R.Paneerdoss v. The Inspector Of Police

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENGH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.03.2022

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN and Crl.M.P(MD)No.7667 of 2020 R.Paneerdoss ... Petitioner/Accused No.3 Vs.

1.The State represented by, The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, Tiruchirappali City.

Crime No.7 of 2020.

... 1st Respondent/Complainant 2.P.R.Sathyamoorthy ... 2nd Respondent/ Defacto Complainant Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C., to call for the records and quash the F.I.R registered in Crime No.7 of 2020 against the petitioner pending on the file of the respondent police.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Sreedhar For R - 1 : Mr.B.Thanga Aravindh Government Advocate (Crl. Side) For R - 2 : Mr.S.Ravi

ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash the F.I.R in Crime No.7 of 2020 on the file of the first respondent.

2. The case of the prosecution is that accused Nos.1 and 2 entered into an agreement to sell the property belonged to the Advent Christian Conference of India to the defacto complainant for an amount of Rs.3,85,00,000/- after getting approval from the Executive Committee. The petitioner being the General Secretary of the Advent Christian Conference of India, had wrote a letter to the second respondent on 21.02.2019 stating that the Board has given its approval for giving the property with the School building on lease to their trust, which was approved by the EC meeting held on 21.02.2019. After receiving the amount, the petitioner along with 1/4

other accused cheated the defacto complainant. Hence, the second respondent lodged a complaint. Based on the said complaint, the first respondent registered a case against the petitioner and other accused in Crime No.7 of 2020 for the offences under Sections 406, 420 and 120(B) of I.P.C.

3. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.

4. 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.

5. 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."

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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 first respondent is directed to complete the investigation and file a 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 (CRL) // True Copy // / /2022 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) 3/4

Note :

In view of the present lock down owing to COVID-19 pandemic, a web copy of the order may be utilized for official purposes, but, ensuring that the copy of the order that is presented is the correct copy, shall be the responsibility of the advocate / litigant concerned.

To 1.The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, Tiruchirappali City.

2.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

+1CC to M/s.T.BALAKRISHNAN, Advocate ( SR-11737[F] dated 14/03/2022) +2 CC to M/s.R.SREEDHAR, Advocate ( SR-12125[F] dated 15/03/2022 Order made in Crl.O.P(MD)No.15644 of 2020 11.03.2022 1/2 PS MS/01.04.2022/4P.6C 4/4