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Anis Khalidhussain Hakim vs State Of Gujarat
2025 Latest Caselaw 4901 Guj

Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 4901 Guj
Judgement Date : 19 June, 2025

Gujarat High Court

Anis Khalidhussain Hakim vs State Of Gujarat on 19 June, 2025

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                            R/CR.MA/18392/2013                                  JUDGMENT DATED: 19/06/2025

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                                     IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

                              R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR QUASHING & SET ASIDE
                                            FIR/ORDER) NO. 18392 of 2013

                                                         With
                                      R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION NO. 20450 of 2013

                       FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:


                       HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J. C. DOSHI

                       ==========================================================

                                     Approved for Reporting                   Yes           No
                                                                             ✔
                       ==========================================================
                                                    ANIS KHALIDHUSSAIN HAKIM
                                                              Versus
                                                     STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.
                       ==========================================================
                       Appearance:
                       MR PRAVIN GONDALIYA(1974) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
                       ADVOCATE NOTICE UNSERVED for the Respondent(s) No. 2
                       PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s) No. 1
                       ==========================================================

                          CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J. C. DOSHI

                                                         Date : 19/06/2025

                                                        ORAL JUDGMENT

1. Since both petitions arise from the same FIR and involve similar facts, this common order is being passed to decide the issues raised in both petitions together.

2. With the consent of the learned advocates appearing for the respective parties, Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 18392 of 2013 is treated as the lead matter.

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3. Prosecution case is as under:-

3.1. The complainant, Smt. Ramaben W/o Balubhai Parasotambhai Jat Patel, residing at Plot No. 29/295, Udhna, Surat, originally from Village Ditala, Post Dhari, District Amreli, is a homemaker, while her husband is engaged in land brokerage. In 2006, her husband, acting on the suggestion of his son Majidbhai, executed a Memorandum of Understanding to donate approximately 100 Bigha of land situated at Lajpore to a Muslim Orphanage located at Eighth Lines, Surat, headed by its President, Umarbhai @ Umar General.

While documentation for 14 Vidha and sale deeds for 28 Bigha were executed, the remaining land transactions were not completed by the orphanage trustees, resulting in a dispute. Subsequently, a settlement was reached to provide an additional 8 Bigha of land. However, due to non-completion of the documentation, the orphanage representatives allegedly began demanding cash compensation in lieu thereof. Around this time, a police case was also registered against the complainant's husband in relation to another land matter at Vesu on 05.09.2013, after which he ceased returning home.

3.2. Thereafter, from around 10.09.2013, the complainant's unmarried son, Ravin, was repeatedly summoned by Umar General and Anisbhai to attend meetings at the orphanage, where he was allegedly coerced to arrange immediate payment for the Lajpore land and was further pressured to execute a voucher for ₹68 lakhs68 lakhs

--an amount allegedly exceeding what was initially received by his father. Ravin, who was not a party to the original transaction, reportedly faced continuous threats and mental harassment, including references to underworld connections from Mumbai. Four

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to five days before his death, Ravin returned home visibly distressed and shared his ordeal with the complainant. Despite her attempts to resolve the issue through relatives, Ravin died by suicide on 19.09.2013. The complainant attributes his death to the sustained threats and coercion by Umar General and Anisbhai and seeks initiation of criminal proceedings against them for abetment of suicide and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.

4. Heard learned Advocate Mr. Pravin Gondaliya assisted by learned advocate Mr. Rahul Dholakiya appearing for the petitioner, learned APP Mr. Chintan Dave for the respondent-State. Though served none appeared for the private respondent.

