A.Santhosh v. State Rep. by the Inspector of Police

O R D E R The present Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking to quash the proceedings in C.C.No.545 of 2023 pending on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Additional Mahila Court, Coimbatore.

¶2The case of the prosecution is that on 05.09.2022, the petitioner/accused, a taxi driver, abused the de facto complainant and her mother in an abusive language, as they refused to pay the extra fare demanded by him. Therefore, based on the complaint given by the second respondent/de facto complainant, a case in Crime No.286 of 2022 was registered for the offences under Section 4 of the TN Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 2002. After completion of investigation, the final report was filed before the Additional Mahila Court and the learned Magistrate took cognizance of the same and numbered it as C.C.No.545 of 2023, which is now sought to be quashed.

¶3Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the due to the dispute between the petitioner and de facto complainant regarding the payment of taxi fare, a false and exaggerated complaint has been given. He further submitted that the alleged incident occurred on

05.09.2022, however, the complaint was lodged only on 07.09.2022 and that the first respondent police, without conducting a proper investigation, registered the case against the petitioner. He also submitted that there is no witness or evidence to establish the offence against the petitioner. Hence, he prayed to quash the proceedings pending against the petitioner.

¶4Learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the first respondent police submitted that only after a thorough enquiry, the aforesaid case was registered by the first respondent police and that there are materials to show that the accused has committed the offence under the TN Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. He further submitted that the case stands posted on 27.02.2026.

¶5Having heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and upon perusal of the materials available on record, this Court does not find any merit in this petition to quash the proceedings against the petitioner inasmuch as the grounds raised by the petitioner are matters for trial. Therefore, this Court is not inclined to quash the proceedings pending against the petitioner in C.C.No.545 of 2023 on the file of the Additional Mahila Court, Coimbatore.

¶6Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

10.02.2026

ham To

¶1The Judicial Magistrate, Additional Mahila Court, Coimbatore.

¶2The Inspector of Police, Coimbatore Police Station, Coimbatore District.

¶3The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA

, J.

ham and Crl.M.P.No.2102 of 2026

10.02.2026

THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 10.02.2026 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA and Crl.M.P.No.2102 of 2026 A.Santhosh ... Petitioner Vs. 1. The State represented by, The Inspector of Police, B1, Bazaar Police Station, Coimbatore. 2. S.Pavithra ... Respondents P RAYER : Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita/Section 482 Cr.P.C., to call for the records in C.C.No.545 of 2023 before the Judicial Magistrate, Additional Mahila Court, Coimbatore and quash the same. For Petitioner : Mr.E.Sivanandan For R1 : Mr.K.M.D.Muhilan Additional Public Prosecutor