Madras High Court
V.Saroja vs The Inspector Of Police on 18 April, 2022
Crl.O.P.(MD)No.7015 of 2022
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 18.04.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN
Crl.O.P.(MD)No.7015 of 2022
and
Crl.M.P(MD) No.4822 of 2022
1. V.Saroja
2. Selvaraj
3. Selvarani ... Petitioners
Vs
1. The Inspector of Police
All Women Police Station
Manaparai Town
Trichy District
2. Revathi ... Respondents
Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to Call for the
records pertaining to the First Information Report in Crime No.4 of 2022 on the
file of the first respondent herein and quash the same as against the petitioners
2,3,4 is concerned.
For Petitioners : Mr.B.Jameel Arasu
For Respondents : Mr.R.M.Anbunithi
No.1 Additional Public Prosecutor
1/7
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
Crl.O.P.(MD)No.7015 of 2022
ORDER
This Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash the proceedings in
Crime No. 4 of 2022 on the file of the first respondent police.
2. The prosecution case is that the marriage between the first accused
and the defacto complainant was solemnized on 04.06.2015 and at the time of
marriage the parents of the defacto complainant has given 20 sovereigns of gold
jewels and also 31/2 sovereigns of gold jewels to the first accused and other
sreedhana articles and household articles worth about Rs.3,28,000/-. After
marriage they lived happily at the matrimonial house but after some time there
was some mis understanding and the first accused demanded additional dowry
and also caused cruelty on her and thereafter due to intervention of some elders,
they got united and lived in the matrimonial home. After some period, again the
first accused along with other petitioners jointly abused the defacto complainant,
and caused cruelty on her and demanded additional dowry and finally she was
thrown out of the matrimonial home on 22.07.2016, hence she was forced to
lodge a complaint before the Manaparai police station and during enquiry the
police pacified the issue and advised the first accused to live with the defacto
complainant. Thereafter on 03.02.2022 at about 4.30 pm., the first accused
along with the other petitioner came to the house of the defacto complainant,
assaulted her demanding additional dowry and when the same was questioned,
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Crl.O.P.(MD)No.7015 of 2022
the first accused along with other accused said to have threatened her, 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.
4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the
investigation is almost completed and the respondent police are about to file the
final report before the concerned court.
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.
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Crl.O.P.(MD)No.7015 of 2022
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 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
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Crl.O.P.(MD)No.7015 of 2022
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.
6.........
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 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
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Crl.O.P.(MD)No.7015 of 2022
dismissed. However, the respondent police 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.
Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
18.04.2022
Internet:Yes/No
Index:Yes/No
Speaking/Non speaking order
aav
To
1. The Inspector of Police
All Women Police Station
Manaparai Town
Trichy District
2.The Additional Public Prosecutor,
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Madurai.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
Crl.O.P.(MD)No.7015 of 2022
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J,
aav
Crl.O.P.(MD)No.7015 of 2022
and
Crl.M.P(MD) No.4822 of 2022
18.04.2022
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
