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2021 Supreme(Kar) 634

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
H.P. Sandesh, J.
N.R. Ramakrishna and Ors. – Appellants
Versus
State of Karnataka and Ors. – Respondents
Criminal Petition No. 7885 of 2020
Decided On : 29-01-2021

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant :Usman P., Advocate
For the Respondent: Namitha Mahesh B.G., High Court Government Pleader

Headnote:

Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 417, 418, 419, 420, 463, 464, 465, 468, 469 r/w 34 - Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Sections 156(3) and 482 – Offence of Cheating – Quash of Proceedings - Alleged that accused persons have intentionally cheated complainant by creating the Will by forging signature of mother of complainant. That there was difference in family as complainant has married to women of another caste. On perusal of the records, this Court is of opinion that investigation is necessary for proceedings against accused - Held, Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C., learned Magistrate in order specifically mentions that allegation is that accused persons have cheated complainant by creating Will by forging signature of mother of complainant. It is also noticed that there was a difference in family as complainant has married to a woman belonging to another caste. On perusal of records, this Court opinion that investigation is necessary for proceedings against accused. Having perused order, learned Magistrate looked into contents of complaint and also the materials on records applied his judicious mind and passed order - This Court cannot find fault with order passed by the learned Magistrate - It is clear that while exercising powers under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., with regard to quashing of FIR, Court should exercise powers under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., sparingly - Petition is dismissed.

ORDER :

H.P. Sandesh, J.

1. This petition is filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., praying this Court to quash the order dated 15.02.2020 Passed in PCR No. 12/2020 on the file of Civil Judge (JMFC) Koratagere and the consequent FIR registered in Crime No. 35/2020 by the first respondent-State for the offences punishable under Sections 417, 418, 419, 420, 463, 464, 465, 468, 469 read with Section 34 of IPC.

2. The factual matrix of the case is that respondent No. 2 herein had filed a complaint before the learned Magistrate and the same is numbered as PCR No. 12/2020. The learned Magistrate after receiving the complaint passed an order to refer the matter under Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C. Hence, the present petition is filed.

3. Learned Counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the learned Magistrate has not applied his mind while referring the matter under Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C., and mechanically passed the order for investigation and it requires an interference of this Court.

4. Learned High Court Government Pleader after taking the notice would submit that the learned Magistrate has applied his mind and passed the order.

5. Heard the submissions of the respective Counsel. The order passed by the learned Magistrate on 15.2.2020, reads as under:

    "This complaint is filed by complainant against accused for the offences punishable under Sections 417, 418, 419, 420, 463, 464, 465, 468 and 469 read with Section 34 of IPC.

This complainant is heard and perused records.

It is alleged that accused persons have intentionally cheated the complainant by creating the Will by forging the signature of the mother of complainant. That there was difference in the family as the complainant has married to women of another caste. On perusal of the records, this Court is of the opinion that the investigation is necessary for proceedings against the accused. Hence, I proceed to pass the following:

ORDER

This case is referred to jurisdictional police for the purpose of investigation under Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C. and submit report.

Issue intimation to jurisdictional police accordingly.

Await Final report.

Call on: 31.03.2020."

6. Having perused the order dated 15.2.2020, referring the matter under Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C., the learned Magistrate in the order specifically mentions that the allegation is that the accused persons have cheated the complainant by creating the Will by forging the signature of the mother of the complainant. It is also noticed that there was a difference in the family as the complainant has married to a woman belonging to another caste. On perusal of the records, this Court is of the opinion that the investigation is necessary for proceedings against the accused. Having perused the order, the learned Magistrate looked into the contents of the complaint and also the materials on records applied his judicious mind and passed the order.

7. This Court cannot find fault with the order passed by the learned Magistrate. The Apex Court in the judgment in the case of HDFC Securities Ltd. and Others Vs. State of Maharashtra and Another reported in AIR 2017 SC 61, held that, while invoking Section156(3) of Cr.P.C., it will not amount to directing investigation not causing an injury of irreparable nature and the same cannot be quashed at a premature stage. Paragraph No. 24 of the said judgment reads as follows:

    "24. It appears to us that the appellants approached the High Court even before the stage of issuance of process. In particular, the appellants challenged the order dated 04.01.2011 passed by the learned Magistrate under Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C. The learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants after summarizing their arguments in the matter have emphasized also in the context of the fundamental rights of the appellants under the Constitution, that the order impugned has caused grave inequities to the appellants. In the circumstances, it was submitted that the order is illegal and is an abuse of the process of law. However

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