5. Highlighting the facts of the case, learned Advocate Mr. Pravin Gondaliya, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the primary offences alleged against the petitioner are under Sections 306 and 385 of the Indian Penal Code (for short, "IPC"), which, even if the contents of the FIR are presumed to be true and correct, do not prima facie constitute the said offences. It is further submitted that, as per the case of the prosecution, the father of the deceased had entered into an agreement to sell more than 100 acres of land to the Yatimkhana (Muslim Orphanage). However, after execution of sale deeds for a portion of the land, he failed to fulfill the entire promise and did not execute sale deeds for the remaining land. Consequently, the President and members of the administrative body of the Yatimkhana began demanding the return of the money paid. In the interim, as the father of the deceased became involved in another FIR and went absconding, the demand was shifted to the deceased, who was allegedly asked by the petitioners--being part of the Yatimkhana's administrative team--to repay an amount of

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₹68 lakhs68 lakhs, purportedly advanced to his father.

5.1. It is alleged that the deceased, unable to bear the pressure of repeated demands and coercion, was forced to attend multiple meetings and was also allegedly compelled to sign certain financial vouchers. As a result of such sustained mental pressure, he ultimately committed suicide. The learned advocate for the petitioner submitted that, even if the entire prosecution story is accepted at face value, the ingredients necessary to constitute an offence under Sections 107 and 306 of the IPC--particularly the element of instigation or intentional aiding constituting abetment-- are conspicuously absent in the present case. Therefore, it is contended that the petitioner ought not to be compelled to face the ordeal of a criminal trial.

5.2. It is further argued that the FIR does not disclose any act of putting a person in fear of injury or wrongful restraint, and hence does not attract the ingredients of the offence punishable under Section 385 of the IPC. In support of these submissions, the learned advocate has placed reliance on the following judgments:-

Kiranbhai Himmatlal Gadhavi v. State of Gujarat, Cr.MA No.13760 of 2020; Nileshbhai Babubhai Vaghasiya v. State of Gujarat, 2025 (0) AIJEL-HC 250665; Vikrambhai @ Vikramsinh Dajibhai Solanki v. State of Gujarat, 2024 (0) AIJEL-HC 249057; Patel Babubhai Manohardas & Ors. v. State of Gujarat, 2025 INSC 322.

5.3. Based on the above submissions, the learned advocate for the petitioner prayed that the present petition be allowed.

6. It is noted that Respondent No. 2, though duly served, has

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chosen not to appear before this Court.

7. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor, on the other hand, placed reliance on the investigation papers and argued that the deceased, Ravin, was under no legal obligation to repay any amount to the accused persons. Nevertheless, he was repeatedly summoned by the accused and subjected to persistent pressure to pay a substantial and unjustified sum. It was further submitted that the deceased was continuously harassed, and such conduct was sustained and deliberate. Referring to the FIR and materials forming part of the chargesheet, the learned APP contended that four to five days prior to his death, the deceased was coerced into signing vouchers for an amount of ₹68 lakhs66 lakhs and was threatened that his father would be abducted if he failed to comply.

7.1. Learned APP relied upon the judgment of Ranjeet Mittal v.

State of Madhya Pradesh reported in 2024 (0) AIJEL SC 74113 to submit that for questioning of criminal charges it is must be shown that there is no sufficient evidence to prove prima facie case against the accused person. if a case is prime facie established against the accused the FIR should not be quashed.

7.2. In view of the aforesaid submissions, the learned APP urged this Court to reject the present petition.

8. I have heard the learned advocates for both sides and have also perused the documents annexed to the petition. In order to appreciate the factual matrix and the nature of allegations between the parties, it is essential to refer to the contents of the First Information Report and the statement made by the first informant

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therein regarding the commission of the alleged offence.

