Anuj Arora v. M/S Super Floorings Pvt Ltd. and Ors

-1-o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o Dateoofodecision:o13.02.2023

o AnujoArorao ......Petitionero o Versuso o o M/soSuperoFlooringsoPrivateoLimitedoandootherso ......Respondentso o CRM-M-4616oofo2023o

o AnujoArorao ......Petitionero o Versuso o o M/soSuperoFlooringsoPrivateoLimitedoandootherso ......Respondents

CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoNAMIToKUMARo o Present:o-o Mr.oHimanshuoSharma,oAdvocate,oo o o forotheopetitioner(s).oo o NAMIToKUMAR,oJ.o(ORAL)o o o Thisoorderoshallodisposeoofoabovesaidopetitionsoasocommono questionoofolawoandofactsoareoinvolvedoinobothotheopetitions.o o o Forotheosakeoofobrevity,ofactsoareobeingotakenofromoCRM-M-4615oofo2023.o o o Instanto petitiono haso beeno filedo byo theo petitionero undero Sectiono482oCr.P.C.oimpugningotheoorderodatedo17.01.2018o(Annexureo P-1)o passedo byo theo Courto ofo learnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Isto Class,o Yamunao Nagar,o wherebyo petitionero haso beeno summonedo alongo witho -2-o o o otheroaccusedoinocomplaintobearingoNo.NIoAct/170oofo2018otitledo'M/so SuperoFlooringoPvt.oLtd.ov.oM/soFortuneoGraphicsoLtd.oandoothers'ofiledo byo respondento No.1o undero Sectiono 138/141o ofo theo Negotiableo InstrumentsoAct,o1881o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'theoAct')oreadowitho Sectiono420oIPCoandoorderodatedo03.01.2023o(AnnexureoP-2)opassedobyo learnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Isto Class,o Yamunao Nagar,o wherebyo applicationofiledobyotheopetitioner-accusedoNo.4ohasobeenodismissedoando alsoo ordero datedo 17.09.2022o (Annexureo P-4)o video whicho revisiono petitionoagainstosummoningoorderodatedo17.01.2018ohasobeenodismissedo byolearnedoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oYamunaoNagaroatoJagadhri.o o o Briefo factso ofo theo caseo areo thato respondento No.1-complainant,o througho itso authorizedo signatory,o filedo ao criminalo complainto againsto M/so Fortuneo Graphicso Ltd.o througho itso directors/authorizedosignatoriesoallegingothatotheochequeoissuedobyotheo accused,oinodischargeoofoitsoliability,oonopresentationoforoencashmento waso bounced/dishonouredo witho theo remarkso 'fundso insufficient'o ando afterorecordingotheopreliminaryoevidenceoadducedobyotheocomplainantoino supportoofoitsoclaim,otheolearnedotrialocourtovideoorderodatedo17.1.2018o foundoprimaofacieocaseoforoissuanceoofoprocessoagainstopetitioneroando others,oandoaccordingly,otheyowereoorderedotoobeosummonedotoofaceotrialo forotheocommissionoofooffenceounderosectiono138oofotheoAct.o o o o o Admittedly,ocomplaintodatedo16.01.2018owasopreferredobyo respondentoNo.1oagainstotheopetitioneroandootheroco-accusedoandotheo Courto ofo learnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Isto Class,o Yamunao Nagar,o video orderodatedo17.01.2018osummonedotheopetitioneroandootheroco-accusedo -3-o o o byopassingoaodetailedoorder.ooTheopetitioneropreferredoaorevisionopetitiono beforeotheoCourtoofolearnedoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oYamunaoNagaro ato Jagadhrio ono 20.08.2021o challengingo theo summoningo ordero datedo

