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2025 Supreme(AP) 538

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
HARINATH.N, J.
Manappuram Asset Finance Limited - Appellant 
Versus 
The State Of AP - Respondent 
Writ Petition Nos.25540, 26267, 3584, 13928, 13944, 16467, 23417, 28721, 28888 of 2023, 8621, 9480, 9648, 10424, 14279, 17065, 23656, 23757, 24620, 25826, 26080 of 2024
Decided on : 30-08-2025

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : V NITESH
For the Respondent: GP FOR HOME, T SREEDHAR

Pawnee rights under the Indian Contract Act do not extend to crime proceeds; compliance with investigative notices prevails to protect victims' property rights.

Headnote:(A) Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Sections 91 and 102 - Indian Contract Act, 1872 - Sections 173 and 178-A - Petitioner companies challenge notices to produce mortgaged gold ornaments amidst ongoing criminal investigations for theft - The notices were issued due to the ornaments being linked to crime proceeds. (Paras 1, 18, 25)

(B) Pawnee and Pawnor Responsibilities - The Pawnee cannot decline compliance based on claims of legal retention rights when dealing with crime property, as the gold ornaments belong to third parties affected by theft. (Paras 3, 30)

(C) Victims’ Rights - Importance of safeguarding victims’ claims to stolen property over the contractual rights of the finance companies. (Paras 32, 33)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner, a non-banking financial institution, is required to produce gold ornaments pledged as security for loans, which are now linked to various theft cases across multiple police stations. (Paras 4, 5)

Findings of Court:
The police have the statutory duty to investigate and recover stolen property, and the petitioners' rights cannot override this duty. The notices are upheld as lawful. (Paras 25, 34)

Issues: Whether notices issued under Sections 91 and 102 can be annulled under Article 226, in light of claims regarding the nature of pledged gold. (Para 17)

Ratio Decidendi: The right of a Pawnee to retain pledged goods does not extend to items that are proved to be crime proceeds, as the interest of victims must take precedence during investigations. (Paras 24, 29)

Result: Writ petitions dismissed.

ORDER :

HARINATH.N, J.

1. The petitioners are aggrieved by the issuance of notices under Section 91 and Section 102 of Cr.P.C., ( Section 94 of BNSS ) by the investigating officers of various police stations investigating the crimes registered. The petitioners are in the business of extending loans against the mortgage of gold ornaments.

2. The petitioners were issued notices by the investigating officers to produce and hand over the gold ornaments during the course of the investigation.

The details of the batch of writ petitions are as follows ;

S.No.WP.No.Police StationCrime numberSection of LawComplaintfiled by
1. WP.No.25540 of 2023Bhimunipatnam Police station253 of 2023409, 420 of IPCBranch Head, IIFL Finance Ltd.,
2.WP.No.28721 of 2023Bobbili Town Police Station541 of 2023457, 380 IPCK.Kavitha Sravanthi alleging theft of her gold ornaments
3. WP.No.26267 of 2023Bhimunipatnam Police Station253 of 2023409, 420 IPCBranch Head, IIFL Finance Ltd.,
4WP.No.23757 of 2024Sompta Police Station119 of 2024303 (2) BNSG.Jeevaratnam alleging theft of gold ornaments
5WP.No.23656 of 2024Kovvur Town Police Station227 of 2024331 (4) 305(a) BNSK.Ushasri alleging theft of her gold ornaments
6WP.No25826 of 2024Alamuru Police Station212 of 2024331 (4), 305 BNSJ.Maaruthi Sivaram, alleging theft of gold ornaments
7WP.No.3584 of 2023Chodavaram Police Station32 of 2023454, 380 IPCR.Sasank Bharat alleging theft of gold ornaments
8WP.No.26080 of 2024Tadepalli Police Station474 of 2024306 BNSM.Sambasiva Rao alleging theft of gold ornaments
9WP.No.24620 of 2024Madanapalle Rural Police Station423 of 2024Woman missingP.Surendra, alleging missing of woman and also theft of gold ornaments
10WP.No.8621 of 2024Guntakal I Town Police Station5 of 2024454, 380 IPCD.Rajesh alleging theft of gold ornaments
11WP.No.9480 of 2024Muddanur Police Station286 of 2023454, 380 IPCP.Viswarupa Achari alleging theft of gold ornaments
12WP.No.28888 of 2023Yeleswaram Police Station267 of 2022457, 380 IPCG.Chinnarao alleging theft of gold ornaments
Jaggampeta Police Station295 of 2023457, 380 IPCSatyavathi Rayi alleging theft of gold ornaments
Jaggampeta Police Station296 of 2023457, 380 IPCSrinivas Bhumadi
Kirlampudi Police Station103 of 2023457, 380 IPCKanta Sanyasi Rao alleging theft of gold ornaments
Samalkota Police Station192 of 2023457, 380 IPCSatyaveni Palacharlla alleging theft of gold ornaments
Peddapuram Police Station120 of 2023457, 380, 511 IPCP.Satyanarayana Rao alleging theft of gold ornaments
Peddapuram Police Station174 of 2023457, 380 IPCP.Satyanarayana alleging theft of gold ornaments
Yeleswaram Police Station171 of 2023457, 380 IPCG.Reddibabu alleging theft of gold ornaments
Samalkot Police Station267 of 2023457, 380 IPCB.V.V.Satyanara yana alleging theft of gold ornaments
Jaggampeta Police Station194 of 2023457, 380 IPCS. Srinu alleging theft of gold ornaments
Samalkot Police Station124 of 2023457, 380 IPCDevi Jyothula alleging theft of gold ornaments
Prathipadu Police Station362 of 2022457, 380 IPCK.Veerababu alleging theft of gold ornaments
Addateegala Police Station52 of 2022457, 380 IPCY.Satyanarayana alleging theft of gold ornaments
13 WP.No.23417 of 2023Krishnalanka Police Station459 of 2023454, 380 IPCN.V.Satyanaraya na Murthy alleging theft of gold ornaments
14WP.No.9648 of 2024Vinukonda Police Station75 and 76 of 2024457, 380 IPCD.Gangadhara Rao D.Akhilandeswari alleging theft of their gold ornaments
15WP.No.10424 of 2024Parawada Police Station175 of 2024454, 380 IPCCh.Ramadevi alleging theft of gold ornaments
16WP.No.14279 of 2024Pattabhipuram Police Station193 of 2024380 IPCP.Arunkumar alleging theft of gold ornaments
17WP.No.13928 of 2023Kavali I Town Police Station55 of 2023380 IPCP.Madhu Sudhana Rao alleging theft of gold ornaments
18WP.No.17065 of 2024Pendurthy Police Station270 of 2024457, 380 IPCM.Jayanth Kumar alleging theft of gold ornaments
19WP.No. 16467 of 2023Pedakakani Police Station232 of 2023380 IPCK.Samrajyamma alleging theft of gold ornaments
20WP.No.13944 of 2023

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