Charanjit Kaur v. State of Punjab and Another

o o -1-o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o CRM-M-21589oofo2023oo Dateoofodecision:o29.04.2023o o CharanjitoKauro ......Petitionero o Versuso o o StateoofoPunjaboandoanothero ......Respondento o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoNAMIToKUMARo o Present:o-o Dr.oKhushbiroK.oWaraich,oAdvocate,o o o forotheopetitioner.o o o o Mr.oJashanpreetoSingh,oDAG,oPunjab.oo o NAMIToKUMAR,oJ.o

1.o o Thiso petitiono haso beeno filedo undero 482o Cr.P.C.o foro quashingoofoFIRoNo.90odatedo17.09.2021,ounderoSectionso302oando34o IPCo(addedolateroon)oregisteredoatoPoliceoStationoRangaroNangaloBatala,o DistrictoGurdaspur,oPunjab,oandoallotheosubsequentoproceedingsoarisingo therefrom.o

2.o o Brieflyotheofactsoofotheocaseoleadingotootheofilingoofotheo instanto petitiono ariseo fromo theo deatho ofo oneo Ravindero Singh.o Ao complaintowasosubmittedotootheopoliceobyoRajwinderoKaur-complainanto (mothero ofo theo deceased)o againsto Mandeepo Singh,o Charanjito Kauro (presentopetitioner),oSukhwinderoSinghoando3-4ounknownopersons;othato ono16.09.2021oaroundo4-5opm,oComplainant'sosonoRavinderoSinghowento somewhereo outsideo fromo homeo ando aftero waitingo foro threeo hourso complainantostartedosearchingoforoherosono(deceased).oAtoaroundo9-10o o o -2-o pm,o complainanto calledo Charanjito Kauro (presento petitioner)o w/oo SukhwinderoSingho@oPituoresidentoofovillageoJahadpuroandoMandeepo Singho@oKaaluos/ooSukhwinderoSinghoansweredoComplainant'socall,oheo toldocomplainantothatoRavinderoSinghohasoconsumedoexcessiveoalcoholo andoheowillonotocomeohomeotoday.oThenoComplainantowentotootheohouseo ofoMandeepoSingho@oKaaluoandosawoherosonoRavinderoSingholyingoono bedoinoMandeepoSingh'sohouse.oThenotheoComplainantonoticedosalivao waso comingo outo ofo Ravindero Singh'so moutho ando noseo ando hiso faceo turnedoblue.oSubsequently,oComplainantowithotheohelpoofoothersotooko RavinderoSinghotooGuruoRamdassoHospital,oAmritsarowhereotheodoctorso checkedohimoandodeclaredohimodead.o

3.o o Itoisosubmittedobyotheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionero thato theo wholeo versiono ofo FIRo byo theo Complainanto iso basedo upono doubt/suspicionowhichoisoevidentofromotheocontentsoofotheoFIRoandothuso benefito ofo doubto beo giveno too theo presento petitioner.o Ito iso furthero contendedothatotheoComplainant'sosonoRavinderoSingho(deceased)owaso habitualoofoconsumingoalcohol,odrugsoandousedotoocreateonuisanceoinotheo villageoafterotakingotheointoxicatingocontrabandoandopetitionerohasonoo roleoinotheodeathoofoRavinderoSingh.oItoisoaverredothatoono16.09.2021,otheo Complainant'sosonoRavinderoSinghowasovoluntarilyointoxicatedoandoono reachingotheohouseoofotheoPetitioner,oheobecameounconsciousoandofello outsideo theo houseo ofo theo petitionero ando petitioner'so sono namelyo MandeepoSinghobeingoaofriendotookohimoinsideoandolaterotheomotheroofo theodeceasedo(Complainant)oalsoocameotootheohouseoofotheoPetitioner.ooIto iso furthero contendedo thato thereo iso noo direct/indirecto evidenceo oro o o -3-o independento witnesso againsto theo petitionero too connecto hero witho theo commissionoofotheo allegedooffenceoandowholeoofotheoallegationso areo false,ofrivolous,ofabricatedoandoconcoctedotooharassoandopressurizeotheo petitioner.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero furthero submitso thato petitionero alongo witho someo othero personso whoo wereo well-conversanto withotheofactsoofothisocase,ohadomovedorepresentationso(AnnexuresoP-2o andoP-3)otootheoconcernedoauthoritiesoforoholdingoenquiryoinotheomatter.o Sheofurtherosubmitsothatothereoisoaodelayoofooneodayoinoregistrationoofotheo FIR.o Too supporto hero contentions,o learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero reliesouponojudgmentoofoHon'bleoApexoCourtoinoStateoofoUttaroPradesho vsoR.K.oSrivastava,oAIRo1989oSCo2222.o

