S. Kishore and Another v. Nahar Industrial Enterfprises Ltd and Another

CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo1

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo ooooooooooAToCHANDIGARHo o ooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooCRM-M-43254-2021o(O&M)o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooDateoofodecisiono:o10.04.2023o o S.Kishoreo@oSethuramanaoKishoreoandoanotheroooooooo oo o.....Petitionerso ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oo o o Versusoo oo NaharoIndustrialoEnterprisesoLtd.oandoanotheroooooooo o .....oRespondentso o CORAM:oooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoAMANoCHAUDHARYo o Present:oooo Mr.VikramoK.oChaudhri,oSr.oAdvocateowithoo ooooooooooooooo Mr.KeshvamoChaudhri,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionerso o ooooooooooooooo Mr.AalokoJagga,oAdvocateoforocomplainant-respondentoNo.1o oo AMANoCHAUDHARY.oJ.oo o ooooooooooooooo TheochallengeoisotootheocomplaintoNo.CRM-25/2020,oAnnexureo P-1,odatedo04.01.2020ofiledobyorespondentoNo.1oasowelloasotheosummoningo stordero datedo 28.07.2021o passedo byo learnedo Judicialo Magistrate,o 1 o Class,o Ludhianaovideowhichotheopetitionersohaveobeenosummonedotoofaceotheotrialo underoSectionso420,o406oreadowithoSectiono120-BoofotheoIndianoPenaloCodeo (foroshorto'IPC').oo ooooo Succinctly,otheofactsoasoemergeofromotheocomplaintoareothatotheo complainant-companyo hado beeno solicitedo byo theo accused-petitionerso foro equityo participationo ino theo establishmento ofo ao powero generationo unito ino Rajasthanoonotheoconditionothatotheyohadotoosubscribeotootheosharesoofotheiro company.oItowasofurtheroassertedothatotheounitofallsowithinotheopurviewoofoao captiveopowerounit,owhichowouldoentitleoitotooconcessionsowithoregardotoo governmentodutiesoandocess.oAgreementoinothatoregardowasoenteredointooono CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo2

21.12.2006,ofollowedobyoMOUodatedo07.10.2018,owithoanoinvestmentoasopero whichoitowouldogetotheoelectricityoforoaoperiodoofo20oyearsoatosubsidisedoo rates.o Theo caseo seto upo againsto theo petitionero ando othero co-accusedo iso ofo havingoinducedotheocomplainant-companyowithoill-intentionsorightofromotheo veryo inceptiono byo misrepresentingo ando makingo falseopromises,o thereafter,o deceivingothemobyonotoprovidingoregularosupplyoofoelectricityodespiteothereo beingo arbitralo awardso ino theiro favouro containingo ao directiono datedo

29.10.2017,otoosupplyopowerotoothem.oo oooooo Learnedo Senioro counselo haso raisedo three-foldo submissions,o firstly,othatotheoMagistrateohasonotoheldoanoinquiry,oasocontemplatedoundero Sectiono202oCrPC,owhichoheowasoboundoto,otheopetitioners,oresidingobeyondo theoterritorialojurisdictionoofotheoCourt.oSecondly,oitowasoonlyoonoaccountoofo theodirectionobyotheoGovernmentoofoIndiaoandoGovernmentoofoRajasthanothato theo petitionerso couldo noto complyo witho theo ordero ofo Arbitralo Tribunalo too supplyo powero too theo complainant-companyo ando theo awardo iso subjudiceo beforeo Rajasthano Higho Courto ando theiro requesto waso turnedo down,o whicho coverso themo undero theo clauseo ofo forceo majeure,o ao facto mentionedo ino theo policeoreportocalledobyotheoMagistrate,owhereinonoooffenceowasosaidotoobeo madeoout.oNooingredientsoofooffencesoasoallegedoagainstotheopetitionersohaveo beenospeltooutoinotheocomplaintoofocheatingorightofromotheoveryobeginningooro misrepresentationoofoanyosort,omucholessoofoanyofalseopromisesomadeoorothato theo electricityo thato waso too beo suppliedo too respondento no.1o companyo aso ao matteroofofactowasostolenoorothatoitowasomisappropriated.oThirdly,othereobeingo nooconceptoofovicariousoliabilityoinocriminalolaw,otheoMagistrateohasoerredoino CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo3

ooooooooooooooooo Too buttresso hiso submissions,o heo reliedo onoNationalo Banko ofo Omanovs.oBarakaraoAbduloAzizoandoanother,o(2013)o2oSCCo488,oAbhijito Pawaro vso Hemanto Madhukaro Nimbalkaro ando another,o (2017)o 3o SCCo 528,oandoBirlaoCorporationoLtd.ovsoAdventzoInvestmentsoAndoHoldings,o

(2019)o 16o SCCo 610,o SUOo MOTUo WRITo PETITIONo (CRL.)o No.2o ofo 2020,o (2021)o SCCo Online,o 325,o oBhushano Kumaro vs.o Stateo (NCTo ofo Delhi),o(2012)o5oSCCo424,oMehmoodoUloRehmanovs.oKhaziroMohammado Tunda,o(2015)o12oSCCo420,oSuniloBhartioMittalovs.oCBI,o(2015)o4oSCCo 609,oInderoMohanoGoswamioandoanotherovs.oStateoofoUttaranchaloando others,o(2007)o12oSCCo1,oandoM/soPepsioFoodsoLtd.ovs.oSpecialoJudicialo Magistrate,o1998oAIRo(SC)o128.o ooooooooooooooo Strenuouslyo opposingo theo above,o learnedo counselo foro theo complainant-respondento no.1-companyo (hereinaftero referredo too aso 'complainant-company')o whileo referringo too Sectionso405o ando 415o IPCo ino greatodetailobroughtoforthothatotheoingredientsoofotheooffences,ounderowhicho theopetitionersohaveobeenorightlyosummonedoareodulyomet,owhichowereoeveno specificallyopleadedoinotheocomplaint.oTheocomplainant-company,oaopublico limitedocompanyowasoluredobyotheopetitionersotoomakeohugeoinvestmentofromo publicomoney.oThereohasoalsoobeenomisappropriationobyotheopetitionersoando respondentono.2,obyosellingotheopowerothroughoopenoaccessotoothirdopartyo users,o apparento fromo theiro website,o Annexureo R1/2,o fromo theo timeo ofo commissioningoofotheoplantoi.e.o2010otillotheolicenceoforocaptiveopoweroplanto wasosurrenderedoinotheoyearo2015,owherebyotheyodisposedoofotheoproperty-beingoelectricityoinotheopresentocase,oinoviolationoofoevenotheoarbitraloawards,o thatowereoinofavouroofotheocomplainant-companyoasowelloasoinocontraventionoMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo4

tootheolegalocontracts.oTheopleaoofoforceomajeureoalsoostandsoalreadyodecidedo againstotheopetitionersobyotheoArbitraloTribunal.oTheosummoningoorderohaso beenorightlyopassedowhereinonotoonlyowasotheocomplainantohimselfoexaminedo buto twoo moreo ofo hiso officials,o whoo lendo corroborationo too theo versiono too substantiateo theo factso averredo ino theo complainto alongo witho producingo 39o exhibitsothatoincludedotheoawardsoinofavouroofotheocomplainant.oHisothrusto wasothatoitoisotheohumanoagencyoinotheoaccused-companyobeingoinochargeoofo theoaffairsoofotheoaccusedocompanyowhootookoallodecisionsoandoinotheoabsenceo ofo sucho individualo accusedo personso whoo areo responsible,o ito mayo becomeo difficultotooproceedoagainstotheocompanyoaloneoasoitowasoaomensoreaooffence.o Theoconspiracyohasobeenoheldotoobeoaosecretoaffairoandoitoisoalrightotoonotohaveo directo evidence,o aso sucho theo offenceo haso too beo provedo goingo byo theo circumstantialoevidence.oItoisotheoconductoandoknowledgeoofocommissionoofo crimeoinoaoconspiracyowhichomakesotheopetitionersoliableoinotheocase.oTheo petitionerso areo theo maino personso whoo transactedo witho theo complainant-companyoandohaveobeenodealingowithoallotheoaffairsoofotheocompanyoando thereoisoenoughomaterialoonorecordotooshowotheiroclearocriminalointentoinotheo offencesoallegedoinotheocomplaintoandoareotheorealooffendersoonobehalfoofotheo company.ooRelianceowasoplacedoonotheojudgmentsoofoHon'bleoTheoSupremeo CourtoofoIndiaoinotheocasesoofoShivjeeoSinghovsoNagendraoTiwaryoando others,o (2010)o 7o Supremeo Courto Caseso 578,o Sauo Kamalo Shivajio Pokarnekarovs.oStateoofoMaharashtraoandoothers,o2019(2)oRCRo(Crl.)o38,o M/so Medohlo Chemicalso &o Pharmao Pvt.o Ltd.o vs.o Biologicalo E.Ltd.,o 2000(2)oRCRo(Crl.)o122,oandoIridiumoIndiaoTelecomoLtd.ovs.oMotorolao Incorporatedoandoothers,o(2010)o3oSCCo(Cri)o1201.oMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo5

