Vedprakash S/O Vijaysingh Rathod v. The Superintendent Of Police Gadchiroli Complex Area Dist Gadchiroli

1 906-Cri.WP-896-25.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY,

NAGPUR BENCH, AT NAGPUR.

CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO.896 OF 2025 Vedprakash s/o Vijaysingh Rathod, Kurkheda, Dist. Gadchiroli vs.

The Superintendent of Police Gadchiroli, Complex Area, Dist. Gadchiroli and ors. - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - Shri Rushikesh S. Bhoyar, Advocate for petitioner. Shri I. J. Damle, Additional Public Prosecutor for respondent Nos.1 to 4. CORAM : ANIL L. PANSARE AND RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ. DATED : 28th November, 2025 On 26/12/2025 following order was passed :

" On 12/11/2025, following order was passed : "The petitioner has come up with prayer to direct the respondents to complete the investigation in the First Information Report No.255/2024 that was lodged on 19/12/2024 for the offences punishable under Section 406, 407, 408, 409, 418, 420, 464, 465, 468, 469, 471, 474 and 477-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

2.

Issue notice to the respondents.

3.

Mr. I. J. Damle, learned APP waives service of notice for respondent Nos.1 to 4/State.

4.

Respondent No.1 shall inquire into the matter and file report as to why investigation has not been completed till today. 5.

List the petition in the week commencing from 24/11/2025. 2.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor submits that investigation is completed. The charge-sheet has been not filed because handwriting expert's report is awaited from the Director, Handwriting Expert, CID, Nagpur.

3.

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor shall take instructions from the Director, Handwriting Expert, CID, Nagpur as regards the time that will be taken to complete the process of examining the signatures placed before him. 4.

List on 28/11/2025."

2.

In response, learned Additional Public Prosecutor submits that for want of employees, the task could not be completed within time. He

2 906-Cri.WP-896-25.odt submits that many such cases are pending and it is only when Court directs, a particular case/sample is analysed on priority. He submits that as per information received from the office of Additional Director General of Police, CID, State of Maharashtra, Pune, there are seven sanctioned posts of handwriting expert with the department of CID, Nagpur. At present amongst seven posts, three posts are vacant and there are 1748 cases pending as on 31/10/2025.

3.

In view of aforesaid submission, the Director, Handwriting Expert, CID, Nagpur shall on priority basis examine the handwriting under question and submit report to Investigating Officer within a period of four weeks. 4.

We would also like to examine as to how the issue of pendency will be addressed by the concerned department. We accordingly, call upon Smt Radhika Rastogi, Addl. Chief Secretary, Home Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai to submit details on this point.

5.

Stand over immediately after Christmas vacation. (Raj D. Wakode, J.) (Anil L. Pansare, J.) Asmita Signed by: Smt. Asmita A. Bhandakkar Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 28/11/2025 17:46:59