PATNA HIGH COURT
ASHWANI KUMAR SINGH, J.
Girija Prasad Singh & Anr.- Petitioners
Versus
State of Bihar & Anr. - Opposite Parties
Criminal Miscellaneous No.24073 of 2007
Decided on : 18-06-2012
2009(1) SCC 516, 2008(8) SCC 231, (1988)1 SCC 629, 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335, (1995)6 SCC 194, (1996)5 SCC 591, (1996)8 SCC 164, (1999)3 SCC 259, (2000)3 SCC 269, (2000)4 SCC 168, (2001)8 SCC 645, (2005)1 SCC 122-Referred to.
ASHWANI KUMAR SINGH, J.:- Heard Mr. Amish Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Mr. Ashok Kumar Jha, learned counsel for the opposite party no. 2 and Mr. Rajesh Kumar, learned A.P.P for the State.
2. The petitioners have prayed for quashing the entire criminal proceeding including the order dated 12.6.2006 passed by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Purnea by which finding a prima facie case to be made out under Section 395 of the Indian Penal Code, he has ordered for issuance of summons against the petitioners.
3. The instant case was instituted on the basis of a complaint registered by the Opposite Party No.2. In the complaint besides the two petitioners who are father and son respectively, one Rajesh Tiwari, a Sub-Inspector of K.Hat Sahaik Police Station was made named accused. It has been alleged that the complainant’s elder son Pawan Kumar Choudhary was married to Priyanka Devi and after the marriage, both of them were residing with the complainant Nawal Kishore Choudhary in Mohalla-Shivpuri, P.S.-K. Hat. The complainant’s wife had died two years ago and all the belongings, clothes and ornaments were in possession of Priyanka Devi. Priyanka Devi was also keeping cash regularly handed over to her by the complainant and her husband but she developed a habit of shifting the valuables and cash to her parent’s house in spite of repeated protest made by the complainant.
4. It is alleged that in the night of 11.10.2003, the petitioners and others being variously armed with pistol and gun came on two vehicles, barged into the house of the complainant, locked him and his sons in a room on the point of firearm collected Rs. 40,500/- in cash which was kept with Priyanka Devi, ornaments worth Rs. 2,50,000/- as well as valuable documents, utensils and costly clothes. The operation continued for the whole of the night and early in the morning. It is further alleged that petitioner no. 1 went out and came back along with the Officer-in-Charge of K. Hat Police Station. The complainant and his family members narrated about the occurrence to the co-accused Rajesh Tiwari, Officer-in-Charge of K. Hat Police Station but he paid no heed to their complain. At his instance, the accused persons carried the looted articles kept in 23 trunks, suit cases and bags on two vehicles. The complainant and his sons were also taken to the Police Station. The complainant and his sons were thereafter apprehended and remanded in connection with K. Hat P.S. Case No. 331 of 2003 instituted by Priyanka Devi, daughter of petitioner no.1. The complainant alleged that co-accused Rajesh Tiwari made no effort either to seize the un-licensed arms retained by the petitioners or to apprehend them. He claims that local people witnessed the occurrence.
5. The complaint was filed on 13.10.2003 while the complainant was in judicial custody. On 14.10.2003, the complainant was examined on solemn affirmation. In his statement on oath, he has supported the statement made in the complaint. In reply to the court’s question, he admits that his son is still in custody in connection with the case instituted by his daughter-in-law.
6. In course of inquiry some other witnesses were also examined. However, by order dated 20.5.2004, the learned C.J.M., Purnea held that cognizance in the case cannot be taken in absence of sanction order as co-accused Rajesh Tiwari was an Office-in-Charge of the police station at the relevant time and he had apprehended the complainant and his son in discharge of his official duty.
7. The complainant, thereafter, filed a petition in the court of learned C.J.M., Purnea and prayed to reconsider the matter and pass order afresh on the point of cognizance. However, the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate dismissed the said petition observing that the order dated 20.5.2004 was a reasoned order passed after considering the facts and circumstances of the case. The complainant, thereafter, filed two separate petitions on 8.7.2004 and 25
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