17.01.2018oalongowithoapplicationoforocondonationoofodelayoofo1220o days.o o Theo explanationo giveno byo theo petitionero waso thato earliero theo matteroremainedopendingoforomediationoandoconciliationoandothereaftero itowasoadjournedodueotooCovid-19oPandemic.ooTheosaidoexplanationowaso notoacceptedoasocontradictoryostandowasotakenobyotheopetitioneroinotheo applicationo filedo undero Sectiono 5o ofo theo Limitationo Acto whereino heo averredothatotheopetitionerocameotooknowoaboutotheopendencyoofotheo complaintoinotheomonthoofoDecember,o2019.ooTheoCourtocameotootheo conclusionothatoevenoifotheomatterowasoreferredotootheoMediationoCentre,o theo petitionero waso noto preventedo fromo preferringo revisiono petition.oo Consequently,otheorevisionopetitionowasodismissedobyotheosaidoCourtobyo passingotheofollowingoorder:o-o "14.oInotheopresentocase,othereoisoadmittedly,oaodelayoofo 1220o dayso ino filingo ofo theo revisiono petitiono ando theo explanationo renderedo ono behalfo ofo theo petitionero iso thato earliero theo mattero remainedo pendingo foro mediationo ando conciliationo ando thereafter,o theo mattero waso beingo adjournedo dueo too Covid-19o pandemic.o However,o theo explanationorenderedobyotheopetitionerodoesonotoseemotoo sub-serveo theo causeo ofo theo petitioner,o inasmucho theo petitionero ino hiso applicationo undero sectiono 5o ofo theo Limitationo Acto haso himselfo averredo thato theo petitionero cameotooknowoaboutotheopendencyoofotheocomplaintoinotheo montho ofo December,o 2019o ando eveno ifo theo mattero waso referredotoomediationocentre,owhatopreventedotheopetitionero RAVINDER SINGH too prefero theo presento revisiono petitiono iso beyondo -4-o o o comprehension.oTheoimpugnedoorderowasopassedowayobacko ono 17.1.2018o ando thereafter,o obviously,o summonses/noticesowereoissuedotootheoaccusedoandoasopero ownoavermentsoofotheopetitioner,oheosurrenderedobeforeotheo trialocourtoono16.12.2019oandowasoadmittdotoobailoonothato veryoday,ohowever,opresentorevisionopetitionocameotoobeo institutedoono20.8.2021,owithoutofurnishingosufficientocauseo foro preferringo theo revisiono petitiono soo belatedly.o Theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinocaseoAmalenduoKumaro BeraoVs.oStateoofoWestoBengal,o(2013)o4oS.C.C.o52,ohaso heldothatodelayoinofilingoappealoororevisionoshallonotobeo mechanicallyoconsideredoandothatoinoabsenceoofo'sufficiento cause'odelayoshallonotobeocondoned.oFurther,orelianceocano alsoobeoplacedouponocaseoTribhuvanshankaroVs.oAmrutlal,o

(2014)o2oS.C.C.o788,owherein,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto haso heldo thato thereo iso ao fundamentalo policyo behindo LimitationoActoandothatoifoaopersonodoesonotopursueoremedyo withino specifiedo timeo theno hiso righto too sueo getso extinguished.o Petitionero haso approachedo theo revisionalo courtoafteromoreothanothreeoandohalfoyearsoofopassingotheo impugnedo order,o so,o ino theo presento caseo wheno theo petitionerohasofailedotooexplainocolossalodelayoinofilingoofo theo revisiono petition,o therefore,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo consideredoviewothatolongodelayoofo1220odaysoinofilingoofo theo presento revisiono petitiono doeso noto deserveo too beo condoned,oasoexplanationoofferedoappearsotoobeofancifulo andodoesonotofurnisho'sufficientocause'.oo

15.o Consequento too aboveo discussion,o applicationo foro condonationoofodelayoisoherebyodismissedoandoconsequento thereto,o theo instanto revisiono filedo byo theo revisionist/petitionero iso alsoo herebyo dismissedo beingo barredobyolimitation.oo

16.o Duringo theo courseo ofo hearing,o ito transpiredo thato RAVINDER SINGH dischargeo applicationo ofo theo petitionero iso pendingo -5-o o o adjudicationo beforeo theo trialo courto ando accordingly,o petitionerocanowellopursueotheosaidoapplicationobeforeotheo learnedotrialocourtoandonothingoexpressedohere-in-aboveo shall,ohowever,obeoconstruedotooanoexpressionoofoopiniono onotheomeritsoofotheocase.oo