"In the year 2006, at Lajpore, my husband, upon the advice of his son Majidbhai, intended to donate 100 Vidha of land to the Muslim Orphanage located at Eighth Lines, Surat, under the leadership of its President, Umarbhai (popularly known as Umar General). Out of this, documentation for 14 Vidha was executed, and sale deeds for 28 Vidha were prepared. However, despite repeated requests by my husband, the trustees of the orphanage failed to execute the necessary documents for the remaining land, leading to a dispute. Two days prior to the holy month of Ramadan, Umar General, along with Anisbhai and other trust members, convened a meeting at Hasot, where it was mutually decided that my husband would be compensated with an additional eight sections of land equivalent to the amount he had received. Subsequently, however, due to the inability of the orphanage to secure documents in their own name, they demanded cash in lieu of the land, and a one-year period was stipulated for the same. Meanwhile, my husband became embroiled in another land- related police case at Vesu on 05.09.2013 and stopped coming home. From approximately 10.09.2013 onwards, Umar General persistently summoned my son, Ravin, to the orphanage for repeated meetings, coercing him to arrange payment for the Lajpore land transaction, despite Ravin's lack of knowledge or involvement. The demands escalated to ₹68 lakhs68 lakhs, over and above the amount initially received by my husband, and threats were issued--implying influence from Mumbai and consequences to both my husband and son. Ravin, distressed and under pressure, confided in me just days before his death that he was being harassed and forced to sign a voucher for ₹68 lakhs68 lakhs. He also stated that the orphanage had now refused to transfer the land and instead sought only monetary compensation. I advised him to seek assistance from Majidbhai and our relative Afrojbhai. Ravin informed me that Afrojbhai acknowledged his limited connection with the orphanage trustees but assured him that his friend, Kashambhai Bham, who is associated with the orphanage, would help mediate the issue. Ravin had arranged to meet them again the following day, and on 19.09.2013, he told my son-in-law Amit that he was heading for another meeting regarding the orphanage. Around 9:00 p.m., he called and told me he had met Majidbhai and was about to meet Afrojbhai. Tragically, at around 10:00 p.m., we received a call from the police informing us of Ravin's death. In light of these events, I have reason to believe that the persistent threats, coercion, and undue pressure exerted by Umar General and Anisbhai--demanding exorbitant sums and

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forcing my son to execute documents unrelated to him--drove my son Ravin to take the extreme step of ending his life. I, therefore, hold them responsible for abetting his suicide and urge the authorities to initiate appropriate legal action against them for their role in this tragic incident."

8.1. It is appropriate at this stage to refer to the relevant provisions of Sections 107 and 306 of the IPC, which are reproduced hereinbelow for ready reference:-

107. Abetment of a thing.--

"A person abets the doing of a thing, who-- (First)-- Instigates any person to do that thing; or (Secondly) -- Engages with one or more other person or persons in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to the doing of that thing; or (Thirdly) -- Intentionally aids, by any act or illegal omission, the doing of that thing."

306. Abetment of suicide.--

"If any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine."

8.2. A plain reading of the aforesaid statutory provision reveals that the following essential ingredients must be satisfied to constitute the offence of abetment of suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code:

a) The deceased must have committed suicide;

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b) The accused must have instigated or abetted the commission of suicide;

c) There must be direct involvement of the accused in such abetment or instigation, including any intentional act of pressurizing the deceased or aiding the commission of suicide by any act or illegal omission.

8.3. The legal position governing the offence under Section 306 IPC is well settled and has been reiterated by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Randhir Singh v. State of Punjab, (2004) 13 SCC 129, wherein it was held that mere allegations of harassment or demand, in the absence of proximate and direct nexus with the act of suicide, would not be sufficient to attract the ingredients of abetment under Section 306 IPC.

"(1) Abetment involves a mental process of instigating a person orintention. ally aiding that person in doing of a thing.

In cases of conspiracy also it would involve that mental process of entering into conspiracy for the doing of that thing. More active role which can be described as instigating or aiding the doing of a thing is required before a person can be said to be abetting the commission of offence under sec. 306 IPC."

(2) In State of West Bengal. v Orilal Jaiswal (1994)1 SCC 73, the court has observed that the courts should be extremely careful in assessing the facts and circumstances of each case and the evidence adduced in the trial for the purpose of finding whether the cruelty meted out to the victim had in fact induced her to end the life by committing suicide. If it transpires to the court that a victim committing suicide was hypersensitive to ordinary petulance, discord and differences in domestic life quite common to the society to which the victim belonged and such petulance, discord and differences were not expected to induce a similarly circumstanced individual in a given society to commit sui-cide, the conscience of the court should not be satisfied for basing a

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finding that the accused charged of abetting the offence of suicide should be found guilty."

