Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 5465 Guj
Judgement Date : 4 April, 2025
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Reserved On : 05/03/2025
Pronounced On : 04/04/2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR QUASHING & SET ASIDE
FIR/ORDER) NO. 19595 of 2021
FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J. C. DOSHI
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Approved for Reporting Yes No
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DHARMENDRA @ DHAMO JETHALAL BARIA
Versus
THE STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.
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Appearance:
MR BM MANGUKIYA(437) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS BELA A PRAJAPATI(1946) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
SHREY H DAVE(8444) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
NOTICE NOT RECD BACK for the Respondent(s) No. 2
MR MANAN MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J. C. DOSHI
CAV JUDGMENT
1. By way of this application under Section 482 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973, the applicant has prayed to quash
and set aside the FIR being No.C.R.No.11186008210185 of 2021
registered with Una Police Station, Gir Somnath for the offences
under Sections 65(E), 81, 83, 98(2), 99 of the Prohibition Act and
all the consequential proceedings arising therefrom.
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2. Facts of the case are as under :-
2.1 That the First Information Report is lodged by the
respondent no. 2 on 09.02.2021 for the incident which is alleged
to have occurred on the same day. The first informant and the
other police personnel were on patrolling duty, at that time, Mr.
P.P. Bambhaniya the Police Head Constable received a secret
information that one silver coloured Innova car bearing
registration no. GJ-06-BL-2034 would come from Ghoghla
towards Una and the said car is loaded with Indian made foreign
liquor. It is alleged that on receiving the said information the
first informant along with the other police personnel were
waiting for the said car near Delvada Petrol pump. It is alleged
that as soon as the said vehicle reached Delvada Petrol pump,
the same was stopped and on checking the said car from
backside of the trunk of the car, a secret partition was made,
wherein, Indian made foreign liquor bottles were hidden. It is
alleged that on inquiring from the persons who were seated in
the car, one of them was Kunalpari Dhirupari Goswami Bavaji
and other person was Vanraj Bhikhabhai Odedara. It is alleged
that on inquiring about the pass permit, the aforesaid persons
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refused to have any pass permit for keeping the illicit liquor with
them. It is alleged that total 417 bottles worth Rs. 1,89,640/-
were found. It is alleged that on further inquiry from the
aforesaid two persons they have informed that the said liquor
bottles were loaded from Jai Ambe Bar of Dharmendra @Dhamo
and the same was to be delivered to one Divyesh @ D.K. Odedara
at Junagadh. It is alleged that the accused no. 1 and 2 were
caught with the muddamaal and it is alleged that the accused
no. 3 had loaded the said liquor bottles in the car of the accused
nos. 1 and 2 and the same was to be delivered to the accused no.
4 and the accused in connivance with each other have hatched a
conspiracy and have committed the alleged offence. Hence, FIR
was lodged.
3. Learned advocate Mr.Mangukia for the petitioner seeks
quashment of FIR on two grounds. Firstly, it is submitted that
the petitioner is resident of Union territory of Diu and he has
license to sell liquor in Diu. It is argued that since the petitioner
was holding license to sell liquour, he cannot be prosecuted
under the prohibition act applicable to State of Gujarat.
Secondly, it was argued that the petitioner is not found at the
spot, where raid was taken place. The petitioner has been
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arraigned on the ground of statement of co-accused which is
inadmissible piece of evidence and therefore, it is submitted that
FIR since is baseless and vexatious, be quashed.
3.1. In support of above submission, learned advocate for petitioner has relied on following judgments :-
i) Dharmenda @ Dhamo Jethalal Baria v/s. State of Gujarat [Special Criminal Application No.11553 of 2021].
ii) Jignesh @ Jigo Jado Jagdishbhai Jarivala v/s. State of Gujarat [Criminal Misc. Application No.11508 of 2020]
iii) Mahendrabhai Dahayabhai (Kamli) Patel v/s. State of Gujarat [ Criminal Misc. Application No.3992 of 2013]
iv) Yogeshbhai Bhikabhai Chaudhari v/s. State of Gujarat [Criminal Misc. Application No.18793 of 2014].