oooooo Heardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoatolengthoandoperusedotheo record.ooo oooooooooooooooo Theo factso admittedo betweeno theo partieso areo thato agreementso wereoenteredointo,osomeodisputesoensuedorightofromotheoinitialostageothatowereo adjudicatedo byo theo Arbitralo Tribunal.o Theo partieso areo ato varianceo ono theo aspectoofotheopleaoofotheopetitionersowithoregardotooinvocationoofotheoclauseoofo forceo majeure,o whicho waso basedo ono theo circularso issuedo byo theo Centralo GovernmentofollowedobyotheoRajasthanoGovernment,othatodebarredosupplyoofo electricityo too theo complainant-company,o too whicho seriouso objectiono waso taken,otheoissueo havingobeeno fairlyo andosquarelyo decidedobyo theo Arbitralo Tribunal.oo oooooo oooooo Proceedingotooadjudicateotheomatterofromotheostandpointoofotheo submissionsoasoablyoadvancedoonobehalfoofotheopetitionersoandoatotheosameo timeodeemingoitoappropriateotoonotodelveointootheocrevicesoofotheodisputeopero seoatothisojuncture,olestoitomayoprejudiceotheocaseoofoeitheroparty.oItowouldobeo appositeoto,oatofirstodealowithotheojudgments,oonowhichorelianceohadobeeno placedotooassertotheiropleaoinosoofaroasoSectiono202oCrPCoisoconcerned,ohavingo beenoprojectedoasotheopivot.o ooooooooooooooo Hon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinotheocaseoofoNationalo BankoofoOmano(supra),owhileoconsideringotheoamendedoprovisionsoofosub-sectiono(1)oofosectiono202oCr.oP.Coobservedothat,o"TheodutyoofoaoMagistrateo receivingo ao complainto iso seto outo ino Sectiono 202o Cr.o P.Co ando thereo iso ano obligationoonotheoMagistrateotoofindooutoifothereoisoanyomatterowhichocallsoforo investigationobyoaocriminalocourt.oTheoscopeoofoenquiryounderothisosectionoiso restrictedoonlyotoofindooutotheotruthoorootherwiseoofotheoallegationsomadeoinoMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo6

theocomplaintoinoorderotoodetermineowhetheroprocessohasotoobeoissuedooronot.o InvestigationounderoSectiono202oCr.oP.Coisodifferentofromotheoinvestigationo contemplatedo ino Sectiono 156o aso ito iso onlyo foro holdingo theo Magistrateo too decideowhetherooronotothereoisosufficientogroundoforohimotooproceedofurther.o Theoscopeoofoenquiryounderosectiono202oCr.oP.Cois,otherefore,olimitedotootheo ascertainmento ofo trutho oro falsehoodo ofo theo allegationso madeo ino theo complaint:oo

(i)oonotheomaterialsoplacedobyotheocomplainantobeforeotheo court;oo

(ii)o foro theo limitedo purposeo ofo findingo outo whethero ao primaofacieocaseoforoissueoofoprocessohasobeenomadeoout;o andoo

(iii)oforodecidingotheoquestionopurelyofromotheopointoofo viewoofotheocomplainantowithoutoatoalloadvertingotooanyo defenseothatotheoaccusedomayohave".oo o oooooo Inotheosaidocase,otheoorderoofoMagistrateoissuingotheoprocessoono theocomplaintoisonecessaryotoobeoreproduced,owhichoreadsothus:o "Perusedo complainto ando theo documentso attachedo thereto.o Theo Centralo Governmento haso accordedo sanctiono too prosecuteo theo accused.o Heardo learnedo counselo appearingo foro theo complainant.o Thereo areo sufficiento materialso againsto theo accused.o Theo complainantohasomadeooutoprimaofacieocaseoagainsto theoaccused.oHenceoprocessobeoissuedoforooffenceso u/so418oando420oofoI.P.C."o oooooo Ino viewo ofo theo above,o ito waso foundo thato theo Magistrateo hado failedo too carryo outo anyo inquiryo oro orderedo investigationo aso contemplatedo undero theo amendedo Sectiono 202o ofo theo CrPCo ando thus,o theo mattero waso remittedotootheoMagistrateoforopassingofreshoordersoafterocomplyingowithotheo procedureolaidodownoinotheosaidoprovisions.o CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo7

ooooooooooooooo InotheocaseoofooAbhijitoPawaro(supra)owhereinotheofactsowereo thatotheocomplainant,ofeelingoagitatedobyotheoeditorialsopublishedoinodifferento editionso ofo Sakalo newspapero witho theo headingo 'Policeo "Dog"o Millionaire'o filedotheocomplaintobeforeotheoChiefoJudicialoMagistrate,oKolhapuroundero Sectiono501,o502oando504oreadowithoSectiono34oofotheoIndianoPenaloCodeoando Hon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtobyoobservingotheofollowingoorderopassedobyotheo Magistrateoasoreproducedobelow,oheldothatoinosoofaroas,otheseotwooaccusedo personso(appellantsotherein),owhoseonamesowereoabsentoinotheodeclarationo undero Presso Acto areo concernedo thereo waso noo inquiryo ofo theo natureo enumeratedoinoSectiono202oCr.P.C.oandodirectedotheolearnedoMagistrateotoo holdotheosameoinquiryoquaoA-1oandoapplyohisomindoasotoowhetheronoticeo againstoA-1oandoA-2oneedsotoobeoissuedooronot;o "25.o Foro thiso reason,o theo amendedo provisiono castso ano obligationoonotheoMagistrateotooapplyohisomindocarefullyo andosatisfyohimselfothatotheoallegationsoinotheocomplaint,o whenoconsideredoalongowithotheostatementsorecordedooro theo enquiryo conductedo thereon,o wouldo primao facieo constituteotheooffenceoforowhichotheocomplaintoisofiled.o ThisorequirementoisoemphasisedobyothisoCourtoinoaorecento judgmentoMehmoodoUloRehmanoVs.oKhaziroMohammado Tundaoinotheofollowingowords:o "20.oTheoextensiveoreferenceotootheocaseolawowouldo clearlyo showo thato cognizanceo ofo ano offenceo ono complainto iso takeno foro theo purposeo ofo issuingo processo too theo accused.o Sinceo ito iso ao processo ofo takingo judicialo noticeo ofo certaino factso whicho constituteoanooffence,othereohasotoobeoapplicationoofo mindo aso too whethero theo allegationso ino theo complaint,o wheno consideredo alongo witho theo statementso recordedo oro theo inquiryo conductedo thereon,owouldoconstituteoviolationoofolawosooasotoo calloaopersonotooappearobeforeotheocriminalocourt.oIto isonotoaomechanicaloprocessooromatteroofocourse.oAso heldo byo thiso Courto inoPepsio Foodso Ltd.o [Pepsio FoodsoLtd.ov.oJudicialoMagistrate,o(1998)o5oSCCo 749o:o1998oSCCo(Cri)o1400]otoosetoinomotionotheo CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo8

processo ofo criminalo lawo againsto ao persono iso ao seriousomatter.o

22.o Theo stepso takeno byo theo Magistrateo undero Sectiono190(1)(oa)oCrPCofollowedobyoSectiono204o CrPCoshouldoreflectothatotheoMagistrateohasoappliedo hisomindotootheofactsoandotheostatementsoandoheoiso satisfiedothatothereoisogroundoforoproceedingofurthero inotheomatterobyoaskingotheopersonoagainstowhomo theoviolationoofolawoisoalleged,otooappearobeforeotheo court.o Theo satisfactiono ono theo groundo foro proceedingo wouldo meanothato theo factso allegedoino theo complainto wouldo constituteo ano offence,o ando wheno consideredo alongo witho theo statementso recorded,o would,o primao facie,o makeo theo accusedo answerableobeforeotheocourt.oNoodoubt,onooformalo orderooroaospeakingoorderoisorequiredotoobeopassedo ato thato stage.o Theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedureo requiresospeakingoorderotoobeopassedounderoSectiono 203o CrPCo wheno theo complainto iso dismissedo ando thatotoootheoreasonsoneedotoobeostatedoonlyobriefly.o Inootherowords,otheoMagistrateoisonototooactoasoao postoofficeoinotakingocognizanceoofoeachoandoeveryo complaintofiledobeforeohimoandoissueoprocessoasoao mattero ofo course.o Thereo musto beo sufficiento indicationo ino theo ordero passedo byo theo Magistrateo thato heo iso satisfiedo thato theo allegationso ino theo complainto constituteo ano offenceo ando wheno consideredoalongowithotheostatementsorecordedoando theo resulto ofo inquiryo oro reporto ofo investigationo undero Sectiono 202o CrPC,o ifo any,o theo accusedo iso answerableo beforeo theo criminalo court,o thereo iso groundoforoproceedingoagainstotheoaccusedoundero Sectiono 204o CrPC,o byo issuingo processo foro appearance.o Theo applicationo ofo mindo iso besto demonstratedo byo disclosureo ofo mindo ono theo satisfaction.."o