4.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroandohaveo carefullyogoneothroughotheopleadingsoasowelloasodocumentsoappendedo alongowithotheocaseofileoandotheojudgementoreliedouponobyotheocounselo forotheopetitioner.oo

5.o o AoperusaloofotheoFIRoshowsothatotheonameoofotheopetitionero hasobeenospecificallyomentionedoasoanoaccused.oItoisoalsoonotodisputedo thatoRavinderoSinghowasofoundoinointoxicatedoconditionobyotheomothero ofo Ravindero Singho i.e.o complainant,o aftero thato heo waso takeno too theo hospitalo whereo heo waso declaredo deado byo doctorso aftero medicalo examination.o

6.o o Relevanto extracto fromo theo reporto datedo 21.12.2021o ofo ChemicaloExaminero(AnnexureoP-5)oisoasofollows:o-o "ETHYLALCOHOLodetectedoinotheocontentsoofoexhibitoI,oII,oIIIo&oIV.ooo Bloodoalcoholoconcentrationoestimatedotoobeo103.5omgopero100oml.ooo NooPoison/NooalcoholodetectedoinotheocontentsoofoexhibitoV."o o o -4-o

7.o o Finalo opiniono ofo boardo ofo doctorso datedo 31.01.2022o (AnnexureoP-6)oisoasofollows:o-o "Hence,oonotheobasisoofoPMR,oChemicaloExaminationoreportoando HPEoreport,oweotheoboardoisoofoopinionothatotheocauseoofodeathoino thisocaseoisoasoaoresultoofoEthyloalcoholoPoisoning."o o o Fromotheoperusaloofoaboveoreportsoitohasocomeotootheoforeo thatocauseoofodeathoofoRavinderoSinghoisoEthyloalcoholoPoisoning.o

8.o o Atothisostage,othisoCourtoisoofotheoopinionothatotheodisputedo questionsoofofactsoareoinvolvedoinotheopresentopetition,owhichocanoonlyo beodeterminedoonotheobasisoofoevidenceotoobeoledobyotheopartiesoinoordero tooreachotheofairoconclusion.oInoexerciseoofotheopowersounderoSectiono 482oCr.P.C.,othisoCourtoisonotoexpectedotooconductoaominiotrialosooasotoo goointoosaidoquestionsoofofacts.oSuchoinherentopowersoareotoobeoexercisedo byo thiso Courto onlyo undero exceptionalo circumstanceso ando wheno theo proceedings,oonotheofaceooforecord,oappearotoobeoanoabuseoofoprocessoofo law.o

9.o o AobareoperusaloofotheoallegationsolevelledoinotheoFIRoprimao facieorevealsothatoseriousoandospecificoallegationsohaveobeenolevelledo againstopetitionerothatotheopetitionerocausedodeathoofocomplainant'sosono ino connivanceo witho othero co-accusedo byo givingo poisonouso substanceo mixedowithoalcoholoorodrug.o

10.o o ThisoCourtodoesonotofindoanyoforceoinotheoargumentoofotheo learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero thato thereo iso delayo ofo oneo dayo ino registrationoofoFIR,oasotheoweightageotoothisofactocanoonlyobeogivenoato theotimeoofotrial,onooopinionocouldobeomadeobyothisocourtoatothisopointoofo o o -5-o

11.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerosubmitsothatopetitionero alongo witho someo othero personso hado giveno representationso too policeo authoritieso buto theo fateo ofo theo saido representationso haso noto beeno mentionedoinotheopresentopetition.o