4. On the other hand, learned APP argued that license is in
name of mother of the petitioner and not in the name of the
petitioner. It is submitted that the petitioner has no license to
sell liquour even in Union territory of Diu. It is submitted that
Indian made foreign liquour which is recovered from the spot
during raid and have been source for question FIR, was
intercepted in State of Gujarat. The petitioner is named in the
FIR as supplier of Indian made foreign liquor alleged to have
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been sold withing territory of State of Gujarat. It is submitted
that whether the petitioner has sold Indian made foreign liqour
within territory of Dui or within territory of State of Gujarat is
subject matter of trial. Thus, it is submitted that FIR cannot be
quashed as the arguments / points can be decided during trial.
4.1. Upon above submissions, it is submitted to dismiss the petition.
5. I have heard learned advocates for the parties and
considered record.
6. At page no.24(A) is license issued by Collector and Deputy
Commissioner of Excise, Diu. It reads as under :-
Dated: 11-oct-2001
Read : An application dated 07-07-2001 from SMT. Premilaben Jethalal Bandokar Colony, Ghoghla-Diu.
ORDER:
It is here by order that the commissioner of Excise. Daman And Diu Duman has Granted the approval for transfer of ownership of liquor License No RS/IMFL-CL/91-52 from the name of late
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Shri Jethalal Hira to the name of his namely Smt. Premelaben Jethalal, Bandokar Colony Choghh Diu), under rule 104(2) of goa, daman and Diu Party Rule 1964 with immediate effects
Collector and DY COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE
DIU
7. Perusal of aforesaid license issued by Collector,
demonstrate that Smt. Premalaben Jethalal resident of
Bandokar Colony, Choghla, Diu is holding liquor license No.RS /
IMFL-CL/91-52 from the name of late Shri Jethalal Hira
indicates that license which learned advocate for the petitioner
claims permitting the petitioner to sell liquor is standing in the
name of Smt. Premelaben from 11.10.2021. Therefore, upon
such license, the petitioner cannot sell Indian made foreign
liqour even within Union territory of Diu. Perusal of FIR indicates
that police official have received tip that in Car No.GJ-06-BL-
2034 accused were transporting Indian made foreign liqour. It
was intercepted near Madvi check post by police officials but car
was not stopped and it crossed check post and ran towards
Delvada, howbeit car was intercepted near Delvada Petrol Pump,
where it was found that person named viz. Krunalpari Goswami
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and Vanraj Odedra transporting Indian made foreign liqour and
they have told that Indian made foreign liqour was supplied by
present petitioner. FIR does not disclose that Indian made
foreign liquor has been supplied by petitioner no.2 from Union
Territory of Diu. What could be noticed that statement of co-
accused is relevant piece of investigation which gives clue to
Investigating Officer to proceed further in investigation.
Therefore, statement of co-accused is relevant material for
investigation, though it may not be admissible in evidence, but it
is relevant material to proceed further in investigation, thus FIR
at this stage cannot be scuttle. What could be noticed that
quashing petition is filed at the stage of filing of FIR and
investigation is yet to be progressed in the matter. Thus,
statement of co-accused recorded during investigation is relevant
under section 10 of the Evidence Act.
8. In the case of Jayendra Saraswati v/s. State [AIR 2005 SC
716], the Hon'ble Apex Court has held that if prima facie
evidence of conspiracy exists, evidence of statement made by any
of the conspiratory in furtherance of common object is
admissible so far as investigation is concerned.
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9. At the outset, if role of the accused could be scan from
available record, the petitioner is arrayed either as supplier of
liqour or liquor was to be supplied to him. Admittedly, the role of
the petitioner unfurled during the statement of other accused
who are arrested in aforesaid FIR. However, the petitioner
approached this Court at initial stage of investigation for
quashing of FIR. Investigation of FIR is stayed by interim order.
Indeed statement of co-accused is not admissible in evidence but
it is relevant during the investigation. Learned advocate for the
petitioners relying upon the various judgment argued that since
co-accused statement is not admissible in evidence, FIR needed
to be quashed. At first blush argument looks attractive but stage
of deciding admissibility of evidence comes after filing charge
sheet; framing of charge and during recording of evidence. At the
initial stage of registration of FIR and starting of investigation on
the basis of statement of co-accused issue of admissibility would
not arise.
