Sri Nagesh Poojary vs State Of Karnataka
2023 Latest Caselaw 4288 Kant

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                                                  NC: 2023:KHC:24085
                                                  CRL.P No. 4351 of 2023




                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

                        DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF JULY, 2023

                                         BEFORE
                      THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
                         CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 4351 OF 2023


               BETWEEN:

                     SRI. NAGESH POOJARY,
                     S/O VIJAYA POOJARY,
                     AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS,
                     RESIDING AT NO.1-85-1,
                     HOSALA BARKUR,
                     NAGARAMATA,
                     UDUPI DISTRICT - 576 210.

                     AND ALSO AT C/O
                     NAGARAJ V. P., NO.334/22,
                     BANASAWADI MAIN ROAD,
                     SUBBAIAHNA PALYA,
                     MARUTHI SEVANAGAR,
Digitally signed
by PADMAVATHI        BANGALORE - 560 033.
BK
Location: HIGH
COURT OF                                                   ...PETITIONER
KARNATAKA        (BY SRI. RAJESH A., ADVOCATE)

               AND:

               1.    STATE OF KARNATAKA,
                     BY BRAHMAVAR POLICE STATION,
                     BRAHMAVAR,
                     UDUPI DISTRICT - 576 213.
                     REPRESENTS BY
                     HCGP, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,
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                                       NC: 2023:KHC:24085
                                        CRL.P No. 4351 of 2023




      BANGALORE - 560 001.
2.    SRI. SUNIL KUMAR,
      AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS,
      S/O NARASIMHA NAIR,
      VAISHNAVI BADAHOLI, SALIGRAMA,
      BRAHMAVAR TALUK,
      UDUPI DISTRICT - 576 225.

                                                 ...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. K. P. YASHODA, HCGP FOR R1;
    SRI. KIRAN J., ADVOCATE FOR R2)

      THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF CR.P.C
PRAYING TO QUASH THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT
OF THE REGISTRATION OF THE FIR IN CR.NO.95/2023 OF
BRAMHAVAR P.S., UDUPI DISTRICT AGAINST THE PETITIONER
FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 403, 408, 420, 504, 506 OF IPC ON
THE FILE OF THE II ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE COURT (JR.DN) AND
J.M.F.C KUNDAPURA, UDUPI DISTRICT.

     THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY,
THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:

                             ORDER

The petitioner is before this Court calling in question

registration of a crime in crime No.95/2023 registered for the

offences punishable under Sections 403, 408, 420, 504 and

506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC' for short).

2. Heard Sri. Rajesh A., learned counsel appearing for

the petitioner, Smt K.P. Yashoda, learned High Court

NC: 2023:KHC:24085 CRL.P No. 4351 of 2023

Government Pleader appearing for respondent No.1 and

Sri. Kiran J., learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2.

3. Facts in brief, germane are as follows:

The petitioner is the erstwhile employee of Fortune Group

of Hotels, who have hotels at the United Arab Emirates, in

Brahmavara and Kundapur. The petitioner, who hails from

Kundapur joins employment in the Fortune Group of Hotels, not

in India, but at the United Arab Emirates, as an accountant in

January-2016. He works in the said hotel at Dubai upto

January-2023. On 18.01.2023, returns back to India. On

18.04.2023, three months after his return to India

communicates a mail to the hotel that he is intending to resign

the job, as he is in difficulty with regard to taking care of his

mother, who was said to be ailing at that point in time. A

crime then comes to be registered against the petitioner on

05.05.2023 on a discovery of certain embezzlement of funds by

the petitioner, while he was working as an accountant at Dubai

and transfer of such funds to the account held by the petitioner

at Kundapur, Canara Bank. The registration of a crime is what

drives the petitioner to this Court in the subject petition.

NC: 2023:KHC:24085 CRL.P No. 4351 of 2023

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner

would contend that the petitioner was no doubt in employment

with the Fortune Group of Hotels. The movement, the petitioner

intends to resign from service from the post of accountant, the

entire issue springs up. It is his submission that all the

allegations made in the complaint pertain to the event that had

happened in the United Arab emirates and therefore, a crime

being registered without permission from the hands of the

Central Government, as obtaining under Section 188 of the

Cr.P.C. would render the very registration of a crime a nullity in

law. He would seek quashment of the entire proceedings.

