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Yuvrajsinh Jadeja S/O Rajendrasinh ... vs State Of Gujarat
2025 Latest Caselaw 6155 Guj

Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 6155 Guj
Judgement Date : 30 April, 2025

Gujarat High Court

Yuvrajsinh Jadeja S/O Rajendrasinh ... vs State Of Gujarat on 30 April, 2025

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                            R/SCR.A/10310/2019                                ORDER DATED: 30/04/2025

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                                IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
                         R/SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION (QUASHING) NO. 10310 of 2019
                                                    With
                              R/SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 10315 of 2019
                                                    With
                              R/SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 10948 of 2019
                       ==========================================================
                                      YUVRAJSINH JADEJA S/O RAJENDRASINH JADEJA
                                                        Versus
                                               STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.
                       ==========================================================
                       Appearance:
                       MR DILIP P JOSHI(1819) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
                       DS AFF.NOT FILED (R) for the Respondent(s) No. 2,3,4
                       MR. BHARGAV PANDYA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
                       ==========================================================
                         CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J. C. DOSHI

                                                          Date : 30/04/2025

                                                        COMMON ORAL ORDER

1. I have heard learned advocates for the respective parties and learned APP Mr. Bhargav Pandya for the respondent-State.

2. Since the issues involved in all these three petitions are similar in nature and arise out of connected facts, they are heard together and are being disposed of by this common order. Learned advocates appearing for the respective parties have independently advanced their submissions, whereas the learned Additional Public Prosecutor has appeared commonly for the respondent-State in all the petitions.

3. By way of this applications under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the applicants have prayed to quash and set aside the FIRs being C.R. No.III 29 of 2019, Bhachau Police Station, C.R. No. III 67 of 2019, Bhachau

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Police Station, C.R. No.III 94 of 2019, Lakadiya Police Station under Sections 65 A E, 116(B), and 81 of the Prohibition Act and all the consequential proceedings arising therefrom.

4. Facts of the case are as under :-

4.1. It is alleged that the Local Crime Branch received specific intelligence indicating that Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) was stored near the overbridge in Village Old Moti Chirai, Taluka Bhachau, by two individuals, including the present petitioner. Pursuant to this information, a raid was conducted during late-night hours, and IMFL was allegedly seized from open land situated in the jungle area of the said village.

4.2. The co-accused was granted anticipatory bail by this Hon'ble Court in Criminal Misc. Application No. 7878 of 2019.

The petitioner had also filed an anticipatory bail application before the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Anjar, being Criminal Misc. Application No. 340 of 2019, which came to be rejected. Thereafter, Criminal Misc. Application No. 11890 of 2019 filed before the Hon'ble High Court was disposed of on 01.07.2019. The petitioner subsequently made a representation before the Director General of Police, Gujarat State, Gandhinagar, seeking appropriate relief, but no action was taken. Aggrieved thereby, the present petitions have been preferred.

5. Heard learned advocates for the parties.

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6. Learned advocate for the petitioner submitted that the entire complaint against the petitioner is false, concocted, and baseless. It was further contended that the petitioner has not committed any offence as alleged and has been falsely implicated for reasons best known to the complainant.

6.1. It was pointed out that during the course of investigation, the Investigating Officer has failed to collect any material or evidence that could even remotely suggest the involvement of the petitioner in the commission of the alleged offence. There is no independent corroboration or recovery to link the petitioner with the alleged incident.

6.2. It is also argued that IMFL is found from open space or from the space which is not belonged to the applicant thus, conscious possession of petitioner of the IMFL is not proved.

6.3. The learned counsel further submitted that the name of the petitioner has been maliciously inserted in the complaint without any factual basis, and that no role, overt or otherwise, has been attributed to the petitioner in the FIR or the panchnama. It was argued that except for a bald and unsubstantiated allegation, there exists no incriminating material to sustain the prosecution.

6.4. In light of the above, it was submitted that continuation of the criminal proceedings against the petitioner would amount to an abuse of the process of law and cause undue harassment to the petitioner. The petitioner, therefore, prays for appropriate relief from this Hon'ble Court, including

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quashing of the impugned proceedings. In support of contentions, learned advocate for the petitioners has relied on following judgments :-

(a) Bhojabhai Jeshabhai Kohdiyatar v/s. Stae of Gujarat [Criminal Misc. Application No.2885 of 2020]

(b) Manubhai Najbhai Dhandhal v/s. State of Gujarat [ Criminal Misc. Application No.5553 of 2020]

(c) Kishanbhai Damsinghbhai Rathwa v/s. State of Gujarat [ Criminal Misc. Application No.5803 of 2014]

(d) Jitendrakumar Gopaldas Rijwani v/s. State of Gujarat [Criminal Misc. Application No.,5532 of 2020]

(e) Pramod Rama Tandel v/s. State of Gujarat [Criminal Misc. Application No.17019 of 2018]

(f) Pavansingh s/o. Bhakharsingh Rathod v/s. State of Gujarat [Criminal Misc. Application No.5265 of 2020]

(g) Zala Shatrushal Yasinh Ramubha v/s. State of Gujarat [Criminal Misc. Application No.11910 of 2019]

7. Per contra, the learned APP has opposed the present application and submitted that the name of the petitioner has been disclosed during the course of investigation based on the statement of a co-accused. It is further submitted that the investigation is at a nascent stage, and therefore, it would not be appropriate for this Hon'ble Court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure at this juncture. The learned APP also submitted that as many as 17 cases under the Prohibition Act and 5 cases under the Indian Penal Code have been registered against the petitioner, thereby indicating his criminal antecedents.