27.oWhenoweoperuseotheosummoningoorder,oweofindothatoito doesonotoreflectedoanyosuchoinquiry.oNoodoubt,otheoordero mentionedo thato theo learnedo Magistrateo hado passedo theo sameoafteroreadingotheocomplaint,overificationostatemento ofo complainanto ando aftero perusingo theo copieso ofo documentso filedo ono record,o i.e.,o FIRo translationo ofo complaint,oaffidavitoofoadvocateowhoohadotranslatedotheo FIRo intoo Englisho etc.o theo operativeo portiono readso aso under:o "Ono consideringo factso ono record,o ito appearso thato complainantohasomadeooutoprimaofacieocaseoagainsto theo accusedo for,o theo offenceso punishableo undero CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo9

Sectionso500,o501,o50oreadowitho34oofotheoIndiano Penalo Code.o Henceo issueo processo againsto theo accusedo foro theo aboveo offenceso returnableo ono

23.12.2009.ocaseobeoregisteredoasoSummaryoCase."o oo ooooooooooooooo Hon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoBirlaoCorporationo Ltd.o (supra),o quashedo theo complainto ando summoningo ordero byo observingo that,o thereo wereo noo avermentso ino theo complainto noro allegationso ino theo statementoofotheocomplainantoorowitnessoP.B.oDineshoasotoowhenoandohowotheo theftowasocommitted.oTheocomplaintohadobeenofiledoallegingocommissionoofo theooffenceopunishableounderoSectionso380,o411oando120-BoIPC.oStill,otheo Magistrateohadotakenocognizanceovideoorderodatedo08.10.2010:-o "TheorepresentativeoofotheocomplainantoCompanyoiso present.o Thiso courto takeso theo caseo recordo upo foro enquiryounderoSectiono202oCr.P.C.oitself.oWitnesso P.B.oDineshoisoexaminedoduringotheoenquiryoandohiso statementohasobeenorecorded.oPurposeoofotheoenquiryo seemsotoohaveobeenometedoout.oPerusedotheoaffidavito filedoforothatopurposeoonobehalfoofotheocomplainanto company.oPerusedotheodocumentso(bothooriginaloando xeroxo copies)o suppoliedo ando reliedo ono byo theo complainanto companyo ino supporto ofo itso case.o ConsideringoalloaboveoIofindosufficientogroundsoforo proceedingoagainstoallotheosixteenoaccusedopersonso forocommissionoofoanooffenceounderoSectionso380,o 411,o 120-Bo IPC.o Cognizanceo iso taken.o Issueo summonso accordinglyo upono theo accusedo personso fixingo10.12.2010oforoS/Roandoappearance."o o ooooooooooooooo Itowasothus,oobservedoandoheldothat:oo o "Complainto filedo undero Sectiono 200o Cr.P.C.o ando en9uiryocontemplatedounderoSectiono202oCr.P.C.oando issuanceoofoprocessoo

25.oUnderoSectiono200oofotheoCriminaloProcedureoCode,o onopresentationoofotheo complaintobyo anoindividual,otheo Magistrateoisorequiredotooexamineotheocomplainantoando theowitnessesopresent,oifoany.oThereafter,oonoperusaloofo theoallegationsomadeoinotheocomplaint,otheostatementoofo theocomplainantoonosolemnoaffirmationoandotheowitnesseso examined,otheoMagistrateohasotoogetohimselfosatisfiedothato CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo10

thereo areosufficientogroundso foro proceedingo againstotheo accusedo ando ono sucho satisfaction,o theo Magistrateo mayo directo foro issuanceo ofo processo aso contemplatedo undero Sectiono204oCr.P.C.oTheopurposeoofotheoenquiryoundero Sectiono 202o Cr.P.C.o iso too determineo whethero ao primao facieo caseo iso madeo outo ando whethero thereo iso sufficiento groundoforoproceedingoagainstotheoaccused.o

26.oTheoscopeoofoenquiryounderothisosectionoisoextremelyo restrictedoonlyotoofindingooutotheotruthoorootherwiseoofotheo allegationsomadeoinotheocomplaintoinoorderotoodetermineo whetheroprocessoshouldobeoissuedooronotounderoSectiono 204o Cr.P.C.o oro whethero theo complainto shouldo beo dismissedo byo resortingo too Sectiono 203o Cr.P.C.o ono theo footingothatothereoisonoosufficientogroundoforoproceedingo onotheobasisoofotheostatementsoofotheocomplainantoandoofo hiso witnesses,o ifo any.o Ato theo stageo ofo enquiryo undero Sectiono 202o Cr.P.C.,o theo Magistrateo iso onlyo concernedo witho theo allegationso madeo ino theo complainto oro theo evidenceoinosupportoofotheoavermentsoinotheocomplaintotoo satisfyo himselfo thato thereo iso sufficiento groundo foro proceedingoagainstotheoaccused.o 27otoo53.oo xxo xxo xxo o o

54.o Whileo orderingo issuanceo ofo processo againsto theo accused,otheoMagistrateomustotakeointooconsiderationotheo avermentsoinotheocomplaint,ostatementoofotheocomplainanto examinedo ono oatho ando theo statemento ofo witnesseso examined.oAsoheldoinoMehmoodoUloRehman,osinceoitoisoao processoofotakingoaojudicialonoticeoofocertainofactsowhicho constituteoanooffence,othereohasotoobeoapplicationoofomindo whethero theo materialso broughto beforeo theo courto wouldo constituteo theo offenceo ando whethero thereo areo sufficiento groundsoforoproceedingoagainstotheoaccused.oItoisonotoao mechanicaloprocess."o o o ooooooooooo TheocaseoofoSUOoMOTUoWRIToPETITIONo(supra),oisoalsoo distinguishableo ono factso fromo theo presento caseo aso areo theo aforesaido judgments,o ino Nationalo Banko ofo Oman,o Abhijito Pawaro ando Birlao Corporationo(supra)oinasmuchoasothatoitowasoobservedothereinobyoHon'bleo TheoSupremeoCourtothat,o"Thereohasobeenoaodivergenceoofoopinionoamongsto theoHighoCourtsorelatingotootheoapplicabilityoofoSectiono202oinorespectoofo complaintsofiledounderoSectiono138oofotheoAct.oCertainocasesounderoSectiono 138ohaveobeenodecidedobyotheoHighoCourtsoupholdingotheoviewothatoitoisoMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo11

mandatoryoforotheoMagistrateotooconductoanoinquiry,oasoprovidedoinoSectiono 202o ofo theo Code,o beforeo issuanceo ofo processo ino complaintso filedo undero Sectiono138.oContraryoviewsohaveobeenoexpressedoinosomeootherocases.oItohaso beenoheldothatomerelyobecauseotheoaccusedoisoresidingooutsideotheojurisdictiono ofotheocourt,oitoisonotonecessaryoforotheoMagistrateotoopostponeotheoissuanceoofo processo ino eacho ando everyo case.o Further,o ito haso alsoo beeno heldo thato noto conductingo inquiryo undero Sectiono202oofo theo Codeo wouldonoto vitiateotheo issuanceoofoprocess,oiforequisiteosatisfactionocanobeoobtainedofromomaterialso availableo ono record."o Further,o "Theo learnedo Amicio Curiaeo referredo too ao judgmentoofothisoCourtoinoK.S.oJosephov.oPhilipsoCarbonoBlackoLtdo&oAnr.o4o whereothereowasoaodiscussionoaboutotheorequirementoofoinquiryounderoSectiono 202oofotheoCodeoinorelationotoocomplaintsofiledounderoSectiono138obutotheo questionoofolawowasoleftoopen."ooooooooooooooo oooooooooooo Hon'bleo Theo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Shivjeeo Singho (supra)ohadofoundothatotheoHighoCourtocommittedoseriousoerroroinodirectingo theoChiefoJudicialoMagistrateotooconductofurtheroinquiryoandopassofreshoordero inotheolightoofoprovisootooSectiono202(2)oCrPCobyoholdingothatoexaminationo ofoallotheowitnessesocitedoinotheocomplaintoorowhoseonamesoareodisclosedobyo theocomplainantoinofurtheranceoofotheodirectionogivenobyotheoMagistrateoiso notoaoconditionoprecedentoforotakingocognizanceoandoissueoofoprocessoagainsto theo personso namedo aso accusedo ino theo complaint.o Parao aso relevanto ino thiso regardoreadsothus:o "22.oTheouseoofotheowordo"shall"oinotheoprovisootoo Sectiono 202o (2)o iso primao facieo indicativeo ofo mandatoryo charactero ofo theo provisiono containedo therein,o buto ao closeo ando criticalo analysiso thereofo CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo12

