IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
Ajay Kumar Gupta, J.
Soumitra Sarkar - Appellant
Versus
State Of West Bengal & Anr. - Respondents
Criminal Revision No. 2446 of 2021
Decided On : 31-01-2023
QUASHING OF PROCEEDINGS - SECTION 482 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE, 1973 - SECTIONS 186, 341, 353, 354 AND 506 OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE - Allegation of obstruction and misbehavior during recovery of streedhan articles by police - Court held that the complaint discloses ingredients of cognizable offences and declined to quash the proceedings.
Fact of the Case:
Petitioner challenged the initiation of criminal proceedings against him for allegedly obstructing and misbehaving with police personnel during the recovery of streedhan articles from his matrimonial home.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the complaint lodged by the police officer discloses the ingredients of the alleged offences and that it is cognizable. The court also held that the petitioner's case lacked merit and that the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in Neeharika Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra and Others (2021) SCC Online SC 315 were not met.
Issues: Whether the complaint against the petitioner disclosed the ingredients of cognizable offences.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the complaint lodged by the police officer discloses the ingredients of the alleged offences and that it is cognizable. The court also held that the petitioner's case lacked merit and that the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in Neeharika Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra and Others (2021) SCC Online SC 315 were not met.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the petitioner's application to quash the criminal proceedings against him.
JUDGMENT
Ajay Kumar Gupta, J. - This application under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 has been filed by the petitioner praying for quashing of the proceeding of G.R. No.9893 of 2021 in connection with Nimta P.S. Case No. 851 of 2021 dated 07.11.2021 under Sections 186/341/353/354 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code initiated by the I.O. concern of Nimta Police station suo-motu pending before the Learned A.C.J.M., Barrackpore.
2. Facts leading to filing of this application are that the marriage between the petitioner and the opposite party no. 2 was solemnized through negotiation on 21st February, 2021. After marriage their marital life was happy for few months. There was no problem from any corner. Both were residing separately in the premises no. 121, Lalit Gupta Street, Nimta Roy Para, a house owned by petitioner's father. But suddenly without any notice and reasonable excuse, she left the matrimonial home keeping the house under lock and key. Petitioner had contacted her on several occasions over phone, when he came to know she went to her parents' house, her reply was in negative to lead conjugal life. She raised question first time about his potentiality and advised for medical consultation. Accordingly, the petitioner consulted with reputed neurologist for her satisfaction. After advising some tests he was found no infirmity or deficiency on his part but despite of the facts, she was not willing to stay with the petitioner. Accordingly, petitioner filed an application under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act before the Learned Additional District Judge at Barrackpore, North 24 Parganas on 1st day of July, 2021 praying restitution of conjugal rights. After receiving summon, suddenly she lodged a written complaint against the petitioner and other in-laws without any cause in resulting Nimta P.S. Case No. 704 of 2021 dated 17.09.2021 under Section 498A/420/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code was registered. On 6th day of November, 2021 the I.O. concern had intimated over phone to him that streedhan articles should be handover to the opposite party from the matrimonial home as per complaint lodge by the opposite party no.2. Thereafter, petitioner informed over phone to his wife to take delivery of the streedhan articles from the matrimonial home at any time within next 24 hours but she refused to take delivery as such said facts was intimated to the I.O. concern and requested that the articles could be brought at the police station in response I.O. gave her consent accordingly petitioner take all streedhan articles to the police station but during transit I.O. concern informed over phone to the petitioner she would come to seize the streedhan from his matrimonial home as per the list furnished by her though no such list or copy had been served upon the petitioner. Thereafter the I.O., a lady member along with three male police visited the house of the petitioner and collected streedhan articles including other articles, which was purchased by petitioner from his own money like pressure cooker and other cooking vessels and had been lifted in the name of compliance of Section 406 of the I.P.C though the petitioner had disputed regarding those items which were not streedhan. Upon such objection, the I.O. concern warned him to place him behind the bar if raised any voice. The petitioner was asked to meet in the Police Station after collecting all the articles by the I.O. No misbehaviour or assault or hurling any oblique language used by the petitioner during such recovery. When he reached to the police station he came to know that I.O. has registered Nimta Police Station Case No. 851/2021 dated 07.11.2021 under Sections 186/341/353/354 and 506 of the I.P.C against the petitioner presently pending before the learned A.C.J.M., North 24 Paraganas without any such incident as alleged by the I.O. concern in the said F.I.R. Actually petitioner had submitted a complaint before the said I.O. earlier against her wife but the I.
The power to quash criminal proceedings under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 should be exercised sparingly and with circumspection, and only in the rarest of rare cases.
Specific allegations and the precise role played by each accused are essential for prosecution. Implicating relatives without specific involvement constitutes an abuse of the court process.
At the stage of considering a petition for quashing criminal proceedings, the allegations in the FIR must be accepted as they stand, and the court cannot embark upon the appreciation of evidence.
Vague, general allegations in matrimonial disputes are insufficient for a criminal trial under IPC Section 498A, necessitating specific roles and details for due process.
The main legal point established is the requirement for specific allegations and sufficient materials to support the continuation of criminal proceedings, and the court's power to quash proceedings u....
The court quashed the FIR due to vague allegations lacking material evidence, emphasizing the need for specific claims to justify criminal proceedings.
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