12.o o Inotheocaseoinohand,ochallanohasobeenopresentedoagainstotheo accusedo ando chargeso areo yeto too beo framedo ando trialoproceedingso areo fixedoforo01.06.2023oforoappearanceoofotheoaccused.oRelevantoorderso datedo07.01.2023,o27.04.2023oreadoasounder:o-o "Present:ooSh.oRavinderoSingh,oLd.oAPPoforotheoState.o Noneoforotheoaccused.o o o Aso pero reporto ofo Ahlmad,o noticeo issuedo againsto accusedono.1otoo3oreceivedobackodulyoserved,obutoinspiteoofo dueo serviceo theyo haveo noto comeo present.o o Theyo areo intentionallyoavoidingotheiroservice.ooLetoaccusedono.1otoo3o beo summonedo througho bailableo warrantso ino theo sumo ofo Rs.5,000/-o eacho witho oneo suretyo ino theo likeo amounto foro

22.02.2023.o Dateoofoorder:o07.01.2023oooVineetaoLuthra,oPCSo o o o o ooooACJ/SD-cum-SDJM/Batalao o Present:oSh.oTejinderoPal,oLd.oAPPoforotheoState.o Noneoforotheoaccused.o o o Aso pero reporto ofo Ahlmad,o summonso issuedo too accusedoMandeepoSingh,oSukhwinderoSinghoandoCharanjito Kauroreceivedobackoserved,obutoinspiteoofodueoserviceotheyo haveo noto comeopresent.o o Fromo theoreport,othiso Courtoiso satisfiedo thato theo accusedo Mandeepo Singh,o Sukhwindero Singho ando Charanjito Kauro areo intentionallyo avoidingo serviceo ando theiro presenceo cannoto beo procuredo througho ordinaryoprocess.ooAsosuch,othisoCourtoisoconstrainedotoo takeo coerciveo methodso too procureo theo presenceo ofo theo aboveonamedoaccused.ooHeobeosummonedobyowayoofoB/Woino o o -6-o sumoofoRs.5000/-owithooneosuretyoinotheolikeoamountobeo issuedoforo01.06.2023.o Dateoofoorder:o27.04.2023oo(oVineetaoLuthra)o o o o o ooooACJ/SD-cum-SDJM/Batala"o o

13.o o Ao perusalo ofo theo aforesaido orderso showso thato petitionero alongowithootheroco-accusedoisoavoidingotheoprocessoofolawoandotheyo haveobeenosummonedobyobailableowarrantsoforo01.06.2023.o

14.o o InoStateoofoHaryanaovsoBhajanoLal,o1992oSuppo(1)oSCCo 335,owhichohasobeenofollowedoinonumberoofosubsequentojudgments,otheo Hon'bleoApexoCourt,ohasoheldoasounder:-o "(1)oWhereotheoallegationsomadeoinotheofirstoinformationo reportoorotheocomplaint,oevenoifotheyoareotakenoatotheirofaceo valueoando acceptedoinotheiro entiretyo doonoto primao facieo constituteo anyo offenceo oro makeo outo ao caseo againsto theo accused.oo

(2)oWhereotheoallegationsoinotheofirstoinformationoreporto andootheromaterials,oifoany,oaccompanyingotheoFIRodoonoto discloseoaocognizableooffence,ojustifyingoanoinvestigationo byopoliceoofficersounderoSectiono156(1)oofotheoCodeoexcepto undero ano ordero ofo ao Magistrateo withino theo purviewo ofo Sectiono155(2)oofotheoCode.oo

(3)oWhereotheouncontrovertedoallegationsomadeoinotheoFIRo orocomplaintoandotheoevidenceocollectedoinosupportoofotheo sameodoonotodiscloseotheocommissionoofoanyooffenceoando makeooutoaocaseoagainstotheoaccused.oo

(4)oWhereotheoallegationsoinotheoFIRodoonotoconstituteoao cognizableo offenceo buto constituteo onlyo ao non-cognizableo offence,onooinvestigationoisopermittedobyoaopoliceoofficero withoutoanoorderoofoaoMagistrateoasocontemplatedoundero Sectiono155(2)oofotheoCode.oo

(5)oWhereotheoallegationsomadeoinotheoFIRoorocomplainto areosooabsurdoandoinherentlyoimprobableoonotheobasisoofo whichonooprudentopersonocanoeveroreachoaojustoconclusiono thatothereoisosufficientogroundoforoproceedingoagainstotheo accused.oo

