IMPORTANT POINT
Power conferred under Article 142 of Constitution of India can be exercised by Supreme Court for consolidation of FIRs.

JUDGMENT :

Aravind Kumar, J.

1. By way of this writ petition, the petitioner has sought for the following relief:

“Consolidate/Club all the FIRs (i) FIR No. 324/2017, 406/420/120 (B) IPC and 4/6(1)/6(2) M.P. Act, Dewas, M.P., (ii) FIR No. 479/2018, 420/34 IPC, Indore, M.P., (iii) FIR No. 283/2020, 420/34 IPC, Khargone M.P., (iv) FIR No. 002/2021, 420 IPC, Gokul Road, Hubali, Karnataka, (v) FIR No. 090/2021, 406/420/120(B) IPC, Dhadhara, Gumla, Jharkhand registered against the Petitioner in different states at various police stations to the Court of the competent jurisdiction at Guna, Madhya Pradesh where proceedings are pending in the FIR No. 0266/2018, U/S420/407/418/406/409120B/467/468. Section 4/6(1)/6(2) MP investors Interests Act 2000, P.S. Guna Kotwali, District: Guna in the interest of justice.”

2. We have heard Mr. Chandra Prakash, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr. Yashraj Singh Bundela, learned counsel appearing for Respondent No.2 and Ms. Pragya Baghel, learned counsel appearing for Respondent No.3.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has contended that petitioner being aged 60 years has been foisted with several cases in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Jharkhand for similar offences and he was never appointed as the Director of the company – G. Life India Developers and Colonizers Limited. Contending that the prosecution initiated is in relation to the fraud/scam committed by the company and petitioner is in way concerned with same. It is also contended, for the purposes of speedy and fair trial and to avoid multiplicity of proceedings it would be in the best interest of all that cases pending in various States be consolidated and posted to the court of a competent jurisdiction at Guna, Madhya Pradesh. Hence, relying upon the following judgments he prays that this petition be allowed:

“1. SATINDER SINGH BHASIN V/S THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH & ANR.” Writ Petition (criminal) No. 197 of 2021

2. Amish Devgan vs. Union of India & Ors” WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO. 160 OF 2020

3. ABHISHEK SINGH CHAUHAN V/S UNION OF INDIA & ORS.” in WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO.40 of 2022”

4. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the respondent Nos.2 and 3 would contend that complainant(s)/witnesses are different in each of the cases and they cannot be penalized for having lodged the prosecution by making them to travel all the way either from Karnataka or from Jharkhand to the State of Madhya Pradesh and each case having been registered by the jurisdictional police on the basis of individual cause of action it would not be apt and appropriate to transfer all the cases to one court as sought for by the petitioner and hence, they have prayed for rejection of the petition.

5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the pleadings we notice that following cases are pending against the petitioner in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Jharkhand:

6. The cases noted at Serial Nos.5 and 6 have been registered by the Gokul Road, Hubli, Karnataka Police and Dhadhara, Ghumla, Jharkhand, Police Statio