1. Appeal against High Court order quashing an FIR in part regarding offences under Sections 392, 395, and 397 of the Indian Penal Code. (Para 2 , 4 )
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2019 Supreme(SC) 301
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Abhay Manohar Sapre, Dinesh Maheshwari, JJ.
Rafiq Ahmedbhai Paliwala – Appellant(s)
Versus
The State Of Gujarat & Ors. – Respondent(s)
Criminal Appeal No. 506 of 2019 (Arising out of S.L.P.(Crl.) No. 6689 of 2018).
Decided on : 15-03-2019
Important Points
IMPORTANT POINT
The FIR disclosing prima facie allegations of commission of concerned offences and awaiting investigation should not be quashed.
The FIR disclosing prima facie allegations of commission of concerned offences and awaiting investigation should not be quashed.
Subject
Criminal Law - Quashing of FIR
Act Referred
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE: S.482
GP ACT: S.135(1)
INDIAN PENAL CODE: S.392, S.395, S.397, S.143, S.147, S.148, S.323
GP ACT: S.135(1)
INDIAN PENAL CODE: S.392, S.395, S.397, S.143, S.147, S.148, S.323
Headnote
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 – Section 482 – FIR registered under several provisions of Indian Penal Code, 1860 for offences cognizable as well as non-cognizable – FIR disclosing prima facie allegations of commission of concerned offences – High Court quashing FIR in relation to more serious and cognizable offences and letting it continue for other offences – High Court order intervening before investigation could be made. (Para 10, 11)
Facts of the case:
The High Court, in exercise of its inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 allowed the petition filed by respondent Nos. 2 to 17 herein and quashed FIR being I-CR No. 67 of 2017 in part insofar it relates to the offences punishable under Sections 392, 395 and 397 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and upheld it insofar as it relates to the offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148 and 323 of IPC read with Section 135 (1) of the GP Act.
The complainant has felt aggrieved by the impugned order and has filed this appeal by way of special leave Court.
Finding of the Court:
High Court, instead of quashing the FIR should have asked the IO to complete investigation and submit charge sheet.
Result: Appeal allowed.
Legal Category Hierarchy
Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant :Pradhuman Gohil, Mrs. Taruna Singh Gohil, Himanshu Chaubey, Ms. Tanvi Bhatnagar, Advocates
For the Respondent:Mrs. Hemantika Wahi, Ms. Jesal Wahi, Ms. Vishakha, C.B. Gururaj, K.P. Singh, Prakash Ranjan Nayak, Advocates
For the Appellant :Pradhuman Gohil, Mrs. Taruna Singh Gohil, Himanshu Chaubey, Ms. Tanvi Bhatnagar, Advocates
For the Respondent:Mrs. Hemantika Wahi, Ms. Jesal Wahi, Ms. Vishakha, C.B. Gururaj, K.P. Singh, Prakash Ranjan Nayak, Advocates
Table of Contents
2. Whether the High Court was justified in quashing an FIR regarding serious offences under Sections 392, 395, and 397 of the Indian Penal Code. (Para 6 )
3. High Court erred by quashing serious cognizable offences at a preliminary stage without allowing the Investigating Officer to conduct a proper investigation based on prima facie allegations. (Para 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 )
4. An FIR disclosing prima facie allegations of serious cognizable offences should not be quashed at a preliminary stage without allowing for a proper investigation. (Para 11 , 12 )
5. Appeal allowed and High Court order set aside; Investigating Officer directed to conduct full investigation and file additional charge sheet if other offences are made out. (Para 8 , 13 , 14 , 15 )
6. Can a High Court quash an FIR under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure at a preliminary stage?
No, if the FIR discloses prima facie allegations of serious cognizable offences, the High Court should not quash it at a preliminary stage but should instead direct the Investigating Officer to conduct a proper investigation and file a charge sheet based on the material collected. (Para 11 , 12 )
7. What is the legal implication of quashing serious cognizable offences before the conclusion of an investigation?
Quashing serious cognizable offences before a proper investigation is concluded prevents the case from reaching its logical conclusion and is considered an error when the FIR contains prima facie allegations of such offences. (Para 10 , 12 )
JUDGMENT
Abhay Manohar Sapre, J.
Leave granted.
2. This appeal is directed against the final judgment and order dated 11.12.2017 passed by the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad in Criminal Misc. Application (for quashing & Set aside FIR) No. 29936 of 2017 whereby the High Court allowed the said application filed by respondent Nos.2-17 herein.
3. This appeal involves a short point as would be clear from the facts stated infra.
4. By impugned order, the High Court, in exercise of its inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973(hereinafter referred to as "the Code") allowed the petition filed by respondent Nos. 2 to 17 herein and quashed FIR being I-CR No. 67 of 2017 registered with the Gaekwad Haveli Police Station, Ahmadabad in part insofar it relates to the offences punishable under Sections 392, 395 and 397 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860(hereinafter referred to as "IPC") and upheld it insofar as it relates to the offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148 and 323 of IPC read with Section 135 (1) of the GP ACT .
5. The complainant has felt aggrieved by the impugned order and has filed this appeal by way of special leave in this Court.
6. So, the short question, which arises for consideration in this appeal, is whether the High Court was justified in allowing the petition and quashing the FIR insofar as it relates to the offences punishable under Sections 392, 395 and 397 IPC.
7. The order impugned reads as under:
"Having heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties and having considered the materials on record, I am of the view that even if the entire case of the prosecution is believed or accepted as true, none of the ingredients to constitute the offence of Sections 392, 395 or 397 are spelt out. By any stretch of imagination, it cannot be said that the common object of the unlawful assembly was to commit dacoity.
In such circumstances, I have no hesitation in quashing the FIR so far as Sections 392, 395 and 397 of the Indian Penal Code is concerned. So far as the other offences are concerned, the investigation shall proceed in accordance with law.
With the above, this application is disposed of. Direct service is permitted."
8. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the record of the case, we are constrained to allow the appeal and set aside the impugned order.
9. In our view, the High Court erred in entertaining the petition filed by respondent Nos. 2 to 17 under Section 482 of the Code and further erred in allowing it in part.
10. It is not in dispute that no proper investigation could be made by the Investigating Officer (IO) much less concluded on the basis of the FIR lodged by the complainant and before it could be brought to its logical conclusion, the impugned order intervened resulting in quashing of the FIR itself in relation to cognizable offences which were of more serious in nature than the remaining one which survived for being tried.
11. The High Court, in our view, instead of quashing the FIR at such a preliminary stage should have directed the IO to make proper investigation on the basis of the FIR and then file proper charge sheet on the basis of the material collected in the investigation accordingly. It was, however, not done. It was more so because, we find that FIR did disclose prima facie allegations of commission of concerned offences.
12. We cannot, therefore, countenance the approach of the High Court when it proceeded to quash the FIR partly in relation to more serious offences (Sections 392, 395 and 397 IPC) without allowing the IO to make proper investigation into its allegations.
13. In the light of the foregoing discussion, the appeal succeeds and is accordingly allowed. The impugned order is set aside.
14. We are, however, informed that pursuant to the directions issued by the High Court, the charge sheet has been filed in relation to the minor offences, which survived after quashing of the FIR. Be that as it may, the IO shall now make full