8.4. Furthermore, in the case of Kishori Lal v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (2007) SCC, the Hon'ble Supreme Court elaborated on the scope and application of Section 107 of the IPC and laid down the legal position in clear terms, observing as under:-

"Section 107 IPC defines abetment of a thing. The offence of abetmentis a separate and distinct offence provided in IPC. A person abets the doing of a thing when (1) he instigates any person to do that thing; or (2) engages with one or more other persons in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing; or (3) intentionally aids, by act or illegal omission, the doing of that thing. These things are essential to complete abetment as a crime. The word 'instigate' literally means to provoke, incite, urge on or bring about by persuasion to do any thing. The abetment may be by instigation, conspiracy or intentional aid, as provided in the three clauses of sec. 107. Section 109 provides that if the act abetted is committed in consequence of abetment and there is no provision for the punishment of such abetment, then the offender is to be punished with the punishment provided for the original offence. 'Abetted' in sec. 109 means the specific of-fence abetted. Therefore, the offence for the abetment of which a person is charged with the abetment is normally linked with the proved offence."

8.5. Thus, the Courts have consistently taken the view that, before holding an accused guilty of an offence under Section 306 of the IPC, it is imperative for the Court to scrupulously examine the facts and circumstances of the case and assess the evidence adduced to ascertain whether the alleged cruelty or harassment meted out to the victim was of such a nature that it left the victim with no alternative but to end his or her life. It must further be borne in mind that in cases of alleged abetment of suicide, there must be cogent and credible evidence indicating a direct or indirect act of instigation, provocation, or active participation by the accused

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which led to the commission of suicide. Mere allegations of harassment, unaccompanied by any specific or proximate act by the accused at or near the time of the incident, would not be sufficient to sustain a charge under Section 306 IPC.

8.6. In Swamy Prahaladdas v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (1995) 3 SCC 438, the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that the element of mens rea is a necessary component to constitute the offence under Section 306 of the IPC. A mere utterance of a word or phrase in a moment of anger or emotional outburst, without any intention that such an act would lead to suicide, cannot be construed as instigation. The term instigate, in its literal sense, means to provoke, incite, urge, or induce someone by persuasion or pressure to do a particular act.

8.7. In Ramesh Kumar v. state of Chattisgarh, 2001 9 SCC 9618 the Apex Court observed as under:-

"that where the accused by his acts or by a continued course of conduct creates such circumstances that the deceased was left with no other in order to prove that the accused abetted commission of suicide by a person, it has to be established that: option except to commit suicide, an "instigation" may be inferred. In other words,"

(1) the accused kept on irritating or annoying the deceased by words, deeds or wilful omission or conduct which may even be a wilful silence until the deceased reacted or pushed or forced the deceased by his deeds, words or wilful forward direction; and omission or conduct to make the deceased move forward more quickly in a (il) that the accused had the intention to provoke, urge or encourage the deceased to commit suicide while acting in the manner noted above. Undoubt-edly, presence of mens rea is the necessary concomitant of instigation."

8.8. In the present case, it appears that the father of the deceased

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had executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in favour of the Yatimkhana, agreeing to transfer 100 bigha of land. Pursuant to the said MoU, he executed a sale deed for 14 bigha of land and an agreement to sell for an additional 28 bigha. However, despite having received the full consideration from the Yatimkhana, the father of the deceased failed to fulfill his promise to execute sale deeds for the remaining land. Consequently, the petitioners, who are in charge of the administration of the Yatimkhana, demanded a sum of ₹68 lakhs68 lakhs from the deceased, and multiple meetings were held in this regard. Thereafter, the deceased ultimately committed suicide.

