IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
C.R. Sarma, J.
Balkishan Dhandhania & Ors. - Petitioners
Versus
Nidhi Dhandhania - Respondent
Crl.Pet. No. 416, 443, 464 of 2014
Decided On : 17-12-2015
Constitution of India,1950 - Article 21 - Code of Criminal Procedure,1973 – Sections 482,200, 202, 177,184 and 178 – Indian Penal Code,1860 - Sections 498(A)/34, 406 - Seeking quashment of proceeding - Refusal to return her streedhan properties - Demand of dowry - Seeking a decree of divorce - Seeking custody of her male child - Subjected to torture - Petitions filed under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure petitioners, who are accused persons in concerned complaint cases, as indicated hereinafter, have prayed for quashing proceedings in C.R. Case Sections 498(A)/34 IPC and C.R. Case No., under Section 406 IPC, and the order - Learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Guwahati took cognizance of offence under Section 498(A)/34 IPC, in CR Case No., against petitioners and order, whereby cognizance was taken Section 406 IPC, in CR Case against husband petitioner in Criminal Petition No. 443 of 2014 - I have heard Counsel, appearing for petitioners - Learned Counsel, appearing for respondents - Criminal petitions relate to matrimonial dispute between same parties, represented by same set of Counsel, for sake of convenience and as agreed to by learned Counsel for parties - Dispose of criminal petitions aforesaid by this common order - Criminal Petition No. 416/2014 has been filed by husband of complainant seeking quashment of C.R. Case No. under Section 498/34 IPC, while Criminal Petition No. 464/2014 has been filed by members of in-laws of complainant, seeking quashment of proceeding in C.R. Case No Section 498(A)/34 IPC – Held, Allegation, made in Complaint Case No., it is found that complainant clearly stated that articles, mentioned in enclosed list were given to her at time of her marriage, were her stridhan properties and that accused persons, on being demanded by her, refused to return the same - Allegation that some of her valuable articles were misappropriated by accused persons - Contrary is proved that her husband is custodian of said properties, which have been kept in her matrimonial home - Allegations made in complaint as well as in her statement, recorded under Section 200 Cr.P.C. and statement of witnesses under Section 202 Cr.P.C., it is found that a prima facie case has been made out for proceeding under Section 406 IPC - Therefore, considering entire aspect of matter – Court find it to be a fit case, warranting interference with proceeding with CR Case No. aforesaid in exercise of jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C - Criminal Petition No. and Criminal Petition No. 416/2014, preferred by petitioners against order are partly allowed by setting aside order and matter is remitted to learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class for passing fresh order after complying with provision of Section 202 Cr.P.C - Without being influenced by any observation made hereinabove - Criminal Petition preferred in respect of CR Case No. under Section 406 IPC is found to be without merit - Hence, same is dismissed – Petition is dismissed
C.R. Sarma, J.
By these three criminal petitions, filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short, Cr.P.C.), the petitioners, who are the accused persons in the concerned complaint cases, as indicated hereinafter, have prayed for quashing the proceedings in C.R. Case No. 475/2014, under Sections 498(A)/34 IPC and C.R. Case No. 463/2014, under Section 406 IPC, and the order, dated 28.02.2014, whereby the learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Kamrup, Guwahati took cognizance of offence under Section 498(A)/34 IPC, in CR Case No. 475/2014, against the petitioners (in Crl. Petition No. 416/2014 and Criminal Petition No. 464/2014) and the order dated 04.04.2014, whereby cognizance was taken, under Section 406 IPC, in CR Case No. 463 of 2014, against the husband petitioner in Criminal Petition No. 443 of 2014.
2. I have heard Mr. Z. Alam, learned Counsel, appearing for the petitioners and Mr. G.N. Sahewalla, learned Sr. Counsel, assisted by Ms. R. Jain, learned Counsel, appearing for the respondents.
3. As this set of criminal petitions relate to matrimonial dispute between the same parties, represented by the same set of Counsel, for the sake of convenience and as agreed to by the learned Counsel for the parties, I propose to dispose of the criminal petitions aforesaid by this common order.
4. The Criminal Petition No. 416/2014 has been filed by the husband of the complainant seeking quashment of C.R. Case No. 475/2014 under Section 498/34 IPC, while Criminal Petition No. 464/2014 has been filed by the members of the in-laws of the complainant, seeking quashment of the proceeding in C.R. Case No. 475/2014, under Section 498(A)/34 IPC.
The Criminal Petition 443/2014 has been filed by the husband of the respondent seeking quashment of the proceedings in C.R. Case No. 463/2014, under Section 406 IPC.
5. The private respondent, i.e. the complainant, in the said complaint cases, was married by the accused No. 1 i.e. the petitioner in Criminal Petition No. 464/2014, on 08.12.2001, at Diamond Palace, Kavi Nagar, Ghaziabad, in the State of Uttar Pradesh and she used to live in her said matrimonial house at Ghaziabad. As alleged by the complainant, during her stay in the marital home, she was subjected to torture by her said husband and other members of his family in connection with demand of dowry.
6. Out of the said cohabitation, a male child was born to her, on 08.10.2004, but, her husband and other members of his family (all accused persons) demanded her to bring an amount of Rs. 50 Lakhs from her parents and continued with the torture, both mentally and physically. However, she tolerated all such tortures for the sake of her family life and in 2010, a female child was born to her. Being unable to bear with the continued torture, she had to leave her matrimonial home, on 22.04.2012 and took shelter in her parent's house at Guwahati, leaving her minor son with the petitioners.
As alleged by the complainant, on 18.03.2013, the accused persons came to Guwahati for taking the female child and demanded Rs.10 Lakhs from her parents. Though, the complainant, along with her parents, visited her marital home, on 24.04.2013, the accused persons demanded Rs. 10 Lakhs as a condition precedent for accepting her. Having no other alternative, the complainant filed an application at Gaziabad Court, seeking custody of her male child and another suit in the Civil Court at Gaziabad, being Original Suit No. 1114/2013, seeking a decree of divorce.
She has alleged that, during her stay in her parent's house also, the petitioner used to telephonically threaten her demanding money.
7. In view of torture, in connection with demand of dowry and refusal to return her streedhan properties, the complainant, after her return to Guwahati (paternal house) filed Complaint Case No. 475/2014 under Sections 498(A)/406/34 IPC and Complaint Case No. 463/2014, against the petitioners.
The learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Guwahati, by his
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