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8. Having heard learned advocates for the parties, what could be noticed that on the basis of statement of co-accused, name of the petitioners is disclosed in the commission of offence. Co-ordinate Bench has quashed the FIR against co- accused, however, there cannot be any parity in the quashing matter in exercise of powers under section 482 of Cr.P.C. Each case rest on different facts and facts of one accused cannot be compared with facts of other accused, similarly, role of each accused in alleged offence cannot be compared more particularly no further investigation in the offence is carried and quashment of FIR is sought at initial stage.

8.1. So far as second contention of the petitioner that no material is available to prosecute present petitioner except statement of co-accused is concerned, 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. Statement of co-accused recorded during investigation is relevant under section 10 of the Evidence Act.

8.2. The Coordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Bheravsinh Mansinh Rajput v. State of Gujarat reported in 2025 LawSuit(Guj) 580 has observed thus:-

"11. Further, in the case of Mohammed Fasrin vs. State Rep. By the Intelligence Officer rendered in Criminal Misc. Application No.296 of 2014, the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed as under:

".......The confessions of a co-accused gives a clue to the investigating authorities as to how to investigate

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the matter and against whom to investigate the matter. Thereafter, it is for the investigating officers to collect evidence against the said person who has been named by the co-accused....."

In view of the above, during the investigation, statement of co-accused provides a clue for investigation and to unearth the truth, statement of co-accused is required. Even considering the fact that as the applicant is involved such illegal activities in past also, though he has been given the benefit of doubt due to lack of evidence in three criminal cases lodged against the applicant, he has not been honorably acquitted. Even thereafter, the present applicant has involved himself in the present offence again.

"

8.3. At the outset, if the role of the accused is examined from the available record, it appears that the petitioner is arrayed either as the supplier of liquor or as a person to whom the liquor was to be supplied. Admittedly, the role of the petitioner surfaced during the statement of other accused who have been arrested in connection with the aforesaid FIR. However, the petitioner has approached this Court at the very inception of the investigation seeking quashing of the FIR. The investigation in the said FIR has been stayed pursuant to an interim order. It is true that the statement of a co-accused is not admissible in evidence, but it remains relevant for the purpose of investigation. The learned advocate for the petitioner, placing reliance on various judgments, has argued that since the statement of a co-accused is inadmissible in evidence, the FIR is liable to be quashed. At first blush, the argument appears attractive; however, the stage for deciding the admissibility of such evidence arises only after the filing of the charge sheet, framing of charge, and during the course of trial. At the preliminary stage of registration of the FIR and

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commencement of investigation based on the statement of a co-accused, the issue of admissibility does not arise.

8.4. 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 :-

"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

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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 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

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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 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

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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 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

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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.

8.5. Recently, Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Mansing Shakarlal (Damor) Mina v/s. State of Gujarat [2024(0) 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

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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 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

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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.

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

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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 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

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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."

8.6. At initial stage, whether 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 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

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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."

8.7. Another contention raised by the learned advocate for the petitioner is that the place from which the Indian Made Foreign Liquor was seized during the raid does not belong to the petitioner or is an open space, and therefore, the petitioner cannot be said to be in conscious possession of the liquor found during the raid. It is thus submitted that the petitioner cannot be linked to the FIR. However, such a contention is devoid of merit. Whether the premises from where the Indian Made Foreign Liquor was seized belong to the petitioner, and whether he was in conscious possession thereof, are matters that fall within the domain of investigation to be conducted by the Investigating Officer. If incriminating evidence is unearthed during the course of investigation, the same would be subject to judicial scrutiny during the trial. These aspects cannot be adjudicated at the threshold while considering a petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

8.8. The proceedings in the matter have been initiated on the basis of certain information received during investigation. The contention that the individual concerned was not present at the scene of the incident or involved in its commission is a matter that requires factual verification. At this preliminary stage, such a plea cannot form the sole basis for invoking jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. to quash the proceedings. The investigating agency is entitled to examine

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all relevant aspects, and if any credible material emerges during investigation to support the claim of non-involvement, appropriate steps may be taken in accordance with law. However, at this stage, it would be premature to terminate the proceedings.

8.9. So far as judgments relied by learned advocate for the petitioner 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.

9. In view of above, the petitions are DISMISSED. Interim relief granted earlier, if any, stands vacated.

10. 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) MANISH MISHRA

 
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