(6)oWhereothereoisoanoexpressolegalobaroengraftedoinoanyoofo theoprovisionsoofotheoCodeoorotheoconcernedoActo(undero whichoaocriminaloproceedingoisoinstituted)otootheoinstitutiono andocontinuanceoofotheoproceedingsoand/orowhereothereoiso ao specifico provisiono ino theo Codeo oro theo concernedo Act,o providingo efficaciouso redresso foro theo grievanceo ofo theo o o -7-o

(7)o Whereo ao criminalo proceedingo iso manifestlyo attendedo withomalaofideoand/orowhereotheoproceedingoisomaliciouslyo institutedowithoanoulterioromotiveoforowreakingovengeanceo onotheoaccusedoandowithoaoviewotoospiteohimodueotooprivateo andopersonalogrudge.o

108.ooWeoalsoogiveoaonoteoofocautionotootheoeffectothatotheo powero ofo quashingo ao criminalo proceedingo shouldo beo exercisedoveryosparinglyoandowithocircumspectionoandothato toooinotheorarestooforareocases;othatotheoCourtowillonotobeo justifiedoinoembarkingouponoanoenquiryoasotootheoreliabilityo orogenuinenessoorootherwiseoofotheoallegationsomadeoinotheo F.I.R.o oro theo complainto ando thato theo extraordinaryo oro inherentopowersodoonotoconferoanoarbitraryojurisdictionoono theoCourtotooactoaccordingotooitsowhimoorocaprice." o

15.o o Hon'bleo Apexo Courto ino Stateo ofo Madhyao Pradesho vso SurendraoKorio2012(10)oSCCo155oobservedoasounder:o-o

13.o Theo Higho Courto ino exerciseo ofo itso powerso undero Sectiono482oCriminaloProcedureoCodeodoesonotofunctionoaso aoCourtoofoAppealooroRevision.oThisoCourtohas,oinoseveralo judgments,o heldo thato theo inherento jurisdictiono undero Sectiono482oCriminaloProcedureoCode,othoughowide,ohasotoo beousedosparingly,ocarefullyoandowithocaution.oTheoHigho Court,o undero Sectiono482oCriminalo Procedureo Code,o shouldonormallyorefrainofromogivingoaoprimaofacieodecisiono inoaocaseowhereotheoentireofactsoareoincompleteoandohazy,o moreo soo wheno theo evidenceo haso noto beeno collectedo ando producedo beforeo theo Courto ando theo issueso involved,o whethero factualo oro legal,o areo ofo wideo magnitudeo ando cannotobeoseenoinotheirotrueoperspectiveowithoutosufficiento material.oInoM.M.T.C.oandoAnotherov.oMedchloChemicalso &oPharmao(P)oLtd.oandoAnothero(2002)o1oSCCo234,othiso Courtoheldoasofollows:o "Theolawoisowellosettledothatotheopoweroofoquashingo criminalo proceedingso shouldo beo exercisedo veryo stringentlyoandowithocircumspection.oItoisosettledolawo thato ato thiso stage,o theo Courto iso noto justifiedo ino embarkingouponoanoenquiryoasotootheoreliabilityooro o o -8-o genuinenessoorootherwiseoofotheoallegationsomadeoino theocomplaint.oTheoinherentopowersodoonotoconferoano arbitraryojurisdictionoonotheoCourtotooactoaccordingo tooitsowhimoorocaprice.."o InoStateo ofo Orissao ando Anothero v.o Sarojo Kumaro Sahooo

(2005)o13oSCCo540,othisoCourtoheldoasofollows:o "Exerciseo ofo powero undero Sectiono482oofo theo CriminaloProcedureoCodeoinoaocaseoofothisonatureoiso theoexceptionoandonototheorule.oTheoSectionodoesonoto conferoanyonewopowersoonotheoHighoCourt.oItoonlyo savesotheoinherentopowerowhichotheoCourtopossessedo beforeo theo enactmento ofo theo Criminalo Procedureo Code.oItoenvisagesothreeocircumstancesounderowhicho theoinherentojurisdictionomayobeoexercised,onamely,o