alongowithootheroprovisionsocontainedoinoChaptero XVo ando Sectionso 226o ando 227o ando Sectiono 465o wouldoclearlyoshowothatonon-examinationoonooatho ofo anyo oro someo ofo theo witnesseso citedo byo theo complainantois,obyoitself,onotosufficientotoodenudeo theoMagistrateoconcernedoofotheojurisdictionotoopasso ano ordero foro takingo cognizanceo ando issueo ofo processo providedo heo iso satisfiedo thatoprimao facieo caseoisomadeooutoforodoingoso.oHereoitoisosignificanto toonoteothatotheowordo"all"oappearingoinotheoprovisoo tooSectiono202o(2)oisoqualifiedobyotheowordo"his".o Thisoimpliesothatotheocomplainantoisonotoboundotoo examineoallotheowitnessesonamedoinotheocomplainto orowhoseonamesoareodisclosedoinoresponseotootheo ordero passedo byo theo Magistrate.o Ino othero words,o onlyothoseowitnessesoareorequiredotoobeoexaminedo whomotheocomplainantoconsidersomaterialotoomakeo outoaoprimaofacieocaseoforoissueoofoprocess."oo ooooooooooooooo o InoBhushanoKumarovs.oStateo(NCToofoDelhi)o(2012)o5oSCCo 424,o Hon'bleo Theo Supremeo Courto heldo thato theo Magistrateo haso too satisfyowhetherothereoisosufficientogroundoforoissuingoprocessoandonoto foroconviction,oparasorelevantoreadothus:―o "11.o Ino Chiefo Enforcemento Officero v.o Videocono InternationaloLtd.o(2008)o2oSCCo492o(SCCop.o499,o parao 19)o theo expressiono "cognizance"o waso explainedo byo thiso Courto aso "ito merelyo meanso 'becomeoawareoof'oandowhenousedowithoreferenceo tooaocourtooroaoJudge,oitoconnoteso'tootakeonoticeoofo judicially'.oItoindicatesotheopointowhenoaocourtooroao Magistrateotakesojudicialonoticeoofoanooffenceowitho aoviewotooinitiatingoproceedingsoinorespectoofosucho offenceosaidotoohaveobeenocommittedobyosomeone."o Ito iso entirelyo ao differento thingo fromo initiationo ofo proceedings;oratheroitoisotheoconditionoprecedentotoo theoinitiationoofoproceedingsobyotheoMagistrateooro theoJudge.oCognizanceoisotakenoofocasesoandonotoofo persons.oo

12.o Undero Sectiono 190o ofo theo Code,o ito iso theo applicationoofojudicialomindotootheoavermentsoinotheo complainto thato constituteso cognizance.o Ato thiso stage,otheoMagistrateohasotoobeosatisfiedowhethero thereoisosufficientogroundoforoproceedingoandonoto CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo13

whetherothereoisosufficientogroundoforoconviction.o Whetherotheoevidenceoisoadequateoforosupportingo theoconvictionocanobeodeterminedoonlyoatotheotrialo andonotoatotheostageoofoenquiry.oIfothereoisosufficiento groundo foro proceedingo theno theo Magistrateo iso empoweredoforoissuanceoofoprocessounderoSectiono 204oofotheoCode."ooooo Ino Birlao Corporationo (supra),o Hon'bleo Theo Supremeo Courto heldo that,"…Theo Magistrateo whoo iso conductingo ano investigationo undero Sectiono202oCr.P.C.ohasofullopoweroinocollectingotheoevidenceoandoexaminingo theo matter.o Weo areo consciouso thato onceo theo Magistrateo iso exercisedo hiso discretion,oitoisonotoforotheoSessionsoCourtoorotheoHighoCourtotoosubstituteoitso ownodiscretionoforothatoofotheoMagistrateotooexamineotheocaseoonomerits.oTheo Magistrateo mayo noto embarko upono detailedo enquiryo oro discussiono ofo theo merits/demeritso ofo theo case.o Buto theo Magistrateo iso requiredo too considero whetheroaoprimaocaseohasobeenomadeooutooronotoandoapplyotheomindotootheo materialso beforeo satisfyingo himselfo thato thereo areo sufficiento groundso foro proceedingoagainstotheoaccused."oo o o Itoisopertinentotoomakeoaoreferenceotooparao3oofotheopetition,o whereinotheopetitionersohaveoadmittedoholdingoofoinquiryounderoSectiono202o CrPC,owhichoreadsothus:o o"Thato ato theo veryo outseto ito iso alsoo veryo pertinento ando importantotoosubmitoandopointooutothatopriorotooimpugnedo summoningo ordero datedo 28.07.2021,o theo learnedo Magistrateo haso orderedo ano investigationo undero Sectiono 202owhereinoreportodatedo17.09.2020ohadobeenosubmittedo byotheoPoliceoAuthoritiesofromowhereoitoisoclearothatonoo offenceoisomadeoout.oLearnedoMagistrateovideoorderodatedo

09.03.2021o declinedo theo complainant'so requesto undero Sectiono156(3).o However,o whileopassingotheo Impugnedo Summoningo Ordero datedo 28.7.2021,o theo Reporto undero Sectiono202oCr.P.C.,ohasonotobeenoconsideredoandoeveno theo previouso ordero datedo 9.3.2021o haso alsoo noto beeno considered.oNon-considerationoofoReportounderoSectiono CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo14

202o Cr.P.Co iso equivalento too non-holdingo ofo mandatoryo enquiryo undero Sectiono 202o Cr.P.C.o ando therefore,o theo impugnedosuffersofromomaterialoillegality.oCopyoofoPoliceo Reporto iso annexedo aso Annexureo P-3.o Copyo ofo theo impugnedoorderodatedo09.03.2021oisoannexedoherewithoaso AnnexureoP-4."o o Theooperativeoportionoofotheopoliceoreport,owhereinothereowasoao mentiono ofo letterso datedo 13.11.2017o ando 27.11.2017o reliedo upono byo theo petitioners,o beingo communicationso intero seo petitionerso ando Rajasthano Government,owhichoaccordingotoothemowereonototakenointooconsiderationobyo theoMagistrate,oreadsothus:o "BeingonotosatisfiedowithotheodecisionoofotheoArbitrator,o respondento No.1-companyo haso filedo ano appealo undero Sectiono37oofoArbitrationoandoConciliationoActobeforeotheo Hon'bleoHighoCourtoofoRajasthan,oJaipuroBench,oJaipur.o Thus,otheomatteroofosupplyoofopowerobyorespondentoNo.1-companyotoocomplainantocompanyoisounderotheogazeoofo theo judicialo scrutinyo ofo theo Hon'bleo Higho Courto ofo Rajasthano aso mentionedo above.o Noto onlyo this,o earliero respondento No.1-companyo hado writteno lettero datedo

13.11.2017otootheoRajasthanoGovernmentotooopenoaccesso too supplyo powero tooito captiveo consumerso includingotheo complainant-companyo buto theo Rajasthano Governmento videoitsoletterodatedo27.11.2017oinformedothatonooopeno assessocanobeorestored.oCopiesoofotheosaidolettersoareoalsoo attachedoherewith."o o Withoregardotootheoaforesaid,othisoCourtodeemsoitoappropriateotoo referotootheorelevantozimnioordersopassedobyotheoMagistrate,owhichoreadothus:o "ReportohasobeenoreceivedofromoSHOoconcerned,obutotheo sameoisoincomplete.oAsoperotheoreport,otheoaccusedohaveo noto appearedo ando goto recordedo theiro statementso ino theo presentomatteroandotheyoareoyetotoojoinotheoproceedings.o Therefore,o mattero iso adjournedo too 17.02.2020o foro awaitingofurtherostatusoreport.oo Dateo ofo order:29.01.2020o (P.S.o Kaleka)o Kashmirio Lalo ChiefoJudicialoMagistrate,o o Theodocumentsomentionedoinotheolastoorderonotofiledobyo theoSHO.oNowotoocomeoupono04.12.2020oforoawaitingotheoMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo15

copiesoofolettersoandoreportoasostatedobyotheoSHOoinohiso reportodatedo17.09.2020.oo Dateo ofo Order:o 10.11.2020o (Sumito Garg)o Judicialo Magistrateo-oIstoClasso o Theodocumentsomentionedoinotheolastoorderonotofiledobyo theoSHO.oNowotoocomeoupono17.12.2020oforoawaitingotheo copiesoofolettersoandoreportoasostatedobyotheoSHOoinohiso reportodatedo17.09.2020.oo Dateo ofo Order:o 14.12.2020o (Sumito Garg)o Judicialo Magistrateo-oIstoClasso o Todayo theo caseo waso fixedo foro awaitingoreportoofo SHOo regardingo letterso ando copieso ofo ordero ofo Rajasthano Governmento aso referredo ino theo previouslyo submittedo statusoreport,otherefore,oSHO,oFocaloPointoisodirectedotoo supplyotheocopiesoofosaidolettersoalongowithohisoreportoono orobeforeo05.02.2021.oInocaseoofonon-furnishingooforeport,o saido SHOo iso directedo too appearo ino person.o Noticeo too complainantobeoalsooissuedoforotheosaidodate.oo AmanoBansaloGagandeepoSingh/JMIC/Ldh/11.01.2021o o Todayo theo caseo waso fixedo foro awaitingoreportoofo SHOo regardingo letterso ando copieso ofo ordero ofo Rajasthano Governmento aso referredo ino theo previouslyo submittedo statusoreport.oSHOoMohammedoZamilocameopresentoando producedo ono recordo photocopyo ofo lettero RRVPNLo (o GOR)o JPUR/MVKR/1040101/317o datedo 13/11/2017,o lettero no.o RVPN/CE(o NPP&o RA)/SEo (o NPPo &o RA)NPP3/F504/D/1076o datedo 27.11.2017o ando screeno shortoofocaseostatusopendingobetweenotheopartiesobeforeo theoHon'bleoRajasthanoHighoCourt.oHeosufferedoseparateo statemento ando producedo theo aboveo statedo documents.o Argumentsopartlyoheard.oNowotoocomeoupofororemainingo argumentsoono23.02.2021.o AmanoBansaloGagandeepoSingh/JMIC/Ldh/05.02.2021"o o oooooooo o Theo Magistrateo aftero havingo receivedo policeo reporto ino theo complaintofiledounderoSectiono156(3)oCrPCohowever,orejectedotheorequestoforo registrationo ofo FIRo madeo byo theo complainant-company,o video ordero datedo

