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2016 Supreme(Raj) 1877
IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN AT JAIPUR BENCH
Banwari Lal Sharma, J.
Mohammed Ashraf, S/o Shri Mohammed Sharief - Petitioner
Versus
State of Rajasthan, through the Govt. Advocate and Ors. - Respondent
S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous (Petition) No. 1266 of 2010
Decided On : 21-12-2016
For the Petitioner: Mr. Piyush Sharma
For the Respondent: Mr. Anil Yadav
The court held that the petitioner's act of issuing a notice and filing a criminal complaint did not constitute cheating or extortion, and that the initiation of criminal proceedings on the same allegations pending before a civil court amounted to an abuse of the process of law.
Headnote:
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE - SECTION 482 - QUASHING OF FIR - CHEATING - EXTORTION - BLANK CHEQUE - ABUSE OF PROCESS OF LAW - CIVIL WRONG - CRIMINAL OFFENCE - ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS - MALICIOUS INITIATION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS - QUASHING OF FIR AND SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION AND PROCEEDINGS.
Fact of the Case:
Petitioner-accused Mohammed Ashraf challenged an FIR registered against him for alleged offences under Sections 420 and 384 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (later expanded to include Sections 467, 468, and 471 during the investigation). The complainant alleged that the petitioner had fraudulently obtained a signed cheque from him and later issued a notice and filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the basic ingredients of Section 415 of the IPC, namely, fraudulently or dishonestly inducing someone to deliver property, were missing in this case. The court also held that the act of the petitioner in issuing a notice and filing a criminal complaint before the court of law did not constitute extortion under Section 383 of the IPC, as the complainant was working with the person who allegedly gave the cheque to the petitioner and could have lodged a false report in connivance with him.
Issues: 1. Whether the petitioner's act of issuing a notice and filing a criminal complaint constituted cheating under Section 415 of the IPC? 2. Whether the petitioner's act constituted extortion under Section 383 of the IPC?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court relied on the definition of cheating under Section 415 of the IPC and held that the basic ingredients of fraudulently or dishonestly inducing someone to deliver property were missing in this case. The court also noted that the complainant had not reported the incident to anyone until after the petitioner served a notice on the person who allegedly gave the cheque. 2. The court relied on the definition of extortion under Section 383 of the IPC and held that the petitioner's act of issuing a notice and filing a criminal complaint did not constitute extortion, as the complainant was working with the person who allegedly gave the cheque to the petitioner and could have lodged a false report in connivance with him.
Final Decision: The court allowed the petition and quashed the FIR, subsequent investigation, and proceedings against the petitioner.
Banwari Lal Sharma, J.
Matter came up on IA No. 5462/2016 for permission of filing charge sheet against accused petitioner in light of order dated 19.07.2010 but with the consent of learned counsel for the petitioner and learned PP, the matter is heard finally at this stage.
2. Petitioner-accused Mohammed Ashraf has preferred this misc. petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing FIR No. 150/2010 registered at Police Station Ramganj Mandi, District Kota and all further investigation and proceedings therein against the petitioner for alleged offences under Sections 420 and 384 of IPC (Section 467, 468 and 471 IPC added by Police during investigation).
3. The brief facts of the case are that respondent no. 2-complainant victim submitted a written report addressing to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ramganj Mandi Kota stating therein that :-
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