Absence of dishonest intention and specific acts attributed to an accused results in no prima facie case for offences under IPC Sections 403, 406, and 420.

JUDGMENT :

(PER : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.)

Heard. Admit. Heard finally with the consent of learned Counsel for both the parties.

2. Present application is preferred by the applicants for quashing of the First Information Report in connection with Crime No. 0784/2022, registered under Section 403 , 406, and 420 read with Section 34 of Indian Penal Code, as also, consequent charge-sheet and the proceeding arising of out of the same bearing RCC No. 425/2025, pending before the 2^nd Judicial Magistrate First Class, Akola.

3. The crime is registered on the basis of a report lodged by the informant, namely, Ashok Jitendrakumar Morya, on an allegation that the present applicants have obtained money from him time to time on the pretext of repairing of his vehicle and thereafter replacing the parts of the vehicle, and subsequently, the informant came to know that no such parts are replaced and the amount of the informant was also not returned back to him. On the basis of the said report, the police have registered the crime against the present applicants. As per the allegations, the informant was cheated by the present applicants by obtaining the amount of Rs.2,25,000/-.

4. After registration of the crime, the investigation was carried out. During the investigation, the statements of the various witnesses were recorded the account statements of and the present applicants as well as the informant was also collected and after completion of the investigation charge-sheet was filed against the present applicants.

5. Learned Counsel for the applicants has withdrawn the application as far as applicant No.1 is concerned. However, he submitted that as far as applicant No.2 is concerned, absolutely there is no material to connect him with the alleged offence. He submitted that there has to be an intention since inception to make out the offence punishable under Sections 420 , 403, and 406 of the Indian Penal Code. He further submitted that the offence under 420 and 406 will not go together. He also invited our attention towards the various statements of the witnesses and submitted that, except the statement that the applicant No.2 has assisted other accused in the commission of the crime, there is no specific act attributed to the present applicant No.2. In view of that, no prima facie case is made out against the applicant No.2, and hence the application to the extent of the applicant No.2, Saurabh Kailash Attarkar, deserves to be allowed.

6. Per contra, learned Additional Public Prosecutors strongly opposed the same and submitted that, considering the statements of the various witnesses, which are recorded during the investigation which show that the applicants, in connivance with each other, cheated the informant by obtaining money on the pretext of repairing the vehicle, as well as replacing the spare parts of the vehicle and thereby committed an offence. The applicant No.2 is also involved as the offence is committed in furtherance of the common intention. In view of that, the application deserves to be rejected.

7. On hearing both the sides and on perusal of the entire investigation papers, as the application is already withdrawn for the applicant No. 1, we have to consider only the allegation as to the applicant No.2 is concerned. On perusal of the statements, it reveals that, only allegation against the applicant No.2 is that he has assisted the other accused in the commission of the crime. On perusal of the statement of the informant, it also reveals that only the allegation levelled by him, which is omnibus in nature, to the extent that the applicant Saurabh Attarkar has also assisted the other co-accused in the commission of the crime. For Application of Section 403 dishonest intention is the ingredient which appears to be absent from the allegations levelled against the applicant No.2, therefore, will not attract against the applicant No.2. Section 406 deals with the criminal breach of trust and punishment for criminal breach of trust.