17.oTrialoCourtorecordoalongowithocopyoofothisoorderobeo remitted.o Theo partieso areo directedo too appearo beforeo theo learnedo trialo courto ono 06.10.2022o i.e.o theo dateo alreadyo fixedo beforeo theo trialo court,o foro furthero proceedings,o ino accordanceowitholaw.oAfterodueocompliance,orevisionofileo beoconsignedotoorecords.oo Announced:oo o o (JagdeepoSingh)oo Dated:o17.9.2022.ooo o (UID:oHR/0125)oo AdditionaloSessionsoJudge,o oo o o YamunaoNagaroatoJagadhri."o o o o Ito appearso thato wheno theo revisiono petitiono waso pendingo beforeo theo Courto ofo learnedo Additionalo Sessionso Judgeo ato Jagadhri,o petitionero filedo ano applicationo foro dischargeo ando theo sameo waso alsoo dismissedobyolearnedoJudicialoMagistrateoIstoClass,oJagadhri,ovideoordero datedo03.01.2023,owhichoreadsoasounder:o-o "5.oPerusaloofotheofileoshowsothatoinotheopresentocomplainto fouro accusedo haveo beeno arrayedo aso pero titleo ofo theo complaintoandooneoofotheoaccusedoarrayedoasoAnujoArorao applicant/accusedo No.4o aso director/authorizedo signatoryo ofoM/soFortuneoGraphics.oPerusaloofotheofileowouldoshowo thato videoorderodatedo17.01.2018opassedo byo myolearnedo Predecessoroapplicant/accusedohasoalsoobeenosummonedo too faceo theo trial.o Byo wayo ofo presento applicationo applicant/accusedodesiresothatoheobeodischargedohavingonoo connectionowithotheoallegedotransactionoasoheowasoneithero in-chargeo ando waso alsoo noto responsibleo foro dayo too dayo affairsoofotheoCompanyoandoapplicant/accusedoisoalsoonoto RAVINDER SINGH additionalo directoro oro directoro aso heo resignedo fromo theo -6-o o o postoofoadditionalodirectoroono10.03.2017oevenootherwiseo alsooapplicantowasonotoregularizedoasodirector.oLearnedo counseloforoapplicant/accusedoreliedoonopronouncementso titledoAniloJindaloVersusoVishwaoJeetoSangwano(supra)o andoAniloChananaoVersusoM/soGyanioRamoRuliyaoRamo (supra).o Indeed,o lawo iso wello settledo ino theo saido pronouncementso ando thereo iso noo disputeo ono theo settledo questionoofolawoasoheldoinosaidopronouncements.oItoisoano applicationo foro dischargeo ofo applicant/accusedo wheno heo hasoalreadyobeenosummonedotoofaceotheotrialoandoatotheo stageo wheno noticeo ofo accusationo iso too beo servedo upono accused.oo

6.o Seemingly,o byo wayo ofo thiso application,o applicanto iso seekingoreviewoofoorderodatedo17.01.2018owhichoisooutoofo theo previewo ofo thiso Court.o Relianceo iso alsoo placedo ono pronouncemento titledo Suoo Motuo Writo Petitiono (CRL.)o No.2oOfo2020,oInoRe:oExpeditiousoTrialoOfoCasesoUndero Sectiono138oOfoN.I.oActo1881,owhereinoitowasoobservedo that;oo "Theo observationo ino theo caseo ofo K.o M.o Mathewo (supra)othatonoospecificoprovisionoofolawoisorequiredo fororecallingoanoerroneousoorderoofoissueoofoprocesso wasoheldotoobeocontraryotootheoschemeoofotheoCodeoino AdalatoPrasadov.oRooplaloJindaloandoOthers.oItowaso observedothereinothatotheoorderotakingocognizanceo canoonlyobeosubjectomatteroofoaoproceedingoundero Sectiono 482o ofo theo Codeo aso subordinateo criminalo courtso haveo noo inherento power.o Thereo iso alsoo noo powerooforeviewoconferredoonotheoTrialoCourtsobyo theo Code.o Aso thereo iso noo specifico provisiono foro recallingoanoerroneousoorderobyotheoTrialoCourt,otheo judgmentoinotheocaseoofoK.oM.oMathewo(supra)owaso heldo too beo noto layingo downo correcto law.o Theo RAVINDER SINGH questionowhetheroaopersonocanoseekodischargeoinoao -7-o o o summonso caseo waso consideredo byo thiso Courto ino SubramaniumoSethuramanov.oStateoofoMaharashtrao &oAnr.oTheolawolaidodownoinoAdalatoPrasado(supra)o wasoreiterated."oo

