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2023 Supreme(Chh) 271

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
RAMESH SINHA, J.
Naveen Soni S/o Subhash Soni – Petitioner
Versus
Sharda Soni W/o Naveen Soni – Respondent
C.R.M.P. No. 1112 of 2016
Decided On : 12-09-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Shobhit Koshta.
For the Respondent: Bhaskar Payashi.

Headnote:

Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 498-A, 323, 506, 34 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 125 - Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 - Section 12 - Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 - Section 9 - Cruelty - Demand of dowry - Petitioner is aggrieved by order passed by learned Sessions Judge in Criminal Revision arising out of order passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class, in Criminal Case by which learned Magistrate has registered criminal complaint of respondent against petitioners – Held, To attract Section 498A of IPC, it must be established that cruelty or harassment to wife to coerce her or cause bodily injury to herself or to commit suicide or harassment was to compel her to fulfill illegal demand for dowry - It is not every type of harassment or cruelty that would attract Section 498A of IPC - Perusal of complaint case would make it clear that allegations made by respondent-complainant against present petitioner No. 2 to 4 are vague and omnibus in nature and no specific allegations are made against them – Court is of considered opinion that complaint case filed against petitioners No. 2 to 4 are quashed – Petition allowed.

ORDER :

1. The petitioner is aggrieved by the order dated 22.07.2016 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Raipur in Criminal Revision No. 119/2016 arising out of order dated 04.02.2016 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, in Criminal Case No. 276/2015 by which the learned Magistrate has registered the criminal complaint of the respondent against the petitioners.

2. The facts, in brief, are that as per Hindu customs, marriage took place between the petitioner No. 1 and respondent on 17/11/2003. Thereafter, the respondent started living with the petitioner No. 1 at Delhi. From the said wedlock, a male child was born and now he is about 11 years old. Thereafter, on 06/06/2011, the respondent returned back to her parent’s house at Raipur and did not return back to petitioner’s house at Delhi.

3. In the year 2012, the respondent filed a criminal complainant under Section 200 against the petitioners for registration of a case under Section 498-A, 323 and 506 read with Section 34 of IPC and stating that her marriage took place with petitioner No. 1 on 17/11/2003. Out of the said wedlock, one male child was born on 08/03/2005. When she used to live at the petitioners’ house, the petitioners used to demand dowry of Rs. 15 lakhs and some times Rs. 2 lakhs and Rs. 5 lakhs for opening of jewellery showroom. Hence his father on 21/9/2003 had given one kilogram gold and on 13/10/2005, 50.17 gram silver and on 27/10/2010, 57.75 carat white diamond had been given to petitioners for opening showroom but the petitioners did not open the showroom and were subjecting the respondent with cruelty and assaulted her. Subsequently, the petitioners were demanding the amounts for purchasing flat in the name of respondent. But the aforesaid flat had been purchased in the name of Shrimati Santosh Soni, mother-in-law of the petitioners. She further stated that, at the time of marriage of Praveen Soni i.e. petitioner No. 4, she was pregnant and petitioners were asking respondent to do household works. On account of that, she suffered miscarriage. She further alleged that the petitioners No. 2 and 4 were gamblers and the entire amount given for showroom was lost in gambling and again they threatened the respondent and were demanding money. On account of that, she returned back on 06/06/2011 to her parents house at Raipur and did not again went to petitioners’ house.

4. After receiving the complaint, the learned Magistrate recorded the evidence of the respondent, Mangilal Soni (father of respondent), Jitendra Kumar (Jija) and Rajeev Kumar Soni (maternal uncle). Thereafter, the learned Magistrate, after hearing the matter on admission, by order dated 17/10/2012 dismissed the complaint on the ground of jurisdiction of Raipur court. Being aggrieved by the order of the Magistrate, the respondent preferred a revision before the Sessions Court which was registered as Criminal Revision No. 50/2013 and after hearing, the learned revisional court by order dated 02/07/2015 allowed the revision and remanded back the case to the Magistrate for reconsideration as per provision of law. After remand, the learned Magistrate heard the matter on registration of complaint and by order dated 04/02/2016 held that as per evidence, it appears that prima facie case is made out against the petitioners an offence punishable under Section 498-A of IPC and registered the complaint and also issued notice to the petitioners for their appearance on 06/04/2016.

5. The petitioners, being aggrieved by the order dated 04/02/2016, preferred a revision before the learned Session Judge which was registered as Criminal Revision No. 119/2016 and submitted that as per complaint and complainant’s evidences, it appears that no cause of action arose at Raipur regarding subjecting to cruelty, therefore, the order is without jurisdiction and against the provision of law. However, after hearing of the parties, the learned revisional court had given the finding at paragraph 9 that there is no evidenc

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