Anbunithi No.1 Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
This Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash the proceedings in Crime No. 2 of 2019 on the file of the first respondent police.
2. The case of the prosecution is that on 01.01.2019 at about 12.20 AM the defacto complinant and other police officials conducted patrol in the four wheeler bearing registration No. TN 65 G 0724, at that time around 20 persons conduct new year celebration in public nuisance manner, therefore the de-facto complainant has given warning to the said persons through speaker, but the accused persons throw the cakes and stones on the police vehicle and damaged front glasses and prevented the de-facto complainant from doing his duty, the accused persons damaged glass which is cost Rs.12,000/-, therefore the de-facto complaint enquired about the said persons, who throw the stones and found 6 accused persons including the petitioner and given the complaint before the respondent police and a case came to be registered in Crime No.2 of 2019 under section 147, 427, 353, 506(ii) of Indian Penal Code read with 3 of Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act 1992. 3.
The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is innocent and he has not committed any 1/4
offence as alleged by the prosecution.
4.
The learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the investigation is completed and the respondent police are about to file the final report before the concerned court. 5.
Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
6. It is seen from the First Information Report that there are specific allegation as against the petitioner, which has to be investigated. Further the FIR is not an encyclopedia and it need not contain all facts. Further, 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.
7.It is also 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 - 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 2/4
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.
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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."
8.
In view of the above discussion, this Court is not inclined to quash the First Information Report. Hence this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. However, the respondent police is directed to complete the investigation and file final report before the concerned Magistrate, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar (AD-I) // True Copy // / /2022 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) aav 3/4
To 1.The Inspector of Police, Uchipuli Police Station, Uchipuli, Ramanathapuram District.
2.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
and Crl.M.P(MD) No.2478 of 2022 17.02.2022 SAR(CO) KB(04.03.2022) 4P 3C 4/4