(i)o too giveo effecto too ano ordero undero theo Criminalo ProcedureoCode,o(ii)otoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocesso ofocourt,oando(iii)otoootherwiseosecureotheoendsoofo justice.o Ito iso neithero possibleo noro desirableo too layo downo anyo inflexibleo ruleo whicho wouldo governo theo exerciseo ofo inherento jurisdiction.o Noo legislativeo enactmentodealingowithoprocedureocanoprovideoforo allocasesothatomayopossiblyoarise.oCourts,otherefore,o haveoinherentopowersoapartofromoexpressoprovisionso ofolawowhichoareonecessaryoforoproperodischargeoofo functionso ando dutieso imposedo upono themo byo law.o Thatoisotheodoctrineowhichofindsoexpressionoinotheo sectiono whicho merelyo recognizeso ando preserveso inherento powerso ofo theo Higho Courts.o Allo courts,o whetherociviloorocriminalopossess,oinotheoabsenceoofo anyo expresso provision,o aso inherento ino theiro constitution,oallosuchopowersoasoareonecessaryotoodoo theo righto ando too undoo ao wrongo ino courseo ofo administrationoofojusticeoonotheoprincipleo"quandoo o o -9-o lexoaliauidoalicuioconcedit,oconcederedovideturoetoido sineoguooresipsaeoesseononopotest"o(whenotheolawo givesoao personoanythingo ito giveso himo thato withouto whicho ito cannoto exist).o Whileo exercisingo powerso underotheosection,otheocourtodoesonotofunctionoasoao courto ofo appealo oro revision.o Inherento jurisdictiono underotheosectionothoughowideohasotoobeoexercisedo sparingly,ocarefullyoandowithocautionoandoonlyowheno suchoexerciseoisojustifiedobyotheotestsospecificallyolaido downoinotheosectionoitself.."o Thiso Court,o again,o inoEichero Tractorso Ltd.o v.o Hariharo Singho(2008)o16oSCCo763,oheldoasofollows:o "Whenoexercisingojurisdictionounderosectiono482oofo theo Code,o theo Higho Courto wouldo noto ordinarilyo embarko upono ano enquiryo whethero theo evidenceo ino questiono iso reliableo oro noto oro whethero ono ao reasonableoappreciationoofoitoaccusationowouldonoto beosustained.oThatoisotheofunctionoofotheotrialoJudge."o

¶16Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoStateoofoA.P.ovsoGourishettyo Maheshoandootherso2011(6)oR.C.R.(Criminal)o2546oobservedoasounder:oo "Whileo exercisingo jurisdictiono undero sectiono 482oofo theo Code,otheoHighoCourtowouldonotoordinarilyoembarkoupono anoenquiryowhetherotheoevidenceoinoquestionoisoreliableooro noto oro whethero ono ao reasonableo appreciationo ofo ito accusationowouldonotobeosustained.oThatoisotheofunctionoofo theo trialo Judge/Court.o Ito iso trueo thato Courto shouldo beo circumspecto ando judiciouso ino exercisingo discretiono ando shouldo takeo allo relevanto factso ando circumstanceso intoo considerationobeforeoissuingoprocess,ootherwise,oitowouldo beoanoinstrumentoinotheohandsoofoaoprivateocomplainantotoo unleashovendettaotooharassoanyopersononeedlessly.oAtotheo sameotime,oSectiono482oisonotoanoinstrumentohandedoovero too anoaccusedotoo short-circuitoaoprosecutionoandobringso o o -10-o abouto itso closureo withouto full-fledgedo enquiry.o Thougho HighoCourtomayoexerciseoitsopowerorelatingotoocognizableo offenceso too prevento abuseo ofo processo ofo anyo Courto oro otherwiseotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice,otheopoweroshouldo beo exercisedo sparingly.o Foro example,o whereo theo allegationsomadeoinotheoFIRoorocomplaint,oevenoifotheyoareo takenoatotheirofaceovalueoandoacceptedoinotheiroentiretyodoo notoprimaofacieoconstituteoanyooffenceooromakeooutoaocaseo againsto theo accusedo oro allegationso ino theo FIRo doo noto discloseo ao cognizableo offenceo oro doo noto discloseo commissionoofoanyooffenceoandomakeooutoaocaseoagainsto theoaccusedoorowhereothereoisoexpressolegalobaroprovidedo ino anyo ofo theo provisionso ofo theo Codeo oro ino anyo othero enactmentounderowhichoaocriminaloproceedingoisoinitiatedo orosufficientomaterialotooshowothatotheocriminaloproceedingo iso maliciouslyo institutedo witho ano ulterioro motiveo foro wreakingo vengeanceo ono theo accusedo dueo too privateo ando personalogrudge,otheoHighoCourtomayostepoin.oThoughotheo powersopossessedobyotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482o areowide,ohowever,osuchopowerorequiresocare/cautionoinoitso exercise.oTheointerferenceomustobeoonosoundoprinciplesoando theo inherento powero shouldo noto beo exercisedo too stifleo ao legitimateo prosecution.o Weo makeo ito clearo thato ifo theo allegationsosetooutoinotheocomplaintodoonotoconstituteotheo offenceo ofo whicho cognizanceo haso beeno takeno byo theo Magistrate,oitoisoopenotootheoHighoCourtotooquashotheosameo inoexerciseoofoinherentopowersounderoSectiono482."o o