10. With profit, I may refer to observation in the case of
Kailash Govindram Rathi Versus State Of Gujarat [2008 (1) GLR
750], this Court has held in para 6,8,9 and 10 as under :-
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"6. At the outset it is required to be noted that against all the respective applicants, the complainants are filed before the different Police Stations for the offences punishable under Ss. 66(B), 65(a)(e), 81, 43 read with Sec. 116(2) of the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 . It is also required to be noted that in almost all the cases the accused who were caught are Drivers, Cleaners etc., transporting English liquor from the places out of Gujarat to the State of Gujarat. It is also required to be noted that there is prohibition in the State of Gujarat. It is also required to be noted that in almost all the cases allegations against the respective applicants on the basis of the statements of the persons who are arrested are that the applicants are either suppliers of the liquor and/or liquor was to be supplied to them for the purpose of sell within the State of Gujarat. In almost all the cases the allegations is that the applicants are absconding and most of them are from out of the State of Gujarat. Now on the basis of the allegations and averments in the complaints, and on the basis of the statements of the co-accused who are arrested, the Investigating Officer started to initiate investigation against the applicants, at that initial stage all the applicants have approached this Court by way of present application for quashing and setting aside the respective complainants against them solely on the ground that except the statements of the co-accused there is no material and/or evidence against them. This Court granted stay of further investigation in almost all the cases. Now the question which is required to be considered at this stage is whether the investigation is to be commenced and/or proceeded on the basis of the statements of the co-accused and whether the Investigating Officer should be permitted to further investigate the case and/or whether at this stage even before the investigation is concluded respective complainants are required to be quashed.
7. Learned Advocates appearing on behalf of the applicants have relied upon the decision in the case of New India Assurance Co. Ltd. (supra) have submitted that in the aforesaid decision, this Court has taken a view that on the basis of the statements of the co-accused there cannot be any conviction. In one of the cases Jinabhai Kalabhai
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Rajput (supra) the accused was convicted and in the case of Suresh Chhotalal Verma (supra), the accused was discharged. Now it is required to be noted at this stage that in the case of Jinabhai Kalabhai Rajput (supra) the question came to be considered at the time of appeal and accused was convicted solely on the basis of the statements of the co-accused and it was found that there was no other material and/or evidence against the accused. Now so far as the case of Suresh Chhotala Verma (supra) is concerned in that case the question came to be considered at time of discharge after chargesheet was submitted and it was found considering the charge-sheet papers that except the statements of the co-accused there was no material and/or evidence against the accused and considering the same accused came to be discharged.
Thus, the stage at which this Court intervened was the stage at the time of discharge i.e. after the investigation was completed and charge-sheet was filed. Under the circumstances both the decisions are not applicable to the facts of the present cases.
8. Identical question came to be considered by the Hon ble Supreme Court in the case of Mohd. Malek Mondal (supra) reported in 2005 10 SCC 608 and the case before the Hon ble Supreme Court was that an application was submitted u/s. 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code to quash the complaint and one of the ground canvassed on behalf of the accused was that there was no material against the petitioners except the inadmissible retracted statement allegedly made by the co-accused. The Hon ble Supreme Court confirmed the order passed by the High Court refusing to quash the complaint on that ground at the stage of investigation and the Hon ble Supreme Court has held that the question about corroborative nature of evidence has to be considered at the appropriate stage and the High Court rightly declined the prayer to quash the complaint at the initial stage when only cognizance had taken and the accused was still to be interrogated. Relevant paragraph No. 6 of the said judgement is reproduced as under:
"6. The proceedings of the complaint are at the initial stage
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after the cognizance has been taken. The petitioner could not be interrogated since he has been avoiding to appear before the NCB officer despite issue of various notices as per the averments made in the complaint. The allegations in the complaint are grave. The recover, according to the prosecution, is of 2.050 kg of heroin which, according to the statement of Dilip Das, belonged to the petitioner. The question whether Sec. 42 of the NDPS Act has been complied or not being a question of fact has to be gone into on appreciation of evidence that may be adduced before the Special Judge. Prima facie, the High Court has come to the conclusion that there has been compliance. This is not the stage for in-depth examination of this question. The contention that there is no material against the petitioner since the only material on record was inadmissible retracted statement allegedly made by the co-accused Dilip Das, also cannot be accepted, at this stage, when only cognizance has been taken and the petitioner is still to be interrogated. The question about corroborative nature of evidence may also have to be gone into at the appropriate state. The only other contention urged is about the lack of power of the Special Judge to issue warrant of arrest." Now considering the decision of the Hon ble Supreme Court in the case of Mohd. Malek Mondal (supra) and considering the facts of the present case, stage at which the proceedings are pending i.e. at the initial stage of the investigation, the contention on behalf of the respective applicants that the complaints are required to be quashed and set aside on the ground that except statements of the co-accused there is no material and/or evidence against the applicants, cannot be accepted.