7.o Applicanto iso seekingo theo reliefo ofo reviewo byo camouflagingotheoprayeroandowhatocannotobeodoneodirectlyo cannotobeoallowedotoobeodoneoindirectly.oo

8.o Thus,o ino viewo ofo discussiono madeo above,o withouto commentingo upono theo meritso ofo theo case,o applicationo iso dismissed.oo Pronouncedoo o (UdhayoPartap)oo JudicialoMagistrateoFirstoClass,oo YamunaoNagaroatoJagadhrioo UIDoNo.HR0444,o03.01.2023"o o o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero contendso thato theo presento petitionero ceasedo too beo theo directoro ofo theo companyo w.e.f.o

10.03.2017oandohasoattachedolegaloopinionodatedo05.12.2020ofromoKajalo GoeloandoAssociates,oCompanyoSecretariesoalongowithotheodocuments,o whicho areo statedo too beo availableo ono theo websiteo ofo theo Ministryo ofo CorporateoAffairsoasowelloasofromotheoannualoreturns.ooLearnedocounselo forotheopetitionerohasocitedotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto inoUnionoofoIndiaov.oPrafullaoKumaroSamaloandoanother,o1979oAIRo (SupremeoCourt)o366.o o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroandoperusedo theorecord.o o o Theodocumentsoreliedouponobyotheopetitioner,oasoreferredotoo above,ocanoonlyobeotakenointooconsiderationobyothisoCourtoonceotheosameo haveobeenoprovedobeforeotheotrialoCourt.ooFurther,otheopetitionerohaso challengedotheosummoningoorderodatedo17.01.2018obyofilingoaorevisiono -8-o o o petitionoafterodelayoofo1220odaysoandotheoCourtoofolearnedoAdditionalo SessionsoJudgeoatoJagadhriovideodetailedojudgmentodatedo17.08.2022odido noto findo theo explanationo offeredo byo theo petitionero too beo worth-acceptanceoandocameotootheoconclusionothatotheosameodoesonotofurnisho 'sufficiento cause'o ino termso ofo Sectiono 5o ofo theo Limitationo Acto ando rejectedotheoapplicationoforocondonationoofodelayoofo1220odaysoandoino consequenceo theretoo dismissedo theo revisiono petitiono beingo barredo byo limitation.o o o Anotheroaspectowhichoisonecessaryotoobeomentionedohereoiso thatowhileotheorevisionopetitionopreferredobyotheopetitionerowasopendingo beforeotheoSessionsoCourt,oYamunaoNagaroatoJagadhri,otheopetitionero filedoapplicationoforodischargeobeforeotheotrialoCourt,owhichotooocameotoo beodismissedovideoorderodatedo03.01.2023obyorecordingoaofindingothatoaso ao mattero ofo facto theo petitionero iso seekingo reviewo ofo ordero datedo

