HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE G. ANUPAMA CHAKRAVARTHY
CRIMINAL PETITION NO.9486 OF 2023
O R D E R:
This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short 'Cr.P.C.') by the petitioners - accused Nos.2 to 4 to quash the proceedings against them in C.C.No.290 of 2023 pending on the file of III Additional Metropolitan Magistrate, Ranga Reddy District at L.B.Nagar. The offences alleged against the petitioners are under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code (for short 'IPC') and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act (for short 'DP Act')
2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri S.Ganesh, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor for respondent No.1 - State and perused the record.
3. It is contended by learned counsel for the petitioners that the petitioners are innocent and a false complaint has been foisted against them by the de-facto complainant with bald and general allegations. Learned counsel further contended that the police without due investigation filed charge sheet against the petitioners. Therefore, prayed to quash the proceedings against the petitioners.
GAC,J Crl.P.No.9486_2023 2
4. On the other hand, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor contended that the police has filed charge sheet against the petitioners only after due investigation and that it is not a fit case to quash the proceedings against the petitioners at this juncture as the matter has to be decided only after conducting trial by the Trial Court.
5. On a perusal of the charge sheet, this Court is of the view that truth or otherwise of the allegations made against the petitioners can be decided only after conducting trial. Hence, this Court is not inclined to interfere with the proceedings against the petitioners.
6. Taking into consideration the fact that the 1st and 2nd petitioners
- accused Nos.2 and 3 are parents of accused No.1 and 3rd petitioner
- accused No.4 is sister-in-law of accused No.1; and only general allegations are leveled against them, this Court is of the considered opinion that the appearance/attendance of the petitioners - accused Nos.2 to 4 before the trial Court shall be dispensed with.
7. Accordingly, the appearance/attendance of the petitioners - accused Nos.2 to 4 before the Court of III Additional Metropolitan Magistrate, Ranga Reddy District at L.B.Nagar in C.C.No.290 of 2023 is dispensed with, unless their presence is required by the trial Court for a specific purpose or at the time of recording examination under Section 313 Cr.P.C. and on the date of pronouncement of judgment.
GAC,J Crl.P.No.9486_2023 3 Further, the petitioners are at liberty to move an application before the trial Court seeking to discharge them from the case. On such application being filed and if any prima facie case is not made out against them, the trial Court shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders within a period of three (03) weeks from the date of filing of the said discharge petition without being influenced by any of the observations made by this Court in this order.
8. Subject to the above directions, this Criminal Petition is disposed of.
Miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.
_______________________________ G.ANUPAMA CHAKRAVARTHY, J Date: 27.09.2023 ns