17.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoandothisoCourtoinocatenaoofo judgmentso haso heldo thato theo powero ofo quashingo ofo FIR/Criminalo proceedingso undero sectiono 482o CrPCo iso too beo usedo ino exceptional,o sparingoandorarestooforareocases.ooEmphasisoisoplacedouponoguidelineso o o -11-o framedo byo Hon'bleo Apexo Courto ino theo caseo ofo M/So Neeharikao InfrastructureoPvt.oLtd.oVsoStateoofoMaharashtraoandoothers,o2021o AIRo(SUPREMEoCOURT)o1918o "xo o o xo o o xo o ooooooooxo

iv)oTheopoweroofoquashingoshouldobeoexercisedosparinglyo withocircumspection,oasoitohasobeenoobserved,oinotheo`raresto oforareocaseso(nototoobeoconfusedowithotheoformationoinotheo contextoofodeathopenalty).o

v)oWhileoexaminingoanoFIR/complaint,oquashingoofowhicho isosought,otheocourtocannotoembarkouponoanoenquiryoasotoo theo reliabilityo oro genuinenesso oro otherwiseo ofo theo allegationsomadeoinotheoFIR/complaint;o

vi)oCriminaloproceedingsooughtonototoobeoscuttledoatotheo initialostage;o

vii)oQuashingoofoaocomplaint/FIRoshouldobeoanoexceptiono ratherothanoanoordinaryorule;"o o

18.o o Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Saranyao v.o Bharathio ando another,o2021(4)oR.C.R.(Crl.)o46oobservedoasounder:o-o "Beforeoconsideringotheorivalosubmissionsoofotheoparties,o fewo decisionso ofo thiso Courto ono theo principleso whicho theo Higho Courto musto keepo ino mindo whileo exercisingo theo jurisdictionounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.,o1973/atotheostageo ofoframingoofotheochargeowhileoconsideringotheodischargeo applicationoareorequiredotoobeoreferredotooandoconsidered.o