03.09.2021,obyoobservingothus:o "5.oAfterohearingotheoLd.ocounseloforotheocomplainantoando goingothroughotheorecordoofotheocase,othisocourtoisoofotheo consideredo viewo thato allo theo allegationso raisedo byo theo complainantoinotheopresentocomplaint/applicationorequiresoMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo16

evidenceo ando allo theo factso ando circumstanceso ofo theo presentocontroversyoareoinotheospecificoknowledgeoofotheo complainant.oApartofromothis,oapplicantocomplainantoiso wello acquaintedo witho allo theo transactionso ando othero financial/contractualo commitmentso witho theo proposedo accused.oFurther,oasoperotheosettledolaw,oitoisonotoalwayso mandatoryo foro theo magistrateo too directo theo policeo authoritiesofororegistrationoofotheocaseoofotheoapplicationo underoSection-156(3)oofoCr.P.C,orather,oitoisodiscretionaryo poweroofo theo magistrate.o Ino theo presento caseo also,o thiso courto doo noto findo appropriateo too directo theo policeo authoritieso too registero theo FIRo againsto theo proposedo accusedoasotheomaterialoinformationoandodetailsoareoinotheo possessionoofotheocomplainantoandohisowitnesses.oAllotheo allegationsoreferredoinotheocomplaintocanobeoprovedobyo inducingo evidenceo byo theo complainant.o Ino theseo circumstances,o theo applicationo filedo byo theo complaint/applicantounderoSection-156(3)oCr.P.Costandso disposedooffobeingodeclinedoandocaseostandsoadjournedotoo

01.04.2021o foro theo preliminaryo evidenceo ofo theo complainant."o(emphasisosupplied)o o ooooooooo o Movingoonotootheosummoningoorder,ofromoaoperusalowhereofoito transpireso thato Tanujo Mittal,o complainanto waso examinedo aso CW-1,o whoo reassertedotheoversionoofocomplaintoin-totooandoprovedoonorecordominutesoofo meetingodatedo30.05.2017oasoEx.C1,omemorandumoandoarticleoofoassociationo aso Ex.C2,o certificateo ofo incorporationo aso Ex.C3,o resolutiono aso Ex.C4,o informationoobtainedofromowebsiteooforegistraroofocompaniesoasoEx.C5,oshareo subscriptiono agreemento datedo 21.12.2006o aso Ex.C6,o powero deliveryo agreementoasoEx.C7,omemorandumoofounderstandingodatedo07.10.2008oaso Ex.C8,o copyo ofo awardo datedo 14.06.2012o aso Ex.C9,o certifiedo copyo ofo investmentoaccountoasoEx.C10,ocertifiedocopiesoofotheobankocertificatesoaso Ex.C11otooEx.C14,ocopyoofoawardoEx.C15,ocopyoofoorderodatedo18.01.2018o asoEx.C16,ostatusoreportoasoEx.C17,odownloadedocopiesoofoinformationoquao sellingo ofo powero too thirdo partieso aso Ex.C18o too Ex.C36,o certificateo undero CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo17

Sectiono65-BoasoEx.C37,oCDoasoEx.C38oandocopyoofocomplaintoasoEx.C39.o MukeshoSood,oCompanyoSecretary/authorizedosignatoryowasoexaminedoaso CW2,owhooalsoolendocorroborativeosupportotootheoversionoofocomplainantoando provedo ono recordo theo aforementionedo documentso producedo byo theo complainant.o Managero Account-cum-Authorizedo Signatory,o Dhruvo Devo Katoch,owhooappearedoasoCW3,oprovedotheocertificateounderoSectiono65-Boofo theo Indiano Evidenceo Acto aso Ex.C42o ando CDo aso Ex.C43o alongwitho theo certificateoofobankoregardingopaymentsoasoEx.C11otooEx.C14.o ItoisothereuponothatotheoMagistrateosatisfiedohimselfobasedoonotheo statementso recordedo ando documentso substantiatingo theo same,o thato theo allegationsoinotheocomplaintoconstituteoanooffenceoandoformedoaoprimaofacieo opinionothatotheoaccusedowereorequiredotoobeocalledouponobyoissuingotheo process,otheoparasorelevantoofotheosummoningoorderoreadothus:o "5.o oo ….Theo totalo investmento madeo byo theo complainantocompanyohasobeenoshownobyoprovingo certifiedo copyo ofo investmento accounto aso Ex.C10o alongwitho theo banko certificateso aso Ex.C11o too Ex.C14.oItocanoalsoobeoseenofromotheorecordothato complainantocompanyoinvokedotheojurisdictionoofo Arbitralo Tribunalo foro theo crystallizationo ofo theiro rightsoarisingooutoofotheoagreementsoexecutedowitho theoaccusedocompany.oSaidoarbitrationoproceedingso wereo decidedo againsto theo accusedo companyo ando evenotheoappealofiledobyotheoaccusedocompanyometo witho sameo fate.o Fromo theo awardo passedo byo theo courto Tribunal,o ito iso clearo thato accusedo wereo directedo too restoreo theo powero supplyo too theo complainanto ono theo settledo termso ando conditionso ando specifico directiono thato theyo willo noto sello theo powero too anyo thirdo partyo withouto meetingo itso obligationso too theo claimants,o includingo complainant.oItoisoclearothatotheoaccusedocompanyo terminatedo theo contracto ofo powero supplyo too theo complainanto companyo withouto theo refundo ofo investmento amount.o Fromo theo documentso i.e.o Ex.C18o too Ex.C36,o ito cano beo observedo thato theoMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo18

accusedocompanyostartedosellingoitsopoweroinoopeno marketotoothirdopartyoafterotheomisappropriationoofo investedo amounto ofo theo complainanto ando causedo wrongfulolossotootheocomplainantocompany.oFromo theo documento Ex.C5,o ito iso clearo thato accusedo companyo(accusedono.1)oisobeingorunobyoaccusedo no.2otoo4oandotheyoareovicariouslyoliableoforotheo commissiono ofo offenceo ofo cheatingo ando misappropriation.o Therefore,o ato thiso stage,o theo allegationsomadeoinotheocomplaintoclearlyodepictso thatotheoaccusedocompanyoi.e.oaccusedono.1otoo4o haso cheatedo theo complainanto companyo aso theo modus-operandioofotheosaidoaccusedocompanyowaso tooinduceotheocomplainantocompanyotoopartowitho hugeoamountoofomoney,owhichowasorefundable,otoo becomeoaouseromemberoforoavailingotheobenefitoofo cheapo powero byo misrepresentingo theo factso ando thereaftero sellingo theo electricityo too othero consumers,otherebyocausingowrongfulolossotootheo complainantoandowrongfulogainotoothemselves…..o Consequently,oprima-facie,oitoisoclearothatoaccusedo no.1otoo4oinoconnivanceowithoeachootherode-fraudedo theocomplainantoandousurpedotheirohugeoinvestedo amount.o Theyo wereo entrustedo witho investmento amounto ofo theo complainanto company,o buto theyo misappropriateotheosameocontraryotootheotermsoofo obligationso imposedo byo theo contract.o Consequently,o thereo iso sufficiento materialo ato thiso stageotoosummonoaccusedono.1otoo4oforotheooffenceo ofocheatingoandocriminalomisappropriationoafterotheo activeocriminaloconspiracy."oo o oooooooooooo TheoMagistrateoinotheoaforesaidoorderotookointooconsiderationo theojudicialopronouncementsoinotheocaseoofoShivijeeoSingho(supra)othatowhereo thereoisoaoprimaofacieoevidence,otheoMagistrateoshouldoissueoprocessoeveno thoughotheopersonsochargedoofoanooffenceoinotheocomplaintomightohaveoao defence,owhichowouldobeodecidedoatotheoappropriateostage.oItoisoaosettledo propositionoofolaw,oaopersonowhoofilesoaocomplaintoandosupportsoitoobyooath,o rendersohimselfotoobeoprosecutedoandoimprisoned,oifoitoisofoundotoobeofalse,oaso alsoobyofollowingotheoguidelinesowithoregardotooissuanceoofoprocessoasolaido CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo19