9. It is required to be noted that investigation was at the initial stage and the investigation was to be initiated/proceeded further on the basis of the statements of the co-accused and the allegations and averments in the complainants. Before even the investigation is carried out, the applicants have approached this Court and the Police Officers are restrained from further investigation. It is also required to be noted that in almost all the cases, the applicants are absconding and/or residing outside State of Gujarat. Unless and until the investigation is proceeded
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further; the respective applicants are interrogated and till the investigation is completed, it cannot be said that there is no material and/or evidence against the applicants. All these things are required to be considered after the investigation is completed and appropriate report and/or charge-sheet is submitted against the applicants and thereafter, the question is required to be considered whether the applicants are to be prosecuted or not. At the initial stage of investigation the respective complaints cannot be quashed and set aside solely on the ground that at this stage there are only statements of the co-accused which is inadmissible in evidence. Corroborative nature of evidence during the course of investigation and statements of co-accused can be considered at an appropriate stage. Under the circumstances, at the initial stage complainants cannot be quashed. It cannot be disputed that it is statutory right of the Investigating Officer to investigate the complainants and the offences and the Investigating Officer cannot be restrained from further investigation solely on the ground that at this stage only statements of the co-accused is available. In fact as per this Court statements of the co-accused, allegations and the averments in the complainants to that effect can be the basis for initiation of further investigation.
10. Under the circumstances, the prayer of the applicants at this stage to quash the complainants and stall the investigation at the initial stage cannot be accepted. All those submissions are required to be considered at an appropriate stage and not at the stage of investigation. The submission of the learned Advocates appearing on behalf of the applicant relying upon sec. 25 of the Indian Evidence Act and Sec. 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code are also not required to be considered at this stage, the same can be considered at an appropriate stage after the investigation is completed and appropriate report/ chargesheet is filed and/or even at the time of trial.
11. Recently, Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of
Mansing Shakarlal (Damor) Mina v/s. State of Gujarat [2024(0)
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AIJEL HC 247952], after taking into consideration divergent
views expressed by this Court in regard to involvement of the
accused in the offence on the statement of co-accused and after
relying on judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of the
Mohd. Malek Mondal v/s. Pranjal Bardalai [(2005) 10 SCC 608],
has held in para 6.1 to 7.9 as under :-
"6.1 To prop up her contention, she relied on a judgment of the Apex Court rendered in the case of Mohd. Malek Mondal v. Pranjal Bardalai and Another, (2005) 10 SCC
608. She also placed reliance on the judgment of this Court rendered in the case of Firozbhai Hajibhai Sodha v. State of Gujarat, which is an unreported judgment rendered in Criminal Misc. Application No. 5836 of 2021 and also a judgment rendered in the case of Budhiyabhai Somabhai Khalasi v. State of Gujarat, 2012 SCC OnLine Guj 1300.
