IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
TIRTHANKAR GHOSH, J.
Chandra Mani Shukla – Petitioner
Versus
The State of West Bengal & Ors. – Respondents
C.R.R. 1600 of 2021
Decided On : 17-11-2021
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 173(8), 207 - Petitioner is aggrieved by order of Magistrate refusing prayer for investigation - Learned advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the application under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure was filed without the materials collected by investigating agency being handed over to present petitioner/de facto complainant – Held, rejection of prayer under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure should not have any bearing on subsequent consideration by trial court and it would be pertinent to state that Court has not gone into merits of the case, but granted liberty to file an application under Section 173(8) of Code of Criminal Procedure to the de facto complainant only on the issue that de facto complainant was not supplied with documents relied upon by the prosecution and as such, he could not effectively build up issues for consideration by the learned Magistrate - Revisional application disposed of.
JUDGMENT :
1. The petitioner is aggrieved by the order of the learned Magistrate refusing the prayer for further investigation. Learned advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the application under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure was filed without the materials collected by the investigating agency being handed over to the present petitioner/de facto complainant.
2. Mr. Mukherjee, learned Public Prosecutor appearing for the State, on instructions, submits that copies under Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure have already been served upon the accused. Similar set of papers be handed over to the de facto complainant for enabling him to take out a proper application.
3. As the investigation of the case is still in progress, the documents are restricted to only Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. On receipt of such documents, if so advised, the petitioner would be at liberty to take out an application under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure before the learned Sessions Court which is in seisin of the trial of the case. The order dated 29.03.2021 passed by the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Barrackpore is set aside.
4. The petitioner would be at liberty to take out an application under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure before the learned trial court which is in seisin of the matter. The learned trial court would independently consider whether such prayer would be in the interest of justice and independently consider the issues including the discharge of the accused persons which have raised grievance to the petitioner/de facto complainant and dispose of the same in accordance with law within a period of 40 days of filing of the same.
5. Needless to state that the earlier rejection of the prayer under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure should not have any bearing on subsequent consideration by the learned trial court and it would be pertinent to state that this Court has not gone into the merits of the case, but granted liberty to file an application under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to the de facto complainant only on the issue that according to the dictate of the Supreme Court in Jakia Nasim Ahesan & Anr. Vs. State of Gujarat & Ors. reported in (2011) 12 SCC 302, the de facto complainant was not supplied with documents relied upon by the prosecution and as such, he could not effectively build up issues for consideration by the learned Magistrate.
6. The aforesaid order would not be any bar in continuation of the investigation which has been submitted on behalf of the prosecution.
7. With the aforesaid observations, the revisional application being CRR 1600 of 2021 is disposed of.
8. All pending connected applications, if any, are consequently disposed of.
9. All parties shall act on the server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court.
SupremeToday
The power to further investigate under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 continues until the trial commences, and can be exercised by the Magistrate suo motu in the interest of j....
Accused cannot have any right of hearing while a petition under Section 173 (8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking further investigation is taken up for consideration by the learned Magistrate....
The accused has no right to be heard or access documents during the protest petition hearing under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that further investigation is a statutory right of the police under Section 173(8) of Cr.P.C, and formal permission from the Court is required if t....
The Magistrate has the authority to determine the sufficiency and adequacy of the investigation material and can refuse to direct further investigation if the investigation was conducted justly and f....
The Magistrate cannot treat a case as a complaint after taking cognizance based on a charge-sheet; further investigation rights lie with the police.
The court established that procedural flexibility is essential in criminal proceedings to ensure justice, particularly in cases involving serious allegations.
Quash of criminal proceedings - while exercising jurisdiction under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., the High Court would not ordinarily embark upon an enquiry whether the evidence in question is reliable or ....
The court emphasized the importance of fair and just investigation, clarified the power of further investigation under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and highlighted the non-compou....
The Magistrate cannot retroactively classify a case as a complaint after taking cognizance based on an investigation report, as further investigations are solely under the police's purview without re....
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.