downo ino Mehmoodo Ulo Rehmano vs.o Khaziro Mohammado Tundao ando otherso2015oAIRo(SC)o2195.o ooooooooooooooo Ao perusalo ofo theo complaint,o Annexureo P-1,o alsoo revealso thato specificoavermentsosooasotooshowothatotheoingredientsooforelevantooffenceso allegedohaveobeenomadeoout,owhichohaveobeenodulyotakenonoteoofobyotheo Magistrateo too arriveo ato ao primao facieo viewo too summono theo petitioners.ooooooooooooooo Unlikeotheo factsoinvolvedo ino theo caseso ofo Nationalo Banko ofo Oman,oAbhijitoPawaroandoBirlaoCorporationo(supra),otheoMagistrateoino theo caseo ino hand,o soughto theo policeo report,o calledo foro theo documents,o pertainingo too theo Rajasthano Government,o aso reliedo upono byo theo accusedo duringotheoinquiry,othatoitohadowrittenoletterodatedo13.11.2017oseekingoopeno accessotoosupplyopowerotoocaptiveoconsumersoincludingotheocomplainant-companyo buto waso rejectedo video lettero datedo 27.11.2017,o byo theo saido Government,owhichothoughoevenotheopetitionersoadmittedotoobeoanoinquiryo underoSectiono202oCrPCoinoparao3oofotheopetitionoandothereafter,onotoonlyo examinedo theo complainanto buto alsoo twoo witnesseso ando theo documentso exhibited,o aso haso beeno heldo ino theo caseo ofo Vijayo Dhanukao vs.o Najimao Mamtajo(2014)o14oSCCo638,otoobeotheorequirementoofoinquiryoenvisagedo underoSectiono202oCrPC,orelevantoparasothereoforeadothus:o "14.o Ino viewo ofo ouro answero too theo aforesaido question,o theo nexto questiono whicho fallso foro ouro determinationo iso whethero theo learnedo Magistrateo beforeo issuingo summonso haso heldo theo inquiryo aso mandatedounderoSectiono202oofotheoCode.oTheowordo "inquiry"ohasobeenodefinedounderoSectiono2(og)oofo theoCode,otheosameoreadsoasofollows:o CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo20

"2.o(g)o'inquiry'omeansoeveryoinquiry,ootherothanoao trial,oconductedounderothisoCodeobyoaoMagistrateooro court;"oItoisoevidentofromotheoaforesaidoprovision,o everyo inquiryo otherothano aotrialo conductedo byo theo Magistrateoorotheocourtoisoanoinquiry.oNoospecifico modeo oro mannero ofo inquiryo iso providedo undero Sectiono202oofotheoCode.oInotheoinquiryoenvisagedo underoSectiono202oofotheoCode,otheowitnessesoareo examinedowhereasounderoSectiono200oofotheoCode,o examinationoofotheocomplainantoonlyoisonecessaryo withotheooptionoofoexaminingotheowitnessesopresent,o ifo any.o Thiso exerciseo byo theo Magistrate,o foro theo purposeo ofo decidingo whethero oro noto thereo iso sufficiento groundo foro proceedingo againsto theo accused,oisonothingobutoanoinquiryoenvisagedoundero Sectiono202oofotheoCode."ooooooooooooooo o ooooooooooo Theoimpugnedosummoningoorderoinotheopresentocaseoisoalsooino consonanceowithotheolawolaidodownoinoBirlaoCorporationo(supra)o(thougho factuallyodistinct),owhereinoHon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtoheldothat,"…Theo MagistrateowhooisoconductingoanoinvestigationounderoSectiono202oCr.P.C.o hasofullopoweroinocollectingotheoevidenceoandoexaminingotheomatter.oWeoareo consciousothatoonceotheoMagistrateoisoexercisedohisodiscretion,oitoisonotoforo theoSessionsoCourtoorotheoHighoCourtotoosubstituteoitsoownodiscretionoforothato ofotheoMagistrateotooexamineotheocaseoonomerits.oTheoMagistrateomayonoto embarkouponodetailedoenquiryoorodiscussionoofotheomerits/demeritsoofotheo case.oButotheoMagistrateoisorequiredotooconsiderowhetheroaoprimaocaseohaso beenomadeooutooronotoandoapplyotheomindotootheomaterialsobeforeosatisfyingo himselfo thato thereo areo sufficiento groundso foro proceedingo againsto theo accused…."o Hon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoSauoKamaloShivajio Pokarnekaro (supra),o haso heldo that,o "Theo onlyo pointo thato ariseso foro ouro considerationoinothisocaseoisowhetherotheoHighoCourtowasorightoinosettingo CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo21

asideo theo ordero byo whicho processo waso issued.o Ito iso settledo lawo thato theo Magistrate,oatotheostageoofotakingocognizanceoandosummoning,oisorequiredotoo applyohisojudicialomindoonlyowithoaoviewotootakingocognizanceoofotheooffence,o oroinootherowords,otoofindooutowhetheroaoprimaofacieocaseohasobeenomadeoouto forosummoningotheoaccusedopersons.oTheolearnedoMagistrateoisonotorequiredo too evaluateo theo meritso ofo theo materialo oro evidenceo ino supporto ofo theo complaint,obecauseotheoMagistrateomustonotoundertakeotheoexerciseotoofindo outo whethero theo materialso wouldo leado too ao convictiono oro not.(seeo SonuooGuptaovs.oDeepakoGuptao(2015)3oSCCo424)."o ooo InoStateoofoKarnatakaovs.oM.oDevendrappao&oAnr,o(2002)o3o SCCo89,oHon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtofollowingotheolawolaidodownoinoMrs.o Dhanalakshmiovs.oR.oPrassnnaoKumaroandoOrs.,o(AIRo1990oSCo494),o StateoofoBiharo&oAnr.ovs.oP.P.oSharmaoI.A.S.o&oAnr.,o(1992oSuppl.o(1)o SCCo222),oRupanoDeooBajajo(Mrs.)o&oAnr.ovs.oKanwaroPaloSinghoGillo&o Anr.,o(1995o(6)oSCCo194)oRajeshoBajajovs.oStateoNCToofoDelhioandoOrs.,o (AIRo1999oSCo1216),oheldothat,o"Itoisonot,ohowever,onecessaryothatothereo shouldobeometiculousoanalysisoofotheocaseobeforeotheotrialotoofindooutowhethero theocaseowouldoendoinoconvictionooroacquittal.oTheocomplaintohasotoobeoreado asoaowhole.oIfoitoappearsothatoonoconsiderationoofotheoallegationsoinotheolighto ofotheostatementomadeoonooathoofotheocomplainantothatotheoingredientsoofotheo offenceoorooffencesoareodisclosedoandothereoisonoomaterialotooshowothatotheo complaintoisomalaofide,ofrivolousoorovexatious,oinothatoeventothereowouldobeo noojustificationoforointerferenceobyotheoHighoCourt."oo oooooooooooo Hon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoPritioSarafovs.oStateo ofoNCToofoDelhi,o2021oAIRo(SC)o1531,oheldothat,o"onoaocarefuloreadingoofoMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo22

theo complaint/FIR/charge-sheet,o ino ouro view,o ito cannoto beo saido thato theo complaintodoesonotodiscloseotheocommissionoofoanooffence.oTheoingredientso ofotheooffencesounderoSectionso406oando420oIPCocannotobeosaidotoobeoabsento onotheobasisoofotheoallegationsoinotheocomplaint/FIR/charge-sheet.oWeowouldo likeo too addo thato whethero theo allegationso ino theo complainto areo otherwiseo correctooronot,ohasotoobeodecidedoonotheobasisoofotheoevidenceotoobeoledoduringo theocourseoofotrial.oSimplyobecauseothereoisoaoremedyoprovidedoforobreachoofo contractooroarbitraloproceedingsoinitiatedoatotheoinstanceoofotheoappellants,o thatodoesonotobyoitselfoclotheotheocourtotoocomeotooaoconclusionothatocivilo remedyoisotheoonlyoremedy,oandotheoinitiationoofocriminaloproceedings,oinoanyo manner,owillobeoanoabuseoofotheoprocessoofotheocourtoforoexercisingoinherento powerso ofo theo Higho Courto undero Sectiono 482o CrPCo foro quashingo sucho proceedings."ooooo Ino theo caseo ofo Nagpuro Steelo &o Alloyso Pvt.o Ltd.o vs.o P.o Radhakrishnao ando Otherso 1997o SCC(Cri)o 1073,o Hon'bleo Apexo Courto observedothus:-o "2.o Weo haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo partieso ato lengthoandoexaminedotheorecord.oItoappearsotoousothatotheo Higho Courto waso primarilyo influencedo byo theo facto thato sinceothereowasoaocommercialotransactionsobetweenotheo partiesoandoallegedobreachoofocontractualoliabilityothereo wasonoosufficientogroundotooproceedowithotheotrialoofotheo respondentsoandoquashedotheocriminalocomplaintoandotheo proceedingsoarisingotherefrom.oo

