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2013 Supreme(SC) 1205

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
A.K. Patnaik, Ranjan Gogoi, JJ.
Isaac Isanga Musumba and Ors. - Appellants
Vs.
State of Maharashtra and Ors. - Respondents
W.P. (Crl.) No. 80 of 2013
Decided On: 19.06.2013

Headnote:

Indian Penal Code - Section 383 – Constitution of India - Article 32 – Quashing of KIR – First Information Report - Hence unless property is delivered to Accused person pursuant to threat no offence of extortion is made out and an KIR for offence Under Section 384 could not have been registered by police Section 383, Indian Penal Code states that whoever intentionally puts any person in fear of any injury to that person or to any other and thereby dishonestly induces the person so put in fear to deliver to any person any property, or valuable security or anything signed or sealed which may be converted into a valuable security commits extortion – Held, Head Office of Company at Fort and demanded 20 million dollars equivalent to saying that they have international arrest warrants against complainants and upon failure to pay the said sum complainants will have to face dire consequences - It is because of this allegation in FIR offence Under Section 441 Indian Penal Code is alleged to have been committed by Accused persons - On reading Section 441 Indian Penal Code court find that intent to commit an offence or to intimidate insult or annoy any person in possession of property is a necessary ingredient of offence of criminal trespass - It is not disputed that there was a business transaction between Accused persons and complainants - Hence if Accused persons have visited premises of complainants to make a demand towards their dues court do not think a case of criminal trespass as defined in Section 441 Indian Penal Code is made out against Accused persons - Section 120B Indian Penal Code will be attracted only if two or more persons agree to do an illegal act or a legal act by illegal means - As offences Under Sections 384 and 441 Indian Penal Code are not made out and no other illegal act is alleged in KIR no case of criminal conspiracy against Accused persons is also made out - Article 21 of Constitution provides that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law - Word person in Article 21 is wide enough to cover not only citizens of this country but also foreigners who come to this country We also find on reading of KIR there is also an allegation that - Accused persons illegally entered into the Head Office of Company at Fort and demanded dollars saying that they have international arrest warrants against complainants and upon failure to pay the said sum complainants will have to face dire consequences - It is because of this allegation in FIR offence Under Section 441 Indian Penal Code is alleged to have been committed by Accused persons - On reading Section 441 Indian Penal Code we find that intent to commit an offence or to intimidate insult or annoy any person in possession of property is a necessary ingredient of offence of criminal trespass – Petition allowed

Judgement Key Points

Key Points: - (!) Writ petition under Article 32 challenging KIR No. 88 of 2013 for offences under IPC Sections 384, 441, 120B; petition allowed and FIR quashed. - (!) FIR alleges accused showed international warrants and threatened extortion but no allegation of actual payment or delivery of money; court held no extortion under Section 383/384 without such delivery. - (!) Section 441 IPC requires intent to commit or intimidate in possession of property; court found no criminal trespass given the business transaction and absence of such intent. - (!) Section 120B requires two or more persons; court found no conspiracy since Sections 384 and 441 not made out. - (!) Article 21 protects life and personal liberty; foreigners’ liberty is protected; police acted on baseless FIR violating Article 21. - (!) Court directed immediate release of passports if impounded due to the impugned FIR. - (!) Petition allowed on basis that the KIR was baseless; quashing the FIR and directing release of passport.

What is the correctness of quashing FIR No. 88 of 2013 registered at MRA Marg Police Station, Mumbai for offences under Sections 384, 441 and 120B IPC?

What is the applicable interpretation of Extortion (Section 383/384 IPC) and Criminal Trespass (Section 441 IPC) when threats to seize money do not show actual delivery of property?

What is the court’s stance on Article 21 safeguards for foreigners and the propriety of police action under an allegedly baseless FIR?


JUDGMENT :

1. Heard learned Counsel for the parties. Petitioners are nationals of Uganda and have filed this writ petition Under Article 32 of the Constitution praying for quashing of KIR No. 88 of 2013 registered on 19th April, 2013 at MRA Marg Police Station, Mumbai in which they have been Accused for offences Under Sections 384, 441 and120B, Indian Penal Code.

2. We have read the FIR which has been annexed to the writ petition as Annexure P-7 and we find therefrom that the complainants have alleged that the Accused persons have shown copies of international warrants issued against the complainants by the Ugandan Court and letters written by Uganda Ministry of Justice & Constitutional Affairs and the Accused have threatened to extort 20 million dollars (equivalent to Rs. 110 crores). In the complaint, there is no mention whatsoever that pursuant to the demands made by the Accused, any amount was delivered to the Accused by the complainants. If that be so, we fail to see as to how an offence of extortion as defined in Section 383, Indian Penal Code is made out. Section 383, Indian Penal Code states that whoever intentionally puts any person in fear of any injury to that person, or to any other, and thereby dishonestly induces the person so put in fear to deliver to any person any property, or valuable security or anything signed or sealed which may be converted into a valuable security, commits 'extortion'. Hence, unless property is delivered to the Accused person pursuant to the threat, no offence of extortion is made out and an KIR for the offence Under Section 384 could not have been registered by the police.

3. We also find on the reading of the KIR, there is also an allegation that on 18th April, 2013 between 1 p.m. And 5.30 p.m. The Accused persons illegally entered into the Head Office of the Company at Fort and demanded 20 million dollars (equivalent to Rs. 110 crores) saying that they have international arrest warrants against the complainants and upon failure to pay the said sum the complainants will have to face dire consequences. It is because of this allegation in the FIR, the offence Under Section 441, Indian Penal Code is alleged to have been committed by the Accused persons. On reading Section 441, Indian Penal Code we find that intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy any person in possession of property is a necessary ingredient of the offence of criminal trespass. It is not disputed that there was a business transaction between the Accused persons and the complainants. Hence, if the Accused persons have visited the premises of the complainants to make a demand towards their dues, we do not think a case of 'criminal trespass' as defined in Section 441, Indian Penal Code is made out against the Accused persons.

4. Section 120B, Indian Penal Code will be attracted only if two or more persons agree to do an illegal act or a legal act by illegal means. As the offences Under Sections 384 and 441, Indian Penal Code are not made out, and no other illegal act is alleged in the KIR, no case of criminal conspiracy against the Accused persons is also made out.

5. Article 21 of the Constitution provides that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. The word 'person' in Article 21 is wide enough to cover not only citizens of this country but also foreigners who come to this country. The State has an obligation to protect the liberty of such foreigners who come to this country and ensure that their liberty is not deprived except in accordance with the procedure established by law. Notwithstanding the said guaranty Under Article 21 of the Constitution, in this case, the Mumbai police acted on the FIR of the complainants, which we have found to be baseless.

6. For the aforesaid reasons, we quash the impugned FIR and we further direct that if the passport of any of the Petitioners has been impounded on account of the impugned FIR which we hav

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