8.9. The prosecution alleges that the deceased was subjected to persistent and continuous harassment by the petitioners, which drove him to take the extreme step of ending his life. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor has argued that there are multiple witnesses who have supported the prosecution's version, and therefore, there is prima facie material on record to warrant a trial against the petitioner. However, a plain reading of the FIR does not disclose any specific act of instigation or abetment as defined under Section 107 of the IPC. Nor does it reveal any proximate or overt act that directly compelled the deceased to commit suicide. Although reference is made to several meetings held prior to the incident, the prosecution has failed to disclose what transpired in those meetings, or how they amounted to abetment. More importantly, the prosecution has not established the essential ingredients required under Section 306 of the IPC, namely that the deceased was left with no other reasonable alternative but to commit suicide due to the conduct of the accused.

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8.10. Indeed, every individual aspires to live, and an untimely death is a profound tragedy for all concerned. The unfortunate and premature demise of a young boy like Ravin is undeniably painful and deeply distressing. However, the core issue before this Court is whether sentiments can override the mandate of law and whether, in the present case, the legal ingredients constituting abetment of suicide are satisfied. The Court is required to ascertain whether there was any act of instigation, intentional aiding, or active provocation on the part of the petitioners that directly led to the commission of suicide by the deceased.

8.11. A bare perusal of the FIR and the materials on record reveals that the petitioners, who were in charge of the Yatimkhana, had allegedly demanded ₹68 lakhs68 lakhs from the deceased, an amount that had already been paid to the father of the deceased in connection with a parcel of land. However, mere demand of money, even if persistent, by itself, does not constitute instigation or abetment within the meaning of Section 306 of the IPC. The act of demanding repayment--without any accompanying threat, coercive conduct, or illegal compulsion--cannot, by itself, be construed as leaving the deceased with no reasonable alternative except to take the extreme step of ending his life.

8.12. The concept of abetment as envisaged under Section 306 of the IPC has been extensively dealt with by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of M. Mohan v. State, (2011) 3 SCC 626, wherein it was observed that there must be a clear mens rea to commit the offence. The act of instigation must be of such a nature that it leaves no other option for the victim except to commit suicide. The Court emphasized that mere harassment, unaccompanied by any

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overt act or incitement proximate to the time of suicide, would not be sufficient to attract the provisions of Section 306 of the IPC. Relevant paras are as under:-

"36. We would like to deal with the concept of "abetment".

Section 306 of the Code deals with "abetment of suicide" which reads as under:

"306. Abetment of suicide. --If any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

37. The word "suicide" in itself is nowhere defined in the Penal Code, however, its meaning and import is well known and requires no explanation. "Sui" means "self" and "cide" means "killing", thus implying an act of self-killing. In short, a person committing suicide must commit it by himself, irrespective of the means employed by him in achieving his object of killing himself.

38. In our country, while suicide itself is not an offence considering that the successful offender is beyond the reach of law, attempt to suicide is an offence under Section 309 IPC.

39. "Abetment of a thing" has been defined under Section 107 of the Code. We deem it appropriate to reproduce Section 107, which reads as under:

"107.Abetment of a thing.--A person abets the doing of a thing, who--

First.--Instigates any person to do that thing; or

Secondly.--Engages with one or more other person or persons in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to the doing of that thing; or Thirdly.--Intentionally aides, by any act or illegal omission, the doing of that thing."

Explanation 2 which has been inserted along with Section 107 reads as under:

Explanation 2.--Whoever, either prior to or at the time of the

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commission of an act, does anything in order to facilitate the commission of that act, and thereby facilitates the commission thereof, is said to aid the doing of that act."

8.13. This Court in Nileshbhai Babubhai Vaghasiya (supra) has held as under:-

"15. Thus, abetement involves a mental process of instigating a person or intentionally aiding a person in doing of a thing. Without positive act on the part of the accused to instigate or aid in committing suicide, conviction cannot be sustained. The intention of legislature and ratio of cases decided by Hon'ble Apex Court is clear that in order to convict a person under section 306 of IPC, there has to be clear mens rea to commit the offence. It also requires an active act or direct act which led the deceased to commit suicide seeing no option and this act must have been intended to push the deceased into such a position that he committed suicide having no option."

