ORDER

The appellant is an accused who entered into an agreement to purchase certain piece of land admeasuring total 45 Kanals 10 Marlas, under an agreement of sale dated 04.07.1997 duly executed by first accused Bijender. It is a registered agreement of sale. Apparently, thereafter, the accused Bijender entered into another agreement of sale in respect of the same land with the complainant viz., J.P. Adhana on 20.02.1998. Thereafter, the accused Bijender completed the transaction and executed the sale-deed in favour of the appellant on 30.11.1998.

2. The complainant lodged an FIR against the appellant and the first accused Bijender under sections 420/468/471/120B of the Indian Penal Code (for short, the (IPC’). After usual investigation, the police filed the charge-sheet. The learned Magistrate framed the charge for an offence punishable under section 420 of the IPC only against the appellant.

3. Mr. Mahabir Singh, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellant, submits that ex facie the charge framed against the appellant under section 420 of the IPC is not tenable because the appellant’s agreement to purchase the aforesaid land is prior to the complainant’s agreement and it i