7. The facts of the case are absolutely not in controversy. The other accused against whom the aforesaid FIRs were registered, as per the prosecution story, they are found to be in illegal possession of various types of liquor and have been illegally transporting the same. They were apprehended by the police and the contraband was seized from their possession. When they were interrogated after taking them into custody, during the course of investigation, they revealed that the petitioner herein had supplied the said various types of liquor to them. As noticed supra, it is on the basis of the said statement of the co-accused, the petitioner is now shown as one of the accused in the above FIRs.
7.1 Now, the crucial question that arises for consideration is whether the petitioner is entitled for quash of the FIR registered against him on the sole ground that he was shown as accused in all the above crimes only on the basis
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of the statement given by the co-accused or not. According to the petitioner, the said statement of co-accused is inadmissible in evidence and he cannot be shown as accused on the basis of the said statement of the co- accused.
7.2 This Court has taken divergent views on the said proposition of law. In some cases, this Court has taken a view that registering FIR against a person solely on the basis of the statement of the co-accused is not permissible and that, the said FIR and the criminal proceedings initiated thereon are liable to be quashed. The other Coordinate Benches have taken a view that the statement of co-accused serves as a clue to the Investigating Officer regarding the role played by the said person in commission of the said offence and when the case is at the investigation stage, that the FIR and the criminal proceedings initiated against him cannot be quashed and held that, ultimately it is for the Investigating Officer either to file the charge-sheet against him after collecting valid evidence in proof of his complicity in commission of the said crime or drop the proceedings if no other evidence is available in proof of his complicity in the commission of the said crime.
7.3 However, though there are divergent views expressed by this Court, as discussed supra, the judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Mohd. Malek Mondal (supra), is relevant in the context to consider. In that case also, the petitioner therein sought quash of the FIR registered against him on the ground that there was no material against him except the inadmissible, retracted statement, allegedly made by the co-accused. The High Court, where the said quash petition was filed, declined to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against him. When the said order of the High Court was questioned before the Apex Court, the Apex Court did not accept the contention that since the material only available on record was inadmissible, retracted statement, allegedly made by the co-accused that the petitioner is entitled for quash of the criminal proceedings and thereby, upheld the judgment of the High Court.
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7.4 In another judgment rendered in the case of Mohammed Farsin v. State, represented through the Intelligence Officer, rendered in Criminal Misc. Application No. 296 of 2014, the Supreme Court observed as under:
"...The confession of a accused gives a clue to the investigating authorities as to how to investigate the matter and against whom to investigate the matter. Thereafter, it is for the Investigating Officer to collect the evidence against the said person who has been named by the co- accused...."
7.5 Thus, from the ratio laid down in the above judgment by the Apex Court, the legal position is made clear that the statement of coaccused can be considered and treated as a clue or a piece of information to inquire or investigate as to the role played by the said person in commission of the said offence and if any satisfactory and reliable evidence or material is found during the course of investigation in support of the said statement given by the co-accused, certainly, the said person against whom the said evidence is available, would be liable for prosecution. At the stage when the investigation has commenced or the investigation is going on, in the said facts and circumstances of the case, it would not be proper to interdict the investigation or to quash the FIR and the criminal proceedings initiated thereon against the said person.
7.6 The same view was taken by this Court in the judgment rendered in the case of Firozbhai Hajibhai Sodha (supra). This Court in the said judgment has referred all the earlier judgments of this Court rendered on the point wherein this Court has held that the said statement of the co-accused can certainly be taken as a clue by the Investigating Officer and proceed with investigation against the said person by registering the case against him and that the proceedings cannot be quashed. This Court also in the said judgment relied on the judgment of the Apex Court rendered in the case of Kalyan Chandra Sarkar v. Rajesh Ranjan Alias Pappu Yadav, (2004) 7 SCC 528, and the above cited judgment in Mohammed Farsin's case and held that the FIR and the criminal proceedings initiated against a person on the basis of the statement of co- accused cannot be quashed under Section 482 of the
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CrPC.
7.7 In the present context, it is relevant to consider the judgment of the Supreme Court in the above case of Kalyan Chandra Sarkar (supra). In the said judgment, Supreme Court clearly held that when the only other evidence available to the prosecution to connect the person with the crime is alleged confession of the co-accused which according to the learned counsel was inadmissible evidence, it is too premature to accept the said contention.
