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2023 Supreme(Guj) 29

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
Gita Gopi, J.
Shailesh Anilbhai Radiya – Applicant
Versus
State Of Gujarat & others – Respondents
R/Criminal Misc. Application No. 3069 of 2014
Decided On : 18-01-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Applicant : Mr Yogesh Lakhani, Senior Counsel With Mr Kshitij M. Amin, Mr Rahul R Dholakia
For the Respondent: Mr Jal Sol Unwala, Senior Counsel With Ms. Tejal A Vashi, Mr Dhawan Jayswal, Additional Public Prosecutor

Headnote:

Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Sections 406, 409, 384, 504, 114 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 482 – Indian Contract Act, 1872 – Section 217, 221 – Proceedings of Criminal Case – Quashing the First Information Report – Application has been filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for quashing and setting aside First Information Report bearing IC. R. registered with D.C.B. Police Station, offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 384, 504 and 114 of Indian Penal Code as also charge-sheet and proceedings of Criminal Case pending before Court of learned Additional Metropolitan Magistrate, Court – Held, Court is of view that impugned First Information Report is totally unwarranted and remedy lies by way of recourse to civil laws – Present First Information Report is a case where civil dispute has been given a criminal colour and as observed by Hon’ble Apex Court, such tendencies of settling civil disputes through criminal proceedings should be deprecated and discouraged – Therefore, Court is of opinion that this is a fit case where inherent powers of Court under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. could be exercised for securing ends of justice – Application allowed.

ORDER :

1. This application has been filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to in short as ‘Cr.P.C.’) for quashing and setting aside the First Information Report bearing IC. R. No.41 of 2013 registered with D.C.B. Police Station, Ahmedabad for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 384, 504 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code as also the charge-sheet and the proceedings of Criminal Case No.185 of 2014 pending before the Court of the learned Additional Metropolitan Magistrate, Court No.11, Ahmedabad.

2. Learned Senior Counsel Mr. Yogesh S. Lakhani assisted by learned Advocates Mr. Kshitij M. Amin and Mr. Rahul Dholakia for the applicant has questioned the jurisdiction of the Cyber Crime Cell. While referring to the judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Y. Abraham Ajith and Others v. Inspector of Police, Chennai reported in 2004 (8) SCC 100, it is submitted by learned Senior Counsel Mr. Yogesh S. Lakhani that the place of enquiry or trial will generally be within the local jurisdiction where the offence is committed. It is further contended that without any allegations of any cyber crime in the impugned First Information Report, the Cyber Crime Cell, Ahmedabad City has registered the First Information Report. It is submitted that the registration of the First Information Report should be in accordance with the territorial jurisdiction as no cause of action has arisen and that itself would be a preliminary ground for quashing of the complaint.

3. Adverting to the facts of the case, learned Senior Counsel Mr. Yogesh S. Lakhani submitted that the applicant is shown to be the Director of the company - M/s. MPRS Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai. The complaint has been made by Prabhuram Shivram Patel, who is the father of the head of M/s. Rainbow Exports, i.e. Bhavinkumar Prabhuram Patel. Referring to the complaint, it is submitted that M/s. Rainbow Exports is in the business of foreign exports and sends cargoes as per the instructions of the customers and for that purpose would approach a booking and forwarding Agent, who would work as per the instructions of the export company. It is also submitted that as per the First Information Report, the complainant had approached the applicant who is stated to be the Director of M/s. MPRS Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai a forwarding company, based in Mumbai for exporting from India to worldwide destinations. The complainant has alleged of fraud by accused of charging higher expenses. It is also submitted that the facts suggest that on 29.02.2012, M/s. Rainbow Exports had exported hulled sesame seeds to Greece. The applicant’s company - M/s. MPRS Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd. approached the shipping line to export the container at Greece and according to the complaint, the Bill of Lading No. HLCUMU1120204633 was to be given to the complainant. It is alleged that it was not handed over by the applicant to the complainant but the bill of lading came to be retained on the ground of non-payment of dues.

4. It is further submitted by learned Senior Counsel Mr. Yogesh S. Lakhani that the very complaint itself is not maintainable in the eye of the law since the dispute is totally civil in nature. M/s. Rainbow Exports was transacting with M/s. MPRS Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai for more than two years and there were continuous Ledger accounts of M/s. Rainbow Exports maintained by M/s. MPRS Shipping & Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Kandivali (East), Mumbai. The bill of lading issued on 01.03.2012 at Mumbai was in context of the Container of hulled sesame seeds. The freight was payable from Mumbai and the bill of lading shows that the freight was pre-paid. The port of loading was shown as Mundra while the port of discharge was shown as Piraeus, Greece.

5. Learned Senior Counsel Mr. Yogesh S. Lakhani also submitted that ledger accounts states the outstanding payables were from at the end of the complainant which was intentionally n

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