7.1oInotheocaseoofoDeepako(supra),otoowhichooneoofouso(Dr.o JusticeoD.Y.oChandrachud)oisotheoauthor,oafteroconsideringo theo othero bindingo decisionso ofo thiso Courto ono theo point,o namely,oAmitoKapoorov.oRameshoChandero(2012)o9oSCCo 460;oStateoofoRajasthanov.oFatehkaranoMehduo(2017)o3o SCCo 198;o andoChitresho Kumaro Choprao v.o Stateo (GovernmentoofoNCToofoDelhi)o(2009)o16oSCCo605,oitoiso o o -12-o observedoandoheldothatoatotheostageoofoframingoofocharges,o theoCourtohasotooconsiderotheomaterialoonlyowithoaoviewotoo findo outo ifo thereo iso ao groundo foro "presuming"o thato theo accusedohadocommittedotheooffence.oItoisoobservedoandoheldo thatoatothatostage,otheoHighoCourtoisorequiredotooevaluateo theo materialo ando documentso ono recordo witho ao viewo too findingooutoifotheofactsoemergingotherefrom,otakeoatotheiro faceo value,o discloseo theo existenceo ofo allo theo ingredientso constitutingotheoallegedooffenceoorooffences.oItoisofurthero observedoandoheldothatoatothisostageotheoHighoCourtoisonoto requiredo too appreciateo theo evidenceo ono recordo ando considerotheoallegationsoonomeritsoandotoofindooutoonotheo basisoofotheoevidenceorecordedotheoaccusedochargesheetedo oro againsto whomo theo chargeo iso framedo iso likelyo too beo convictedooronot.o xo o xo o xo o xo o xo Itoalsooappearsothatoduringotheocourseoofotheoinvestigation,o theo investigatingo officero haso collectedo veryo importanto evidenceo ino theo formo ofo callo detailso betweeno A1o &o A2o whichoareoinotheoproximityoofotheotimeoofocommissionoofo offenceo ando eveno thereafter.o Therefore,o ino theo factsoando circumstancesoofotheocase,owhenorespondentono.1ohereino haso beeno chargesheetedo foro theo offenceso undero Sectionso420,o302or/wo109oIPCo ando aso observedo hereinaboveowhenothereoisoampleomaterialotooshowoatoleasto aoprimaofacieocaseoagainstorespondentono.1ohereino-oA2,o theoHighoCourtohasocommittedoaograveoerroroinoquashingo theochargesheet/entireocriminaloproceedingsoquaoheroino exerciseo ofo powerso undero Sectiono482oCr.P.C.,o 1973o Quashingo theo chargesheeto againsto theo accusedo iso noto justified.oTheoHighoCourtohasoevidentlyoignoredowhatohaso emergedo duringo theo courseo ofo investigation.o Theo Higho Courtohasoenteredointootheoappreciationoofotheoevidenceo RAVINDER SINGH andoconsideredowhetheroonotheobasisoofotheoevidence,otheo o o -13-o accusedoisolikelyotoobeoconvictedooronot,owhichoasosuchoiso notopermissibleoatoalloatothisostageowhileoconsideringotheo applicationo undero Sectiono482oCr.P.C.,o 1973o Theo Higho Courtowasonotoasosuchoconductingotheotrialoand/orowaso noto exercisingo theo jurisdictiono aso ano appellateo courto againstotheoorderoofoconvictionooroacquittal.oTherefore,oino theofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase,otheoHighoCourto oughtonototoohaveoquashedotheochargesheetoquaorespondento no.1ohereino-ooriginaloaccusedono.2."o o

19.o o Primaofacieoitoappearsothatotheoinstantocaseodoesonotofallo underoanyoofotheoaboveoparametersolaidodownobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Court.oo 20o o TheoinherentopowerounderoSectiono482ohasotoobeoexercisedo cautiouslyo foro meetingo theo endso ofo theo justiceo ando shouldo noto beo arbitrarilyoexercisedotoocutoshortotheonormaloprocessoofoaocriminalotrial.o 21o o Moreover,o theo petitionero alongo witho othero co-accusedo iso notoappearingobeforeotheotrialoCourtotryingotooevadeotheoprocessoofolaw.o

22.o o Theo judgmento ino R.K.o Srivastava'so caseo (supra)o reliedo uponobyotheocounseloforotheopetitionerowillobeoofonoohelpotoopetitioneroato thisostageoasofactsoofothatocaseoareoentirelyodifferentofromotheopresento case.ooo

23.o o Inoviewoofotheoforegoingodiscussionoandofororeasonsostatedo above,othereoisonoomeritoinotheopresentopetition.oo

24.o o Beforeo partingo witho theo case,o ito iso madeo clearo thato observationo madeo ino thiso ordero iso onlyo foro theo limitedo purposeo ofo decidingo theo presento petitiono ando shallo noto beo construedo aso ano expressionoofoopinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocaseoandoshouldonotohaveoanyo o o -14-o bearingooroinfluenceoonotheotrial.ooItoshallobeoopenotootheopetitionerotoo raiseo allo suchopleasobeforeotheotrialo Courto aso areoavailableotoo hero ino defenceoduringotheotrial.o

25.o o Witho theo aforesaido observations,o theo presento petitiono iso dismissed.oo o o o (NAMIToKUMAR)o

29.04.2023o o o o o o oooooooJUDGEo R.S.o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :o Yes/Noo o WhetheroReportableoo o :o Yes/Noo