7.8 The Apex Court further held in the said judgment that the admissibility or otherwise of the confessional statement and the effect of evidence adduced by the prosecution and the merit of the evidence that may be adduced by the prosecution are all matters to be considered at the stage of the trial.
7.9 Thus, though there are divergent views expressed by this Court on the said proposition of law, in view of the authoritative pronouncements of the Supreme Court on the point as discussed supra, which is the law of land and binding on this Court, this Court has absolutely no hesitation to hold that the proceedings against the petitioner herein that are initiated by way of registering the FIR on the basis of the statement of co-accused, cannot be quashed in exercise of inherent powers of this Court under Section 482 of CrPC. If ultimately, the Investigating Officer finds material or evidence regarding the complicity of the petitioner in commission of the said offence, certainly, he would be liable for prosecution along with the other accused. If no material is found on the said clue, certainly, the Investigating Officer would drop the proceedings against him at the time of filing final report before the concerned Court. Therefore, the petitions are devoid of merit and they are liable to be dismissed."
12. At initial stage, where cognizable offence is disclosed in
FIR, whether investigation can be thwart by exercising inherent
power under section 482 of Cr.P.C., the Hon'ble Apex Court in
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the case of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Ltd. v/ s. State
of Uttar Pradesh [2020 SCC Online SC 958], in para 41 has held
as under :-
"41. It is needless to point out that ever since the decision of the Privy Council in King Emperor v. Khwaja Nazir Ahmed AIR 1945 PC 18, the law is well settled that Courts would not thwart any investigation. It is only in cases where no cognizable offence or offence of any kind is disclosed in the first information report that the Court will not permit an investigation to go on. As cautioned by this Court in State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335, the power of quashing should be exercised very sparingly and with circumspection and that too in the rarest of rare cases. While examining a complaint, the quashing of which is sought, the Court cannot embark upon an enquiry as to the reliability or genuineness or otherwise of the allegations made in the FIR or in the complaint. In S.M. Datta v. State of Gujarat (2001) 7 SCC 659 this Court again cautioned that criminal proceedings ought not to be scuttled at the initial stage. Quashing of a complaint should rather be an exception and a rarity than an ordinary rule. In S.M. Datta (supra), this Court held that if a perusal of the first information report leads to disclosure of an offence even broadly, law courts are barred from usurping the jurisdiction of the police, since the two organs of the State operate in two specific spheres of activities and one ought not to tread over the other sphere."
13. The proceedings against the petitioner are initiated by way
of impugned FIR on the basis of statement of co-accused and it
cannot be quashed under section 482 of Cr.P.C. at this juncture.
Statement of co-accused can be taken as clue by Investigating
Officer to proceed with investigation against the petitioner by
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registering the case against him. If any evidence or material is
found during course of investigation in support of statement of
co-accused, the petitioner would be liable for prosecution,
otherwise prosecution would be dropped. In the present case,
charge-sheet is not filed and therefore, it would be improper to
quash the FIR at this stage. Moreover, argument of learned
advocate Mr.Mangukia for the petitioner that petitioner is just
seller in Union territory of Diu as license holder, this submission
cannot be accepted on the ground that total liquor which was
found while intercepting vehicle was 422 bottles of Indian Made
Foreign Liqour. If the person has license to sell liqour, he would
not sell this much quantity of liquor except for the purpose of
transporting it to State of Gujarat.
14. So far as judgments relied by learned advocate for the
petitioners is concerned, most of them are on the facts where, in
charge sheet no evidence connecting the accused with offence
was found, except statement of co-accused and would not render
any assistance to the petitioners.
15. In view of above, the petition is dismissed. Notice is
discharged. Interim relief granted earlier, if any, stands vacated.
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16. Before parting, it is observed that if ultimately, no material
is found against the petitioner after completion of investigation
and if charge-sheet is filed on the basis of statement of co-
accused, then the petitioner is at liberty to file appropriate
proceedings available under law challenging charge-sheet and to
seek quashing of impugned FIR.
(J. C. DOSHI,J) SATISH
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