SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant, JJ.
Savitri Pandey and Ors. – Appellant
Vs.
State of U.P. and Ors. – Respondent
Criminal Appeal No. 741 of 2015 (Arising out of S.L.P. (Crl.) No. 2741 of 2014)
Decided On : 01-05-2015
Appeal allowed. (Para)
JUDGMENT
Prafulla C. Pant, J.
1. Leave granted.
2. This appeal is directed against order dated 31.1.2014, passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No. 2167 of 2014 whereby said Court has dismissed the writ petition challenging the First Information Report, registered as Crime No. 16 of 2014, relating to offences punishable Under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471,120B, 504, and 506 of Indian Penal Code (Indian Penal Code) at Police Station Milak, District Rampur.
3. We have heard learned Counsel for the parties and perused the papers on record.
4. Brief facts of the case are that Respondent No. 4 Damitri Pandey, lodged First Information Report on 8.1.2014 at Police Station Milak, Rampur, in respect of above offences against as many as fifteen accused stating that in respect of land owned by her, which was part of Khasra No. 148 in Village Asdullapur, three sale deeds (at different dates) were fraudulently got executed in favour of different persons in the year 1994. The present Appellants have been named as accused Nos. 14 and 15 in the First Information Report, but no specific role has been assigned to them. It is admitted to the parties that complainant (Respondent No. 4) is real sister-in-law of Appellant No. 1, and Appellant No. 2 (Raju Pandey) is son of Appellant No. 1. It is also admitted that the land in question was joint family property of the Appellants, Respondent No. 4 and other members of the family.
5. In paragraph 6 of the counter affidavit filed on behalf of Respondent No. 4, (complainant) it is stated that though no specific role of the present Appellants has been disclosed in First Information Report, but it is clearly mentioned that since they have played important role, as such, they had colluded in the fraud in execution of the sale deeds in dispute.
6. In the counter affidavit filed on behalf of Respondent Nos. 1 to 3 by Dr. Tejveer Singh, Circle Officer, Milak, District Rampur, it is stated at the end of paragraph 2(vii) as under:
it is further pertinent to mention here that as on date neither the Petitioners nor Respondent No. 4 are participating/supporting in the investigation.
7. It is argued before us on behalf of the Appellants that the impugned First Information Report is nothing but abuse of process of law, and it is simple property dispute between family members. It is further contended that the High Court has erred in law in not granting relief to the Appellants. On the other hand, learned Counsel for the complainant (Respondent No. 4) contended that it is a matter of investigation as to whether impersonation was done, if so, who impersonated in getting executed the sale deeds in question, in respect of land of the complainant.
8. It is further pointed out on behalf of learned Counsel for the State (Respondent No. 1) that in a Seven-Judge Bench decision of Allahabad High Court in Ram Lal Yadav and Ors.v. State of U.P. and Ors. 1989 CriLJ 1013, since it has been held that the High Court cannot interfere with the investigation by police, in its powers Under Section 482 Code of Criminal Procedure, as such, for the relief of quashing of First Information Report writ petitions are entertained in said High Court.
9. In Som Mittal v. Government of Karnataka (2008) 3 SCC 753, following observations have been made by this Court regarding the difficulties faced by the accused due to deletion of provision Under Section 438 Code of Criminal Procedure:
38. In this connection, I would also like to refer to the situation prevailing in the State of Uttar Pradesh where due to deletion of the provision for anticipatory bail Under Section 438 Code of Criminal Procedure by Section 9 of U.P. Act 16 of 1976, huge difficulties have been created both for the public as well as for the Allahabad High Court.
39. It may be noted that in U.P. such provision for anticipatory bail has been deleted while it continues to exist in all other States in India, even in terrorist affected States. The result is
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