2019 Supreme(Raj) 2593
IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Pankaj Bhandari, J.
Maneesh Purushwani - Appellant
Versus
State Of Rajasthan - Respondent
Criminal Revision No. 243 of 2019
Decided On : 06-02-2019
Pankaj Gupta and Rahul Aggarwal, Advocates, for the Appellant; Sudesh Saini, P.P, for the Respondent
Headnote:
India Penal Code,1908 - Section 376 - Criminal Procedure Code,1973 - Sections 173(8) and 164 - Misconception - Assurance that would marry - Demand of dowry - Petitioner has preferred this Criminal Revision Petition aggrieved by order missing person report was lodged by sister of the prosecutrix on reporting missing of her sister since Prosecutrix returned back on her statement was recorded by police wherein she mentioned that she went on her own to Ajmer she called up her sisters and then had brought her from Ajmer - Prosecutrix herself and her mother on same day gave a letter to SHO that they do not want to proceed with missing person report - Missing person report was then closed - Held, It is revealed from fact of this case that when petitioner got engaged to a different girl prosecutrix lodged present FIR - Taking note of above as also fact that prosecutrix had herself submitted an affidavit which is part of record that sexual relations were not on account of false promise of marriage - This Court is of opinion that ex-facie case set up by complainant that accused induced her a false promise of marriage and thereafter fraudulently established physical relations with her is without any basis - Trial Court has thus committed an error in charging petitioner for offence - Petition allowed
JUDGMENT
Pankaj Bhandari, J. - The petitioner has preferred this Criminal Revision Petition aggrieved by order dated 26.11.2018 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge (Woman Atrocities Cases) No. 1, Jaipur in Sessions Case No. 388/2018, whereby charges have been framed against the petitioner under Section 376 of India Penal Code.
2. Succinctly stated the facts of the case are that a missing person report was lodged by sister of the prosecutrix on 06.09.2017 at 19:44 PM, reporting missing of her sister since 05.09.2017. Prosecutrix returned back on 08.09.2017, her statement was recorded by the police wherein she mentioned that she went on her own to Ajmer, she called up her sisters fiance Shubham and then Shubham had brought her from Ajmer. Prosecutrix herself and her mother on the same day gave a letter to the SHO that they do not want to proceed with the missing person report. The missing person report was then closed on 09.11.2017. On the same day prosecutrix filed the present FIR bearing No. 558/2017 at 9:40 PM. On 18.09.2017, prosecutrix submitted an affidavit to the Police, which was signed by the prosecutrix and her mother to the effect that she does not want to proceed with her FIR No. 558/2017. On the next date i.e. 19.09.2017, in her statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C., she alleged that petitioner was having relationship with her on the pretext that he would marry her and threatened the prosecutrix that if she does not agree to the relationship he would get her removed from service. FIR was also lodged by father of the petitioner on 28.09.2017 bearing FIR No. 604/2017 alleging that the prosecutrix her sisters fiance Shubham and mother of prosecutrix are blackmailing his son and demanding Rs. 60 lacs. In the FIR lodged by father of the petitioner. Police arrested Shubham and has already submitted charge-sheet. Offence was found to be made out against the prosecutrix as well. However, the matter was kept pending under Section 173(8) Cr.P.C. against the prosecutrix as prosecutrix was not traceable.
3. It is contended by counsel for the petitioner that the fact of filing of affidavit was in the notice of the Investigating Officer, who has submitted the charge-sheet. It is contended that from the statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C., it is revealed that prosecutrix was in relationship with the petitioner, in the affidavit submitted by her before the police, she had specifically deposed that petitioner had never given her any assurance that he would marry her. It is contended that since the affidavit is part of the record and is admittedly given by the prosecutrix after lodging of the present FIR. The same ought to have been considered by the Court before framing charge.
4. Counsel for petitioner has placed reliance on 2013 (3) Cr.L.R. (Raj.) 1097 Satvinder Pal Kaur @ Sonia v. State of Rajasthan & Anr. , Dr. Dhruvaram Murlidhar Sonar v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. Criminal Appeal No. 1443 of 2018 decided by the Apex Court on 22.11.2018, Uday v. State of Karnataka (2003) 4 SC Cases 46 , Deepak Gulati v. State of Haryana, (2013) 7 SCC 675 and (2017) 1 RCR (Criminal) 715 Akshay Manoj Jaisinghani v. State of Maharashtra .
5. Learned Public Prosecutor has opposed the revision petition. His contention is that as per the statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. prosecutrix was subjected to sexual intercourse on the misconception that petitioner would marry her.
6. I have considered the contentions, the Apex Court in Dr. Dhruvaram Murlidhar Sonar v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. (supra) referred to Vineet Kumar & Ors. v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Anr. (2017) 13 SCC 369 , wherein the Apex Court observed as under:-
"Inherent power given to the High Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is with the purpose and object of advancement of justice. In case solemn process of Court is sought to be abused by a person with some oblique motive, the Court has to thwart the attempt at the very threshold. Judicial process is a solemn proceeding which cann