5. Per contra, the learned counsel appearing for

respondent No.2 would seek to contend that the events may

have generated at the United Arab Emirates, but the entire

amount that is embezzled by the petitioner has been

transferred to his personal account at Canara Bank in

Kundapur, it is the account at Kundapur discovers the

embezzlement of the funds by the petitioner and therefore, the

rigor of Section 188 of the Cr.P.C. cannot be held against the

registration of the crime, as it has happened in India itself. He

would further contend that the movement the embezzlement

NC: 2023:KHC:24085 CRL.P No. 4351 of 2023

was bought to light it communicates a resignation letter

seeking to scuttle the investigation by projecting that he has to

resign owing to certain problems. He would seek dismissal of

the petition and permission to continue the investigation.

6. I have given my anxious consideration to the

submissions made by the respective learned counsel and have

perused the material available on record.

7. The issue lies in a narrow compass. The

employment between the petitioner and the respondent is not

in dispute. Beginning of the employment in 2016 also is not in

dispute. The petitioner returns to India on 18.01.2023 is a

matter of record. After coming back to India, it transpires that

the petitioner communicates a letter of resignation through the

e-mail on 18.04.2023. The learned counsel appearing for the

respondent submits that audit of the company's account was

taking place and at that point in time, the petitioner sought to

resign as the reek of the petitioner was coming to light, one by

one and immediately after the resignation, a crime comes to be

registered by respondent No.2, who is an office bearer in

Fortune hotel at Kundapur. Since, the entire issue now springs

NC: 2023:KHC:24085 CRL.P No. 4351 of 2023

from the complaint, I deem it appropriate to notice the

complaint insofar as it becomes germane for the consideration

of the lis:

"DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ¥Àæ«Ãt ±ÉnÖAiÀĪÀjUÉ ¸ÉÃjzÀ GzÀåªÀÄUÀ¼À ¯ÉPÀ̪À£ÀÄß £ÉÆÃrPÉƼÀÄîwÛzÀÄÝ dįÉÊ 2021 jAzÀ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ªÀiÁrzÀ ºÀtzÀ ªÀ»ªÁn£À zÀÄgïªÀåªÀºÁgÀ, ªÀAZÀ£É, zÀÄgÀÄ¥ÀAiÉÆÃUÀ «ªÀgÀªÀÅ F PɼÀV£ÀAwªÉ.

1. ¥sÁZÀÆåð£ï PÁè¹Pï ºÉÆÃmɯï C¥ÁmïðªÉÄAmï£À zÉÊ£ÀA¢£À ªÁå¥ÁgÀzÀ £ÀUÀzÀ£ÀÄß AED 5,61,945 (Rs.1,23,62,790) ¨ÁåAQUÀ qÉ¥Á¹mï ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅzÁV vÉÆÃj¹ ¥Àæ«Ãt ±ÉnÖAiÀĪÀjAzÀ ¸À» vÉUÉzÀÄPÉÆArgÀÄvÁÛ£É. ºÀt vÀÄA©zÀ gÀ²Ã¢ ºÁUÀÆ ¨ÁåAPï ¯ÉPÀÌ «ªÀgÀuÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¥Àj²Ã°¹zÁUÀ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ºÀtªÀ£ÀÄß ¨ÁåAQUÉ qÉ¥Á¹mï ªÀiÁqÀzÉà EgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ.

2. zÀĨÉÊ£À ¥sÁZÀÆð£ï ¥ÁèeÁ ºÉÆÃmÉ°£À gɸÉÆÖÃgÉAmï MAzÀgÀ ¨ÁrUÉ ºÀt AED1,33,333 (Rs.29,33,326) £ÀÄß ¨ÁrUÉzÁgÀjAzÀ ¥ÀqÉzÀÄ ¥Àæ«Ãt PÀĪÀiÁgï ±ÉnÖAiÀĪÀgÀ ªÉÊAiÀÄQÛPÀ ¨ÁåAPï SÁvÉUÉ qÉ¥Á¹mï ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅzÁV ºÉýgÀÄvÁÛ£É, CªÀgÀ ¥À¸Àð£À¯ï ¨ÁåAPï SÁvÉAiÀÄ ¯ÉPÀÌ «ªÀgÀuÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß vÁ¼É ªÀiÁrzÁUÀ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ £ÀUÀzÀ£ÀÄß ¨ÁåAQUÉ dªÉÄ ªÀiÁqÀ¢gÀĪÀÅzÀÄ w½zÀÄ §A¢gÀÄvÀÛzÉ.