3.o Weo haveo perusedo theo complainto carefully.o Ino ouro opiniono ito cannoto beo saido thato theo complainto dido noto discloseotheocommissionoofoanooffence.oMerelyobecauseo theo offenceo waso committedo duringo theo courseo ofo ao commercialotransaction,owouldonotobeosufficientotooholdo thatotheocomplaintodidonotowarrantoaotrial.oWhetherooronoto theo allegationso ino theo complainto wereo trueo waso too beo CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo23

decidedoonotheobasisoofoevidenceotoobeoledoatotheotrialoino theocomplaintocase.oItocertainlyowasonotoaocaseoinowhicho theo criminalo trialo shouldo haveo beeno cuto short.o Theo quashingo ofo theo complainto haso resultedo ino graveo miscarriageoofojustice.oWe,otherefore,owithoutoexpressingo anyoopinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase,oallowothisoappealo andosetoasideotheoimpugnedoorderoofotheoHighoCourtoando restoreotheocomplaint.oTheolearnedotrialoMagistrateoshallo proceedo witho theo complainto ando disposeo ofo ito ino accordanceowitholawoexpeditiously."o ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooo o oooooooooooo Hon'bleo Theo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo UPo Pollutiono ControloBoardovs.oDr.oBhupendraoKumaroModio&oAnr.,o(2009)o2oSCCo 147,oitohasobeenoheldothuso:ooo "23.oItoisosettledolegalopositionothatoatotheostageoofoissuingo process,o theo Magistrateo iso mainlyo concernedo witho theo allegationsomadeoinotheocomplaintoorotheoevidenceoledoino supporto ofo theo sameo ando heo iso onlyo too beo primao facieo satisfiedo whethero thereo areo sufficiento groundso foro proceedingoagainstotheoaccused.oo

24.oInoNagawwaovs.oVeerannaoShivalingappaoKonjalgi,o

(1976)o3oSCCo736,othisoCourtohasoheldothatoitoisonototheo provinceo ofo theo Magistrateo too entero intoo ao detailedo discussionoonotheomeritsoorodemeritsoofotheocase.oItowaso furtheroheldothatowhetheroaoprocessoshouldobeoissued,otheo Magistrateo cano takeo intoo considerationo improbabilitieso appearingoonotheofaceoofotheocomplaintooroinotheoevidenceo ledobyotheocomplainantoinosupportoofotheoallegations.oTheo Magistrateohasobeenogivenoanoundoubtedodiscretionoinotheo matteroandotheodiscretionohasotoobeojudiciallyoexercisedobyo him.o Ito waso furthero heldo thato onceo theo Magistrateo haso exercisedohisodiscretion,oitoisonotoforotheoHighoCourtooro evenothisoCourtotoosubstituteoitsoownodiscretionoforothatoofo theoMagistrateoorotooexamineotheirocaseoonomeritsowithoao viewotoo findoouto whethero oro nototheo allegationso inotheo complaint,oifoproved,owouldoultimatelyoendoinoconvictiono ofotheoaccused."o ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooo o ooooooooooo Inosoofaroasotheosecondosubmission,oregardingotheopleaoofoforceo majeure,othisoCourtoinoexerciseoofoitsojurisdictionounderoSectiono482oofotheo Codeocannotogoointootheotruthoorootherwiseoofotheoallegationsoandoappreciateo CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo24

evidence,oifoany,oavailableoonorecord,oasohasobeenoheldoinoLeeoKunoHeeovs.o StateoofoU.P.,o(2012)o3oSCCo132obyoHon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourt.ooo oooooo o Theopetitionersohaveoalsoonotobeenoableoto,oinotheseoproceedings,o fullyodemonstrateotheoissuesoonomerits,oasotheosameowouldorequireoleadingoofo evidence,oandothisoCourtocannotoinoexerciseoofopowersounderoSectiono482oofo theoCodeogoointootheoappreciationoofoevidence,oasohasobeenoheldobyoHon'bleo TheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoStateoofoUttaroPradeshovs.oAkhiloShardao ando others,o 2022(3)o RCRo (Crl.)o 841o that,o "Havingo goneo througho theo impugnedojudgmentoandoorderopassedobyotheoHighoCourtobyowhichotheoHigho Courtohasosetoasideotheocriminaloproceedingsoinoexerciseoofopowersoundero Sectiono482oCr.P.C.,oitoappearsothatotheoHighoCourtohasovirtuallyoconductedoao miniotrial,owhichoasosuchoisonotopermissibleoatothisostageoandowhileodecidingo theoapplicationounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.o"o ooo Ino soo faro aso theo thirdo submissiono iso concerned,o ito willo beo profitableotooreferotootheojudgmentoofoHon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtoinotheo caseo ofo Iridiumo Indiao Telecomo Ltd.o vs.o Motorolao Incorporatedo ando others,o(2010)o3oSCCo(Cri)o1201,oinvolvingoaocaseoofoallegedorepresentationo madeo byo theo accused-companyo invitingo investmento ino shareso fromo prospectiveo investorso too floato ao producto givingo ao rosyo pictureo ofo it,o ao complaintowasofiledowithoallegationoofocheatingounderoSectiono420oIPCoreado withooSectiono120BoIPC,oobservedothatounderoSectiono202oCrPC,otheoscopeoofo inquiryo iso limitedo onlyo too theo ascertainmento ofo trutho ando falsehoodo ofo allegationsomadeoinotheocomplaint,owhereinoaccusedohadoabsolutelyonoolocuso standioandowasonotoentitledotoobeoheardoonotheoquestionowhetherotheoprocesso shouldo beo issuedo againsto himo oro noto ando thato theo complainant-appellantsoMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo25

wereo entitledo too ano opportunityo too proveo theo avermentso madeo ino theo complaintotooestablishothatotheyohadobeenodeliberatelyoinducedointoomakingo hugeo investmentso ono theo basiso ofo representationso madeo byo theo accusedo company,o whicho subsequentlyo turnedo outo too beo completelyo falseo ando fraudulentoandothatotheoHighoCourtohadonooauthorityoorojurisdictionotoogoointoo theomatterooroexamineoitsocorrectnessoandoclearlyoexceededoitsojurisdictionoino quashingotheocriminaloproceedings.o oooooooooooTheo legalo propositiono thato iso laido downo ino theo authoritativeo pronouncementoisothatoifotheopersonoorogroupoofopersonsowhoocontrolotheo affairso ofo theo companyo commito ano offenceo witho ao criminalo intent,o theiro criminalityocanobeoimputedotootheocompanyoasowell,oasotheyoareotheo"altero ego"o ofo theo company.o Likewise,o ino theo presento case,o ono behalfo ofo theo complainant-company,o ito haso beeno demonstratedo ino ao vivido manner,o byo drawingotheoattentionoofothisoCourtotootheoallegationsounequivocallyomadeo againstotheopetitioner-accusedoinotheocomplaintothatoareoof,oinofurtheranceoofo ill-intentionoandodeceivingonatureoofotheoaccused,otheocomplainant-companyo wasoinducedobyotheoaccused-petitionersoforoequityoparticipationothatoitowillo geto subsidizedo power,o ifo ito subscribedo too theo shareso ofo respondento No.2-company,o however,o regularo supplyo ofo electricityo waso noto providedo too it,o whicho rathero waso soldo too thirdo partyo userso ato highero marketo rateso witho intentionotoocauseowrongfulogainotoothemselvesoandowrongfulolossotootheo complainant,oattractingotheoingredientsoofotheooffencesoallegedoagainstotheo petitionersoinotheiroindividualocapacities,oconsideringotheiroexaltedostatureoino theorespondentono.2-companyoandorunningoitowithotheiromind,obeingoatotheo CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo26

helmoofoaffairs,othusotheocriminalityoinotheocomplaint,ostandsodulyoimputedotoo them,oasoaccused.o oooooooooOnotheocontrary,otheoemphaticourgingoonobehalfoofotheopetitionerso wasothatothereoisonooconceptoofovicariousoliabilityoinocriminalolaw,othusotheo impugnedoorderowasobadoinotheoeyesoofolaw,othoughoinotheosameobreathoitowaso alsoosoughtotoobeoprojectedothatopetitionersodidomakeotheiroearnestoeffortsotoo complyowithotheocovenantsoandotheoArbitraloawardsoetc.owhichotheyowereo unableo to,o theiro requesto havingo beeno noto accededo too byo theo concernedo Government,oinowakeoofowhichowasotheopleaoofoforceomajeureowasobroughto in,o whicho theo learnedo counselo foro theo complainant-companyo vociferouslyo refutedoonotheogroundothatotheosaidopleaooughtonototoohaveobeenopressed,oasoito alreadyostoodocategoricallyorejectedobyotheoArbitraloTribunal.oo oooooooooooHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoinoSuniloBhartioMittalovs.oCBIo