17.01.2018obyocamouflagingotheoprayeroofodischarge.ooFromoaoperusaloofo theofactsomentionedohereinabove,oitoisoclearothatoinitiallyotheopetitionero evadedotheoserviceoofosummonsoandowasodeclaredoproclaimedoperson.oo Heowasosummonedotoofaceotheotrialoinocomplaintocaseoono17.01.2018o andothoroughlyoevadedoserviceoandofinally,oitoisohisoownocaseothatoheo surrenderedobeforeotheotrialoCourtoono16.12.2019.ooTheopetitionerohaso alsoofailedotooattachocopyoofotheolegalonoticeoservedobyorespondentoNo.1o uponohimoandoitoisonototheocaseoofotheopetitionerothatoanyoreplyowaso givenotootheosaidolegalonotice,omentioningothereinothatopetitionerowasonoo moreodirectoroofotheocompanyow.e.f.o10.03.2017.ooo -9-o o o o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino S.P.o Manio ando Mohano Dairyov.oDr.oSnehalathaoElangovan,o2022(4)oR.C.R.(Criminal)o743o whileo consideringo ao similaro questiono aftero consideringo lawo ono theo subject,ohasoheldoasounder:o-o "44.oWeomayoalsooexamineothisoappealofromoaodifferento angle.oItoisonotoinodispute,oasonotedoabove,othatonooreplyo wasogivenobyotheorespondentotootheostatutoryonoticeoservedo upono hero byo theo appellant.o Ino theo proceedingso ofo theo presento type,o ito iso essentialo foro theo persono too whomo statutoryonoticeoisoissuedounderosectiono138oofotheoNIoActo too giveo ano appropriateo reply.o Theo persono concernedo iso expectedo too clarifyo hiso oro hero stance.o Ifo theo persono concernedohasosomeounimpeachableoandoincontrovertibleo materialotooestablishothatoheoorosheohasonooroleotooplayoino theoaffairsoofotheocompany/firm,othenosuchomaterialoshouldo beohighlightedoinotheoreplyotootheonoticeoasoaofoundation.oIfo anyo suchofoundationo isolaid,otheo pictureo wouldobeo moreo clearobeforeotheoeyesoofotheocomplainant.oTheocomplainanto wouldocomeotooknowoasotoowhyotheopersonotoowhomoheohaso issuedo noticeo sayso thato heo iso noto responsibleo foro theo dishonouroofotheocheque.oHadotheorespondentohereinogiveno appropriateoreplyohighlightingowhateverosheohasosoughtotoo highlightobeforeousothenoprobablyotheocomplainantowouldo haveoundertakenofurtheroenquiryoandowouldohaveotriedotoo findooutowhatowasotheolegalostatusoofotheofirmoonotheodateoofo theocommissionoofotheooffenceoandowhatowasotheostatusoofo theorespondentoinotheofirm.oTheoobjectoofonoticeobeforeotheo filingoofotheocomplaintoisonotojustotoogiveoaochanceotootheo draweroofotheochequeotoorectifyohisoomissionotoomakeohiso stanceoclearosoofaroasohisoliabilityounderosectiono138oofotheo -10-o o o

45.o Onceo theo necessaryo avermentso areo madeo ino theo statutoryonoticeoissuedobyotheocomplainantoinoregardotootheo vicariousoliabilityoofotheopartnersoandouponoreceiptoofosucho notice,oifotheopartnerokeepsoquietoandodoesonotosayoanythingo ino replyo too theo same,o theno theo complainanto haso allo theo reasonsotoobelieveothatowhatoheohasostatedoinotheonoticeohaso beenoacceptedobyotheonoticee.oInosuchocircumstancesowhato moreo iso expectedo ofo theo complainanto too sayo ino theo complaint.o

46.oWhenoinoviewoofotheobasicoavermentoprocessoisoissuedo theo complainto musto proceedo againsto theo Directorso oro partnerso aso theo caseo mayo be.o But,o ifo anyo Directoro oro Partnero wantso theo processo too beo quashedo byo filingo ao petitionounderoSectiono482oofotheoCodeoonotheogroundothato onlyoaobaldoavermentoisomadeoinotheocomplaintoandothatoheo isoreallyonotoconcernedowithotheoissuanceoofotheocheque,oheo mustoinoorderotoopersuadeotheoHighoCourtotooquashotheo processo eithero furnisho someo sterlingo incontrovertibleo materialooroacceptableocircumstancesotoosubstantiateohiso contention.o Heo musto makeo outo ao caseo thato makingo himo standotheotrialowouldobeoanoabuseoofoprocessoofocourt.oHeo cannotogetotheocomplaintoquashedomerelyoonotheogroundo thato aparto fromo theo basico avermento noo particularso areo givenoinotheocomplaintoaboutohisorole,obecauseoordinarilyo theobasicoavermentowouldobeosufficientotoosendohimotootrialo ando ito couldo beo arguedo thato hiso furthero roleo couldo beo broughto outo ino theo trial.o Quashingo ofo ao complainto iso ao seriouso matter.o Complainto cannoto beo quashedo foro theo asking.oForoquashingoofoaocomplaint,oitomustobeoshownothato noo offenceo iso madeo outo ato allo againsto theo Directoro oro Partner.o