3. ¥Àæ«Ãt PÀĪÀiÁgï ±ÉnÖAiÀĪÀgÀÄ ºÉÆÃmɯï PÉ®¸ÀUÀgÀgÀ ¸ÀA§¼ÀªÀ£ÀÄß £ÀUÀzÀÄ gÀÆ¥ÀzÀ°è ¤ÃqÀÄwÛzÀÄÝ CªÀjUÉ ¸ÀA§¼À ¤ÃqÀĪÀ ¸ÉÖÃmÉäAmï£ÀÄß ¥Àj²Ã°¹zÁUÀ CzÀgÀ°è ¸ÀA§¼ÀzÀ MlÄÖ ªÉÆvÀÛªÀ£ÀÄß ºÉZÁÑV vÉÆÃj¹ ºÉÆÃmÉ¯ï ¨ÁåAPï CPËAmï¬ÄAzÀ ZÉQÌUÉ ¥Àæ«Ãt PÀĪÀiÁgï ±ÉnÖAiÀĪÀgÀ ¸À» ¥ÀqÉzÀÄ £ÀUÀzÀÄ «xïqÁæ ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ PÀAqÀÄ §gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. CUÀ¸ïÖ 2021 jAzÀ ¸É¥ÉÖA§gï 2022gÀ vÀ£ÀPÀ MlÄÖ ºÉZÁÑV vÉÆÃj¹zÀ ªÉÆvÀÛ AED.19,642 (Rs.4,32,124)

4. zÀĨÉÊUÉ ¥sÁZÀåð£ï ¥ÁèeÁ ºÉÆÃmÉ°£À zÉÊ£ÀA¢£À ªÀ»ªÁn¤AzÀ §AzÀ £ÀUÀzÀÄ wAUÀ¼À ¯ÉPÁÌZÁgÀzÀ°è §AzÀAvÀºÀ MlÄÖ ªÉÆvÀÛªÀ£ÀÄß PÀrªÉÄ ªÀiÁr vÉÆÃj¹ ºÉÆÃmÉ¯ï ¨ÁåAPï SÁvÉUÉ qÉ¥Á¹mï ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ PÀAqÀÄ §A¢gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. PÀrªÉÄ vÉÆÃj¹zÀ MlÄÖ ºÀt AED 1,47,058 (Rs.32,35,276)

5. ¢: 15/04/2023 gÀAzÀÄ zÀĨÉÊ£À ¥sÁZÀÆð£ï ¥ÁèeÁ ºÉÆÃmÉ°UÉ ªÀÄzsÁåºÀß 1.45 PÉÌ ÉÆÃVzÀÄÝ, C°è£À CPËAmïì D¦üù£À ¯ÁPÀj¤AzÀ CªÀ¤UÉ w½zÀ ¥Á¸Àéqïð£ÀÄß §¼À¹ AED. 3,00,000 (Rs.66,00,000) £ÀUÀzÀ£ÀÄß vÉUÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ ºÉÆÃVgÀÄvÁÛ£É. ±À¤ªÁgÀ gÀeÁ ¢£ÀªÁzÀÝjAzÀ £ÀªÀÄä UÀªÀÄ£ÀPÉÌ vÀqÀªÁV §A¢zÉ.

6. PÀ¼ÉzÀ MAzÀÄ ªÀµÀðzÀ°è ¸ÀĪÀiÁgÀÄ MAzÀÄ PÉÆÃn gÀÆ C¢üPÀ ºÀtªÀÇ DgÉÆæAiÀÄ ¨ÁPÀÆðgÀÄ PÉ£ÀgÁ ¨ÁåAPï SÁvÉ ¸ÀASÉå 5158103077152 UÉ ºÀt ªÀUÁðªÀuÉ DVgÀĪÀÅzÀ£ÀÄß RavÀªÁUÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ªÉÄÃ¯É ºÉýzÀ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ¥Àæ«Ãt PÀĪÀiÁgï ±ÉnÖAiÀĪÀgÀ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜUÉ gÀÆ 2,55,63,516( gÀÆ JgÀqÀÄ PÉÆÃn