(2015)o4oSCCo609,oalsooheldothato"Thus,oanoindividualowhoohasoperpetratedo theocommissionoofoanooffenceoonobehalfoofoaocompanyocanobeomadeoaccused,o alongowithotheocompany,oifothereoisosufficientoevidenceoofohisoactiveoroleo coupledowithocriminalointent.oSecondosituationoinowhichoheocanobeoimplicatedo isoinothoseocasesowhereotheostatutoryoregimeoitselfoattractsotheodoctrineoofo vicariousoliability,obyospecificallyoincorporatingosuchoaoprovision."ooItowaso alsooobservedothat,o"ItoisotrueothatotheoCourtoinoexerciseoofoitsojurisdictiono underoSectiono482oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedureocannotogoointootheo trutho oro otherwiseo ofo theo allegationso ando appreciateo theo evidenceo ifo anyo availableoonorecord.oNormally,otheoHighoCourtowouldonotointerveneoinotheo criminaloproceedingsoatotheopreliminaryostage/whenotheoinvestigation/enquiryo isopending."ooMOHIT CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo27

oooooo Inotheoaboveocase,oevenothough,otheosummoningoorderoagainsto theo appellants-petitionerso waso seto aside,o however,o ito waso observedo that,o "Whileoparting,oweomakeoitoclearothatosinceoonoanoerroneousopresumptionoino law,otheoSpecialoMagistrateohasoissuedotheosummonsotootheoappellants,oitowillo alwaysobeoopenotootheoSpecialoMagistrateotooundertakeotheoexerciseoofogoingo throughotheomaterialoonorecordoandoonothatobasis,oifoheoisosatisfiedothatothereo isoenoughoincriminatingomaterialoonorecordotooproceedoagainstotheoappellantso asowell,oheomayopassoappropriateoordersoinothisobehalf.oWeoalsoomakeoitoclearo thatoevenoifoatothisostage,onoosuchoprimaofacieomaterialoisofound,obutoduringo theotrial,osufficientoincriminatingomaterialoagainstotheseoappellantsosurfaceso inotheoformoofoevidence,otheoSpecialoJudgeoshallobeoatolibertyotooexerciseohiso powersounderoSectiono319oofotheoCodeotooropeoinotheoappellantsobyopassingo appropriateoordersoinoaccordanceowitholawoatothatostage."ooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooo Fortiori,oaowideodiscretionohasobeenogivenoasotoograntoororefusalo ofoprocessoandoitomustobeojudiciallyoexercised.oIfoaoprimaofacieocaseohasobeeno madeoout,otheoMagistrateooughtotooissueoprocessoandoitocannotobeorefusedo merelyobecauseoheothinksothatoitoisounlikelyotooresultoinoaoconviction.oo Itoisotriteothatosineoquaononoforotakingocognizanceoofotheooffenceo isotheoapplicationoofomindowhichoisobestodemonstrableobyotheodisclosureoofo mindoonotheosatisfactionoofotheoMagistrateothatotheoallegations,oifoproved,o wouldoconstituteoanooffence.oTheoscopeoofoinquiryounderoSectiono202ois,onoo doubt,oextremelyolimited.oAtothatostage,owhatoaoMagistrateoisocalledouponotoo seeoisowhetherothereoisosufficientogroundoforoproceedingowithotheomatter,otheo underlyingo objecto beingo too ascertaino whethero thereo iso primao facieo caseo CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo28

againstotheoaccusedoandonotowhetherothereoisosufficientogroundoforoconvictiono ofotheoaccused.o oooooooooooooooooo ItoisoaxiomaticothatotheoinquiryowasoconductedounderoSectiono 202oCrPCoandopleaoofotheopetitionersothatoitowasonototakenointooconsideration,o iso contraryo too record,o peculiarlyo ino theo factso thatohaveo emerged,o thato theo Magistrate,oafterohavingocalledoforotheoreportofromotheopolice,ostillodidonoto restotillosuchotimeothatotheodocuments/lettersomentionedoinotheosaidoreport,o whichotheoaccusedohadoreliedouponoduringoinquiry,owereosecuredofromotheo SHO,o apparento fromo theo zimnio orderso aso reproducedo ino theo precedingo paragraphs.oItoisoonlyothereuponothatotheoMagistrateofindingoenoughomaterialo tooproceedoagainstotheopetitioners,obasedoonotheofactsoandotheoallegationso incorporatedo ino theo complaint,o statementso recordedo ando documentso produced,oformedoanoopinionoofosatisfactionoonohavingoappliedohisojudicialo mindoandopassedoaospeakingoorderoissuingotheoprocessothatoprimaofacieothereo isogroundoforoproceedingofurtheroinotheomatter,oforowhichotheoaccusedowereo answerableobeforeotheoCourt,oasoisoamplyodiscernibleotherefrom.oooooooooooooo oooooooooooThus,o theo summoningo ordero ino theo instanto caseo cannoto beo termedotoobeotheosameoasotheoonesothatowereotheosubjectomatteroinoNationalo BankoofoOman,oAbhijitoPawaroandoBirlaoCorporationo(supra),oonoaccounto ofowhich,oinotheosaidocasesotheomatterohadobeenoremittedotootheoMagistrate,oito beingoinoconformityowithotheoexpositionoofolaw,oasodiscussedoabove.oo oooooooooooForotheopetitionersotoostateonon-submissionotootheojurisdictionoofo theotrialoCourtoinotheocomplaintobasisotheopleaoofoforceomajeure,oitobeingoao policyodecisionoofotheoGovernment,owouldoamountotootrivializingotheoissue,o CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo29

especiallyoinoviewoofoitsorejectionobeforeotheoArbitraloTribunal,otherefore,oono thatogroundoaloneotheoprocessocannotobeoallowedotoobeoscuttled.oo oooooooo TheoCourtohasoaoboundenodutyotooseparateograinofromotheochaff.o Technicalitiesopressedointooserviceoareonototheokindsothatowouldoabsolveotheo petitionersotooanoextentothatotheyoareonotoevenomadeoanswerableobyoissuingo theo processo byo theo Magistrate,o whereino duringo theo proceedingso ampleo opportunityo too refuteo ando disproveo theo allegationso and,o assertingo ando substantiatingotheiropleasowouldobeoavailable.oo o Theoaforesaidoviewofindsostrengthofromotheojudgmentoinotheocaseo ofo Rajivo Thaparo &o Ors.ovs.oo MadanoLaloKapoor,o (2013)o 3o SCCo330,o whereinoHon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtolaidothat,o"TheoHighoCourt,oinoexerciseo ofoitsojurisdictionounderoSectiono482oCrPC,omustomakeoaojustoandorightfulo choice.oThisoisonotoaostageoofoevaluatingotheotruthfulnessoorootherwiseoofotheo allegationso levelledo byo theo prosecution/o complainanto againsto theo accused.o Likewise,oitoisonotoaostageoforodeterminingohowoweightyotheodefencesoraisedo onobehalfoofotheoaccusedoare.oEvenoifotheoaccusedoisosuccessfuloinoshowingo someo suspiciono oro doubt,o ino theo allegationso levelledo byo theo prosecution/o complainant,o ito wouldo beo impermissibleo too dischargeo theo accusedo beforeo trial.oThisoisosoobecauseoitowouldoresultoinogivingofinalityotootheoaccusationso levelledobyotheoprosecution/complainant,owithoutoallowingotheoprosecutiono orotheocomplainantotooadduceoevidenceotoosubstantiateotheosame."o oo ooooooooooooooo Reiteratingotheoabove,oHon'bleoTheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseo ofoRathishoBabuoUnnikrishnanovsoTheoStateo(Govt.oofoNCToofoDelhi)o&o Anr,o2022oSCCoOnlineoSCo513oheldothat,o"Theoconsequencesoofoscuttlingo CRM-M-43254-2021ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo30

theo criminalo processo ato ao pre-trialo stageo cano beo graveo ando irreparable.o Quashingoproceedingsoatopreliminaryostagesowilloresultoinofinalityowithoutotheo partiesohavingohadoanoopportunityotooadduceoevidenceoandotheoconsequenceo thenoisothatotheoproperoforumoi.e.,otheotrialoCourtoisooustedofromoweighingotheo materialo evidence.o Ifo thiso iso allowed,o theo accusedo mayo beo giveno ano un-meritedoadvantageoinotheocriminaloprocess."o oooooooooooo Havingoanalyzedotheoimpugnedoorderothroughotheoprismoofotheo dictumoofolaworeferredotoohereinaboveowhileobearingoinomindotheopeculiarityo ofo factso ando circumstanceso ofo theo case,o thiso Courto findso noo illegalityo oro perversityoinotheoimpugnedoorder,owhichomayocalloforoanyointervention.oAsoao sequelothereto,otheopresentopetitionoisoherebyodismissedobeingobereftoofomerit.o Theoobservationsomadeohereinoaboveoshallonotobeoconstruedoaso anoexpressionoofoopinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocaseoandotheotrialoCourtoshallo proceedo uninfluencedo therefromo ando decideo theo caseo ono merits,o ino accordanceowitholaw.o Pendingo applications,o ifo any,o shallo stando disposedo ofo accordingly.o o o

10.04.2023ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooo [AMANoCHAUDHARY]o gsvooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooJUDGEo oo oo oo o Whetherospeaking/reasonedooo:ooYes/Noo Whetheroreportableoooo ooooo:ooYes/Nooo o oo o o