( 1 ) THIS petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter referred to as "code" only) is directed against an order dated 2. 2. 2001 passed by learned Metropolitan Magistrate, delhi declining the request of the complainant/petitioner to make over the complaint to the police under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal procedure for registration of FIR and investigations in accordance with law.

( 2 ) I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

( 3 ) THE facts relevant for the disposal of this petition, briefly stated, are that the petitioner company had filed a complaint under Section 380, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120 B Indian Penal Code against two accused and some unknown persons alleging that in the course of the business, some blank cheques signed by a Director of the Company used to be kept in the office for withdrawal of money for urgent needs. Accused No. l and 2 were employees of the company. After they had left the employment of the petitioner company, some records including a cheque were found missing regarding which a notice even was served upon accused No. 2. A complaint was made to the Manager of the bank also. On 20. 12. 2000 the Bankers sent an intimation to the complainant that the cheque which was reported missing, had been presented for clearance for a sum of Rs. 15 lakhs but was returned unpaid as the bank account was under attachment. On inquiries it was alleged that all the columns of the cheque except the signatures were filled by a typewriter. It was also found that the accused No. l and 2 in collusion with some unknown persons and with a view to cheat the complainant had removed the said cheque from the office of the complainant company. A complaint was made to the police but no action was taken and hence a complaint was filed before the Court with a prayer to summon the accused for the offences as stated above. An application under Section 156 (3) of the Code was also filed alongwith the complaint with a prayer to direct the police to register a case and investigate the offences.

( 4 ) LEARNED Metropolitan Magistrate, however, vide the impugned order, came to the conclusion that there was no need to send the matter to police for investigations under Section 156 (3) of the Code. He thereafter fixed the case for recording the statements of the complainant and his witnesses under Section 200 of the Code.

( 5 ) LEARNED counsel for the petitioner has vehemently argued that the learned Metropolitan magistrate had failed to exercise his discretion properly by refusing to direct the police to register a case and conduct investigations. He relies upon judgement reported in Madhu Bala Vs. Suresh Kumar and ors. 1997 Crl. L. J. 3757, to contend that the impugned order should be set aside and the Magistrate be directed to pass orders under Section 156 (3) of the code.

( 6 ) CHAPTER XII of the Code deals with information to the police and its powers to investigate the offences. Section 156 of the Code included in this chapter speaks of the powers of the police officers to investigate, cognizable cases and sub clause (3) thereof lays down that any Magistrate empowered under : Section 190 of Code may order such an investigation. Chapter xv of the Code deals with complaints to a Magistrate and the procedure to be adopted by the Magistrate after taking congnizance of an offence. This chapter provides an alternative as well as additional remedy to a complainant whose complaint is either not entertained by the police or who does not feel satisfied by the investigations being conducted by the Police.

( 7 ) IT is true that Section 156 (3) of the Code empowers a Magistrate to direct the police to register a case and initiate investigations but this power has to be exercised Judiciously on proper grounds and not in a machanical manner. In those cases where the allegations are not very serious and the complainant himself is in possession of evidence to