NC: 2023:KHC:24085 CRL.P No. 4351 of 2023

LªÀvÉÊzÀÄ ®PÀëzÀ CgÀªÀvÀÛ ªÀÄÆgÀÄ ¸Á«gÀzÀ L£ÀÆgÀÄ ºÀ¢£ÁgÀÄ (AED.11,61,978) PÀÆÌ C¢üPÀ £ÀµÀÖªÀ£ÀÄßAlÄ ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛ£É. DgÉÆæAiÀÄ F ªÉÄð£À PÀÈvÀåUÀ¼ÀÄ CPÀëªÀÄå, PÁ£ÀÆ£ÀÄ ¨Á»gÀ, ²PÁëºÀð C¥ÀgÁzsÀªÁVzÀÄÝ F ªÉÄð£À Qæ«Ä£À¯ï PÀÈvÀåUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ ªÀÄÆ®PÀ DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ C¥ÀgÁ¢üPÀ £ÀA©PÉzÉÆæúÀ, zÀÄgÀÄ¥ÀAiÉÆÃUÀ, ªÉÆøÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ fêÀ ¨ÉzÀjPÉ ªÀÄÄAvÁzÀ »Ã£À PÀÈvÀåUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ªÀiÁrzÀÄÝ PÁ£ÀƤ£À ªÀÄÆ®PÀ ²PÉëUÉ M¼À¥Àr¸ÀĪÀAvÀºÀ UÀA©üÃgÀ C¥ÀgÁzsÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛ£É. DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ ¥Àæ«Ãt PÀĪÀiÁgï ±ÉnÖAiÀĪÀgÀ ºÀwÛgÀ PÉ®¸À ªÀiÁrPÉÆAqÀÄ CªÀjUÉ ªÉÆøÀ, ªÀAZÀ£É, ºÀtzÀ zÀÄgÀÄ¥ÀAiÉÆÃUÀ, £ÀA©PÉ zÉÆæúÀªÀ£ÀÄß J¸ÀVgÀÄvÁÛ£É. DgÉÆæAiÀÄÄ PÉÆlÖ ¨ÉzÀjPɬÄAzÀ £ÁªÉ¯Áè ¨sÀAiÀÄ©üÃvÀgÁVzÉÝêÉ.

ªÉÄð£À «ZÁgÀªÀ£ÀÄß zÀĨÉÊAiÀÄ°ègÀĪÀ £ÀªÀÄä ªÀiÁ°PÀgÁzÀ ¥Àæ«Ãt PÀĪÀiÁgï ±ÉlÖ gÀªÀjUÉ w½¹, CªÀgÀÄ F §UÉÎ ¥Éưøï oÁuÉUÉ zÀÆgÀÄ ¤ÃqÀĪÀAvÉ w½¹zÀ ªÉÄÃgÉUÉ vÁ£ÀÄ F ¢£À F §UÉÎ zÀÆgÀÄ ¤ÃqÀÄwÛzÀÄÝ, DgÉÆæ £ÁUÉñÀ ¥ÀÆeÁj FvÀ£À «gÀÄzÀÞ PÁ£ÀÆ£ÀÄ PÀæªÀÄ PÉÊUÉÆAqÀÄ ¸ÀÆPÀÛ vÀ¤SÉ £Àqɹ £ÀªÀÄUÉ DzÀ C£ÁåAiÀÄPÉÌ £ÁåAiÀÄ zÉÆgÀQ¹ PÉÆqÀ¨ÉÃPÁV PÀ¼ÀPÀ½¬ÄAzÀ ¥Áæyð¸ÀÄvÉÛãÉ."

8. The allegation in the complaint is that the petitioner

on several occasions has totally transferred Rs.2,55,63,516/-

which would be AED. 11,61,978/- to the account of the

petitioner held at Canara Bank at Kundapur. Based upon this

transfer, the allegation is that he has misappropriated those

funds by taking the signature of the Managing Director of the

Group of Hotels. It is not in dispute that the amount is

transferred to the account of the petitioner at Kundapur. The

justification is that the salary amount of the petitioner is

transferred to his account at Kundapur and not the amount that

is allegedly misappropriated, as is obtaining in the complaint.

Therefore, it becomes a matter of investigation as it is an

allegation of embezzlement of funds to the tune of

NC: 2023:KHC:24085 CRL.P No. 4351 of 2023

Rs.2,55,63,516/-. Interjecting, interdicting or even obliteration

of the crime on the ground that it would not amount to a crime

at all, cannot be accepted at this juncture.

9. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner

would seek to buttress his submission with regard to the Bar

under Section 188 of the Cr.P.C. by relying upon the judgment

of the Co-ordinate Bench in Crl.P.No.1510/2014. There can be

no dispute or qualm about the law that is laid down by the Co-

ordinate Bench after, noticing Section 188 of the Cr.P.C. The

case therein concerned all the transactions happening in

Cambodia and therefore, Section 188 of the Cr.P.C. was a Bar

that was said in the said judgment. In the case at hand, as

observed herein above, the funds though allegedly embezzled

at United Arab Emirates when the petitioner was working as an

accountant, all of which have been allegedly transferred into

the account that is held by the petitioner at Canara Bank,

Kundapur, which was found out at the time of audit, at the

office at Kundapur. Therefore, the rigor of Section 188 of the

Cr.P.C. would not become applicable to the facts of the case at

hand. Since the issue concerns embezzlement of funds, this

Court would be loathe to interfere with such allegations at the

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stage of registration of the crime. It is for the investigation to

continue and the petitioner to avail of such remedy after

investigation concludes, as is available in law.

With the aforesaid observations, the petition stands

rejected.

Ordered accordingly.

Sd/-

JUDGE

JY

CT:PH