47.oOurofinaloconclusionsomayobeosummarisedoasounder:-o a.)oTheoprimaryoresponsibilityoofotheocomplainantoiso RAVINDER SINGH toomakeospecificoavermentsoinotheocomplaintosooasotoo -11-o o o makeotheoaccusedovicariouslyoliable.oForofasteningo theocriminaloliability,othereoisonoolegalorequiremento foro theo complainanto too showo thato theo accusedo partneroofotheofirmowasoawareoaboutoeachoandoeveryo transaction.oOnotheootherohand,otheofirstoprovisootoo sub-sectiono(1)oofoSectiono141oofotheoActoclearlyolayso downo thato ifo theo accusedo iso ableo too proveo too theo satisfactiono ofo theo Courto thato theo offenceo waso committedowithoutohis/heroknowledgeoorohe/sheohado exercisedodueodiligenceotoopreventotheocommissiono ofo sucho offence,o he/sheo willo noto beo liableo ofo punishment.o b.)o Theo complainanto iso supposedo too knowo onlyo generallyoasotoowhoowereoinochargeoofotheoaffairsoofo theocompanyoorofirm,oasotheocaseomayobe.oTheoothero administrativeomattersowouldobeowithinotheospecialo knowledgeo ofo theo companyo oro theo firmo ando thoseo whooareoinochargeoofoit.oInosuchocircumstances,otheo complainantoisoexpectedotooallegeothatotheopersonso namedoinotheocomplaintoareoinochargeoofotheoaffairso ofotheocompany/firm.oItoisoonlyotheoDirectorsoofotheo companyoorotheopartnersoofotheofirm,oasotheocaseomayo be,owhoohaveotheospecialoknowledgeoaboutotheoroleo theyohadoplayedoinotheocompanyoorotheopartnersoinoao firmotooshowobeforeotheocourtothatoatotheorelevanto pointoofotimeotheyowereonotoinochargeoofotheoaffairso ofo theo company.o Advertenceo too Sectionso 138o ando Sectiono141orespectivelyoofotheoNIoActoshowsothatoono theootheroelementsoofoanooffenceounderoSectiono138o beingo satisfied,o theo burdeno iso ono theo Boardo ofo Directorsoorotheoofficersoinochargeoofotheoaffairsoofo theocompany/partnersoofoaofirmotooshowothatotheyo wereonotoliableotoobeoconvicted.oTheoexistenceoofoanyo RAVINDER SINGH specialocircumstanceothatomakesothemonotoliableoiso -12-o o o somethingothatoisopeculiarlyowithinotheiroknowledgeo andoitoisoforothemotooestablishoatotheotrialotooshowo thatoatotheorelevantotimeotheyowereonotoinochargeoofo theoaffairsoofotheocompanyoorotheofirm.o c.)oNeedlessotoosay,otheofinalojudgementoandoordero wouldo dependo ono theo evidenceo adduced.o Criminalo liabilityoisoattractedoonlyoonothose,owhooatotheotimeo ofocommissionoofotheooffence,owereoinochargeoofoando wereoresponsibleoforotheoconductoofotheobusinessoofo theo firm.o Buto vicariouso criminalo liabilityo cano beo inferredoagainstotheopartnersoofoaofirmowhenoitoiso specificallyo averredo ino theo complainto abouto theo statuso ofo theo partnerso quao theo firm.o o Thiso wouldo makeothemoliableotoofaceotheoprosecutionobutoitodoeso notoleadotooautomaticoconviction.oHence,otheyoareo notoadverselyoprejudicedoifotheyoareoeventuallyofoundo toobeonotoguilty,oasoaonecessaryoconsequenceothereofo wouldobeoacquittal.o d.)oIfoanyoDirectorowantsotheoprocessotoobeoquashedo byofilingoaopetitionounderoSectiono482oofotheoCodeoono theogroundothatoonlyoaobaldoavermentoisomadeoinotheo complaintoandothatohe/sheoisoreallyonotoconcernedo witho theo issuanceo ofo theo cheque,o he/sheo musto ino ordero too persuadeo theo Higho Courto too quasho theo processoeitherofurnishosomeosterlingoincontrovertibleo materialo oro acceptableo circumstanceso too substantiateohis/herocontention.oHe/sheomustomakeo outoaocaseothatomakingohim/herostandotheotrialowouldo beoanoabuseoofoprocessoofoCourt."o o o Consideringotheofactsoofotheopresentocaseoinotheolightoofolawo laidodownobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoS.P.oManioandoMohan'so caseo(supra),oitoisoclearothatonooreplyotootheolegalonoticeowasogivenobyotheo RAVINDER SINGHpetitioneromentioningothereinothatoheowasonoomoreotheodirectoroofotheo -13-o o o companyo w.e.f.o 10.03.2017.o o Theo trialo iso alreadyo ino progresso w.e.f.o