8.14. In Shiva Kumar v. State of Karnataka, reported in 2024 (0) AIJEL-SC 73335, while concluding the matter, the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that there could be myriad reasons for a man or woman to commit suicide. The relevant observation of the Apex Court is reproduced hereinbelow:-

"47. Human mind is an enigma. It is well neigh impossible to unravel the mystery of the human mind. There can be myriad reasons for a man or a woman to commit or attempt to commit suicide: it may be a case of failure to achieve academic excellence, oppressive environment in college or hostel, particularly for students belonging to the marginalized sections, joblessness, financial difficulties, disappointment in love or marriage, acute or chronic ailments, depression, so on and so forth. Therefore, it may not always be the case that someone has to abet commission of suicide. Circumstances surrounding the deceased in which he finds himself are relevant."

8.15. Even if the prosecution's case is accepted at its face value,

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none of the averments made therein prima facie attract the essential ingredients of the offence under Section 306 of the IPC. There is no material to indicate any instigation, intentional aiding, or abetment on the part of the accused so as to constitute an offence of abetment of suicide.

8.16. As regards the alleged offence under Section 385 of the IPC, it is pertinent to note that, in order to constitute such an offence, the foundational requirement is the commission of extortion, which is defined under Section 383 of the IPC as follows:-

"Whoever intentionally puts any person in fear of any injury to that person, or to any other, and thereby dishonestly induces the person so put in fear to deliver to any person any property, or valuable security or anything signed or sealed which may be converted into a valuable security, commits "extortion".

9. As per Section 385 of the IPC, if a person is put in fear of injury in order to commit extortion, the punishment may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. A cursory appraisal of the facts of the present case suggests that the deceased was allegedly put in fear that his father would be abducted if the amount of ₹68 lakhs68 lakhs was not paid. However, the petitioners--who are the accused-- were merely demanding the amount of ₹68 lakhs68 lakhs that had already been paid to the father of the deceased pursuant to a land transaction. Such a demand, in itself, cannot be construed as an intentional act of putting the deceased in fear of injury to compel delivery of money. A demand for return of consideration paid under a contractual obligation for sale of land cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be equated with extortion as defined under Section 383 of the IPC. Hence, the essential ingredients of the offence

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punishable under Section 385 of the IPC are not satisfied in the present case.

10. With respect to the alleged offence under Section 506(2) of the IPC, it is pertinent to note that there is no specific allegation indicating any threat of grave or dire consequences, nor is there any material suggesting the use of words or conduct likely to create alarm in the mind of the deceased so as to attract the offence under Section 506(2). In sum and substance, even assuming the entire prosecution version to be true, the allegations do not prima facie disclose the commission of the offences as alleged. The FIR, therefore, appears to be nothing more than an abuse of the process of law and is liable to be quashed in the interest of justice.

11. It would be apposite to refer the judgment rendered by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal, reported in 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335, wherein, in Paragraph 102, it is held as under:

"102. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various relevant provisions of the Code under Ch. XIV and of the principles of law enunciated by this court in a series of decisions relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power under Art. 226 or the inherent powers under sec. 482 of the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above, we give the following categories of cases by way of illustration wherein such power could be exercised either to prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice, though it may not be possible to lay down any precise, clearly defined and sufficiently channelised and inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein such power should be exercised.

(1) Where the allegations made in the first information report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their

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face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused.

(2) Where the allegations in the first information report and other materials, if any, accompanying the FIR do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers under sec. 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within the purview of sec. 155(2) of the Code.

(3) Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR or complaint and the evidence collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case against the accused.

(4) Where, the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only a noncognizable offence, no investigation is permitted by a police officer without an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under sec. 155(2) of the Code.

(5) Where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused.

(6) Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific provision in the Code or the concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved party.

(7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge."

13. In view of the above, the present petitions deserves to be allowed, and it is accordingly ALLOWED. The FIR, being C.R. No.I- 134 of 2013 registered with Surat Railway Police Station, District:

Surat, along with all subsequent proceedings arising from it, is

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hereby quashed and set aside qua the petitioner herein. Rule is made absolute. Direct service is permitted.

(J. C. DOSHI,J) MANISH MISHRA

 
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