Dr. ANSHUMAN, J.
Cr. WJC No.236 of 2020
(13.3.2023)
Ashok Rajak & Anr. ... Petitioners
vs.
State of Bihar & Ors. ... Respondents
Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Sections 409/34 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 482 – Criminal breach of trust by public servant – Quashing petition – There are specific and direct allegations against present petitioners that they have committed offence of embezzlement of advance amount received for implementation of government schemes – Writ petition dismissed giving liberty petitioners to make request for clubbing trial of both cases under appropriate provision of law before appropriate forum at appropriate stage of trial. (Paras 4 to 7)
Dr. Anshuman, J. – Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the State.
2. The present case has been filed for quashing of F.I.R. in connection with Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 782 of 2018 (G.R. No. 1838 of 2018) dated 01.12.2018 under section 409/34 of Indian Penal Code.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that an F.I.R. bearing Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 316 of 2010 has been filed under section 467, 468, 471, 406, 409, 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code against four named accused persons other than the petitioners. He further submits that the matter substantially in issue of Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 316 of 2010 and Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 782 of 2018 are identical and therefore, no separate F.I.R. should continue and, as such, the Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 782 of 2018 be quashed against the present petitioners.
4. Learned counsel for the State submits that a counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of respondent no. 4, in which it has been mentioned that the matters and allegations of two cases are different. He further submits that nature and mode of crimes are also different. He also submits that in Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 316 of 2010, accused persons illegally kept the government records and alleged to made forgery with measurement books, job cards through unauthorized persons and illegally kept the passbooks of MNREGA workers but Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 782 of 2018 has been filed with specific allegation against the two named petitioners and others that they have committed embezzlement of advance amount received for the implementation of government schemes, therefore, he submits that both the cases should be tried differently.
5. After going through the records and hearing the arguments, it is made clear that petitioners have filed the present writ petition to quash the Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 782 of 2018, which has been lodged specifically against them with allegation that they have received advance amount and not implemented the work.
6. In this view of the matter, that there are specific and direct allegations against the present petitioners that they have committed the said offence, I am not inclined to quash the F.I.R. i.e. Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 782 of 2018 and therefore, the present writ petition is dismissed.
7. It goes without saying that petitioners are at liberty to make request for clubbing trial of both the cases under the appropriate provision of law, before the appropriate forum, at appropriate stage of trial.
Subsequent F.I.R. lodged for the same occurrence cannot be sustained, and it is an abuse of process of law to allow two separate proceedings for the same occurrence.
The court emphasized that quashing of criminal proceedings should be an exception rather than a rule, and should only be done in exceptional cases where non-interference would result in a miscarriage....
The court emphasized that the power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. should be sparingly exercised and that the court should not interfere with the investigation unless no cognizable offence is disclosed. I....
The defense material must render the allegations redundant for the proceedings to be quashed, and a thorough trial is needed to establish the veracity of the allegations.
The court held that an FIR cannot be quashed if it discloses cognizable offences, and allegations of mala fide do not suffice for quashing proceedings.
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