16.01.2018oandoaoperiodoofomoreothanofiveoyearsohasoalreadyoelapsed,o therefore,oitocannotobeosaidothatotrialoinotheopresentocaseoisoanoabuseoofo processo ofo theo Courto aso thereo iso noo incontrovertibleo materialo oro acceptableocircumstancesoshownobeforeothisoCourtotoosubstantiateotheo contentiono ofo theo petitioner.o o Therefore,o theo complainto ato thiso stageo cannotobeoquashedowhileoexercisingopowersounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.o o o Soo faro aso judgmento citedo byo learnedo counselo foro theo petitioneroinoPrafullaoKumar'socaseo(supra)oisoconcerned,oinoparao10o thereofoitohasobeenoheldoasounder:o-o "10.oThus,oonoaoconsiderationoofotheoauthoritiesomentionedo above,otheofollowingoprinciplesoemerge:oo

(1)oThatotheoJudgeowhileoconsideringotheoquestionoofo framingotheochargesounderoSectiono227oofotheoCodeo haso theo undoubtedo powero too sifto ando weigho theo evidenceo foro theo limitedo purposeo ofo findingo outo whethero oro noto ao primao facieo caseo againsto theo accusedohasobeenomadeoout;oo

(2)o Whereo theo materialso placedo beforeo theo Courto discloseograveosuspicionoagainstotheoaccusedowhicho hasonotobeenoproperlyoexplainedotheoCourtowillobeo fullyojustifiedoinoframingoaochargeoandoproceedingo withotheotrial.oo

(3)oTheotestoofodetermineoaoprimaofacieocaseowouldo naturallyodependouponotheofactsoofoeachocaseoandoito iso difficulto too layo downo ao ruleo ofo universalo application.oByoandolargeohoweveroifotwooviewsoareo equallyopossibleoandotheoJudgeoisosatisfiedothatotheo evidenceoproducedobeforeohimowhileogivingoriseotoo someosuspicionobutonotograveosuspicionoagainstotheo -14-o o o accused,o heo willo beo fullyo withino hiso righto too dischargeotheoaccused.oo

(4)oThatoinoexercisingohisojurisdictionounderoSectiono 227oofotheoCodeotheoJudgeowhichounderotheopresento CodeoisoaosenioroandoexperiencedoCourtocannotoacto merelyo aso ao Post-Officeo oro ao mouthpieceo ofo theo prosecution,o buto haso too considero theo broado probabilitieso ofo theo case,o theo totalo effecto ofo theo evidenceo ando theo documentso producedo beforeo theo Court,oanyobasicoinfirmitiesoappearingoinotheocaseo ando soo on.o Thiso howevero doeso noto meano thato theo Judgeoshouldomakeoaorovingoenquiryointootheoproso andoconsoofotheomatteroandoweighotheoevidenceoasoifo heowasoconductingoaotrial."o o o Aoperusaloofotheoaboveojudgmentowouldoshowothatosameoiso distinguishableoandoisonotoapplicableotootheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo theopresentocaseoasoinotheosaidojudgment,otheopointoforodeterminationo wasowithoregardotootheoscopeoandoambitoofoorderoofodischargeotoobeo passedobyotheoSpecialoJudgeounderoSectiono227oCr.P.C.o o o o Inoviewoofotheopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocaseo andolawolaidodownobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoS.P.oMani'socaseo (supra),othisoCourtoisonotoinclinedotoointerfereowithotheoimpugnedoorders.oo Hence,opresentopetitionobeingodevoidoofoanyomerit,oisoherebyodismissed.o o (NAMIToKUMAR)o

13.02.2023o o o o o o ooooooooJUDGEo R.S.o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :o Yes/Noo o WhetheroReportableoo o :o Yes/Noo