R.Kannan v. The Deputy Superintendent Of
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENGH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 30.11.2020
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN CRL.O.P (MD) No.23512 of 2016 and Crl.M.P.(MD) No.12409 of 2016 R.Kannan ... Petitioner Vs 1.The State Rep by The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Economic Offences Wing-II, Tirunelveli (I/c) Virudhunagar (Cr.No.4/2010).
2.Arumuga Nainar ... Respondents PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C, to call for the records relating to the Criminal case proceedings in C.C.No.1 of 2016 pending on the file of District and Sessions Judge (Special Court for the purpose of TNPID Act), Madurai and quash the same as against this petitioner. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Jayaramachandran For Respondents : Mr.R.Erottuchamy Government Advocate (crl.side) for R1 : Mr.A.R.Kannappan for R2
O R D E R
This petition has been filed to quash the proceedings in C.C.No.1 of 2016 pending on the file of learned District and Sessions Judge (Special Court for the purpose of TNPID Act), Madurai.
2. The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Without any base, the first respondent police registered a case in Crime No.4 of 2010, as against the petitioner and filed charge sheet in C.C.No.1 of 2016, on the file of learned District and Sessions Judge (Special Court for the purpose of TNPID Act), Madurai. Hence he prayed to quash the same.
3.The learned Government Advocate (criminal side) would submit that there are specific allegations as against the petitioner. He would further submit that now the trial has been commenced and so far, the prosecution examined 813 witnesses out of 3302 witnesses 1/5
and the matter is posted for examination of further witnesses and all the points raised by the petitioner have to considered only during the trial. Therefore, he prayed to dismiss this petition.
4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (criminal side) for the first respondent.
5.A careful perusal of entire materials available on record, the final report discloses a prima facie offence against the petitioner and there is no reason to interfere with the same. 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.
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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."
6.It is also relevant to rely upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India passed in Crl.A.No.579 of 2019 dated 02.04.2019 in the case of Devendra Prasad Singh Vs. State of Bihar & Anr., as follows:- " 12.So far as the second ground is concerned, we are of the view that the High Court while hearing the application under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. had no jurisdiction to appreciate the statement of the witnesses and record a finding that there were inconsistencies in their statements and, therefore, there was no prima facie case made out against respondent No.2. In our view, this could be done only in the trial while deciding the issues on the merits or/and by the Appellate Court while deciding the appeal arising out of the final order passed by the Trial Court but not in Section 482 Cr.P.C. proceedings.
13.In view of the foregoing discussion, we allow the appeal, set aside the impugned order and restore the aforementioned complaint case to its original file for being proceeded with on merits in accordance with law.
7.Recently, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India held in respect of the very same issue in Crl.A.No.1572 of 2019 - Central Bureau of 3/5
Invstigation Vs. Arvind Khanna, wherein, it has been held as follows:
"19.After perusing the impugned order and on hearing the submissions made by the learned senior counsels on both sides, we are of the view that the impugned order passed by the High Court is not sustainable. In a petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., the High Court has recorded findings on several disputed facts and allowed the petition. Defence of the accused is to be tested after appreciating the evidence during trial. The very fact that the High Court, in this case, went into the most minute details, on the allegations made by the appellant-C.B.I., and the defence put-forth by the respondent, led us to a conclusion that the High Court has exceeded its power, while exercising its inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C.
20.In our view, the assessment made by the High Court at this stage, when the matter has been taken cognizance by the Competent Court, is completely incorrect and uncalled for."
The above judgments are squarely applied to this case and as such, the points raised by the petitioner cannot be considered by this Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C.
8.In view of the above discussions, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is also dismissed.
9.At this juncture, the learned Counsel for the petitioner would submit that the presence of the petitioner before the Trial Court may be dispensed with.
10.Accepting the said submission, the personal appearance of the petitioner is dispensed with and he shall be represented by a counsel after filing appropriate application. The petitioner shall be present before the Court at the time of furnishing of copies, framing charges, questioning under Section 313 Cr.P.C. and at the time of passing judgment.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CS III) // True Copy // / /2020 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) 4/5
Ls 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 District and Sessions Judge (Special Court for the purpose of TNPID Act), Madurai 2.The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Economic Offences Wing-II, Tirunelveli (I/c) Virudhunagar.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
Order made in CRL.O.P (MD) No.23512 of 2016 30.11.2020 SJ(CO) KK(16.12.2020) 5 P 4C 5/5