Citation : 2022 Latest Caselaw 7697 Mad
Judgement Date : 12 April, 2022
1
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 12.04.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN
Crl.O.P.(MD) No.6773 of 2022
and
Crl.M.P(MD) No.4677 of 2022
1.Karuppasamy @ K.K
2.Deepak Kumar
3.Chelladurai
4.Sathiyaraj
5.Karuppasamy
6.Ramesh @ Paranthaman
7.Kannan
8.Gurusamy @ Idli Gurusamy
9.Gokula Prabu
10.Minor.Hari
(Rep. by his father natural guardian
Selvakumar) ...Petitioners
Vs.
1. State Represented by
The Inspector of Police,
Sendhmaram Police Station,
Tenkasi District.
(Crime No.339/2021)
2. Swarnam ...Respondents
PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. praying to
call for the records relating to FIR in Crime No. 339 of 2021 dated 18.10.2021
on the file of Inspector of Police, Sendhamaram, Tenkasi district and quash
the same as against the petitioner's.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
2
For Petitioners : Mr.S.Nirmal Aditya
For Respondents : Mr.R.M.Anbunithi
No.1 Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
This Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash the proceedings
in Crime No. 339 of 2021 on the file of the first respondent police.
2. The prosecution case is that the petitioners along with other
accused persons conspired together and made a plan to destroy the trees in
the filed owned by the defacto complainant, hence the present case came to
be registered.
3. The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit
that the petitioners are innocent and they have not committed any offence as
alleged by the prosecution. He would further submit that already civil dispute
is pending between the parties and the tenth respondent herein is the minor
school going boy studying 10 th standard and further there is a delay in the
lodgement of complaint.
4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that
already this Court has ordered transfer of investigation from the file of the
first respondent to the file of the Inspector of Police, Sankarankovil Police
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Station by an order dated 07.02.2022 in Crl.O.P(MD) No.1631 of 2022 and
the investigation is still pending on the file of the Inspector of Police,
Sankarankovil Police Station, Tenkasi District.
5. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
6. It is seen from the First Information Report that there are specific
allegation as against the petitioners, which has to be investigated. Further the
FIR is not an encyclopedia and it need not contain all facts. Further, it cannot
be quashed in the threshold. This Court finds that the FIR discloses prima
facie commission of cognizable offence and as such this Court cannot interfere
with the investigation. The investigating machinery has to step in to
investigate, grab and unearth the crime in accordance with the procedures
prescribed in the Code.
7.It is also relevant to rely upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court of India passed in Crl.A.No.255 of 2019 dated 12.02.2019 - Sau.
Kamal Shivaji Pokarnekar vs. the State of Maharashtra & ors., where
in it is held follows:-
"4. The only point that arises for our consideration in this case is whether the High Court was right in setting aside the order by which process was issued. It is settled law that the Magistrate, at the stage
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
of taking cognizance and summoning, is required to apply his judicial mind only with a view to taking cognizance of the offence, or in other words, to find out whether a prima facie case has been made out for summoning the accused persons. The learned Magistrate is not required to evaluate the merits of the material or evidence in support of the complaint, because the Magistrate must not undertake the exercise to find out whether the materials would lead to a conviction or not.
5. Quashing the criminal proceedings is called for only in a case where the complaint does not disclose any offence, or is frivolous, vexatious, or oppressive. If the allegations set out in the complaint do not constitute the offence of which cognizance has been taken by the Magistrate, it is open to the High Court to quash the same. It is not necessary that a meticulous analysis of the case should be done before the Trial to find out whether the case would end in conviction or acquittal. If it appears on a reading of the complaint and consideration of the allegations therein, in the light of the statement made on oath that the ingredients of the offence are disclosed, there would be no justification for the High Court to interfere.
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7.........
8........
9. Having heard the learned Senior Counsel and examined the material on record, we are of the considered view that the High Court ought not to have set aside the order passed by the Trial Court issuing summons to the Respondents. A perusal of the complaint discloses that prima facie, offences that are alleged against the Respondents. The correctness or otherwise of the said allegations has to be decided only in the Trial. At https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
the initial stage of issuance of process it is not open to the Courts to stifle the proceedings by entering into the merits of the contentions made on behalf of the accused. Criminal complaints cannot be quashed only on the ground that the allegations made therein appear to be of a civil nature. If the ingredients of the offence alleged against the accused are prima facie made out in the complaint, the criminal proceeding shall not be interdicted."
8. In view of the above discussion, this Court is not inclined to
quash the First Information Report. Hence this Criminal Original Petition
stands dismissed. However, the Inspector of Police, Sankarankovil Police
Station, Tenkasi District is directed to complete the investigation and file final
report before the concerned Magistrate, within a period of twelve weeks from
the date of receipt of a copy of this Order. While conducting investigation the
petitioners are at liberty to establish their involvement in this crime before the
investigating officer and the investigating officer is directed to consider the
same and file the final report accordingly. Consequently, connected
miscellaneous petition is closed.
12.04.2022
Internet:Yes Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non speaking order aav
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
To
1. The Inspector of Police, Sendhmaram Police Station, Tenkasi District.
2. The Inspector of Police, Sankarankovil Police Station, Tenkasi District
3. The Additional Public Prosecutor Madurai Bench of Madras High Court
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN.J.,
aav
Crl.O.P.(MD) No.6773 of 2022 and Crl.M.P(MD) No.4677 of 2022
12.04.2022
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
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