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2023 Supreme(Raj) 1874

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN AT JAIPUR BENCH
Chandra Kumar Songara, J.
Abdul Hameed - Petitioner
Versus
State of Rajasthan and Ors. - Respondents
S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous (Petition) No.3901 of 2021
Decided On : 01-05-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Mr. Hari Krishana Sharma, Advocate.
For the Respondent:Mr. M.K. Sheoran, Public Prosecutor, Mr. D.K. Dixit, Advocate for complainant.

Headnote:(A) Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 482 - Indian Penal Code - Sections 498-A, 406, 323 & 504 - Quashing of FIR - Petition filed to quash an FIR alleging offences of cruelty and wrongful confinement - Court emphasized that such powers should be exercised sparingly to prevent abuse of process. (Paras 5, 6, 9)

(B) High Court's jurisdiction under Section 482 - Courts should not conduct a mini trial at this stage, and allegations must be examined for substance before quashing proceedings. (Paras 7, 8)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner filed a suit for restitution of conjugal rights, followed by an FIR from the complainant alleging false charges against him and his family. The petitioner was residing out of state and disputed the allegations.

Findings of Court:
The FIR's allegations satisfied the essential ingredients of the offences, warranting investigation.

Issues: Whether the FIR can be quashed based on the allegations' substance and the legitimacy of the petitioner's claim of mala fide intentions.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that specific allegations in the FIR warranted a statutory investigation and did not find grounds for quashing it under Section 482 Cr.P.C.

Result: Petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. quashing of fir under section 482 crpc. (Para 1 , 2)
2. opposition to fir quashing. (Para 3 , 4)
3. judicial guidelines on section 482 powers. (Para 5 , 6 , 7 , 8)
4. investigation permitted based on fir allegations. (Para 9)
5. petition dismissed; fir stands. (Para 10)

ORDER :

Chandra Kumar Songara, J.

Instant petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 has been preferred on behalf of the accused-petitioner with the prayer for quashing of F.I.R. No.629/2019 dt.01.11.2019 registered at Police Station Gangapur City District Sawai Madhopur for offences punishable under Sections 498-A, 406, 323 & 504 of INDIAN PENAL CODE .

2. Submissions of learned counsel appearing for the accused-petitioner are that the petitioner has instituted a suit for restitution of conjugal rights before the learned Civil Court, Gangapur City and after issuing notice therein, the complainant-respondent No.2 lodged the present F.I.R. with the mala-fide intention against the petitioner & his family members. The petitioner has also filed a complaint before the Court of A.C.J.M., Gangapur City against the complainant-respondent No.2 & her family members for offences punishable under Sections 143, 342, 323 and 382 of I.P.C. The petitioner is residing in the State of Uttar Pradesh for his livelihood and he has already deposited total 'stridhan' of complainant-respondent No.2 at concerned Police Station and the allegations levelled against him are totally false. Hence, the present petition be allowed and the impugned F.I.R. be quashed & set aside.

3. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the State and the learned counsel appearing for the complainant-respondent No.2, have opposed the submissions made herein-above and prayed for dismissal of the petition. Learned State Counsel has also submitted factual report, which is taken on record.

4. Heard learned counsel appearing for the parties. Perused the material made available on record.

5. In the case of N. Soundaram v. P.K. Pounraj & Another , (2014) 10 SCC 616 , Hon'ble Supreme Court, while reiterating the principles laid down in Choudhary Bhajan Lal on the scope of exercise of powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C., has observed as under :-

    "It is well settled by this Court in a catena of cases that the power under Section 482 CrPC has to be exercised sparingly and cautiously to prevent the abuse of process of any Court and to secure the ends of justice [See State of Haryana v. Bhajanlal]. The inherent power should not be exercised to stifle a legitimate prosecution. The High Court should refrain from giving a prima facie decision unless there are compelling circumstances to do so. Taking the allegations and the complaint as they were, without adding or subtracting anything, if no offence was made out, only then the High Court would be justified in quashing the proceedings in the exercise of its power under Section 482, CrPC. An investigation should not be shut out at the threshold if the allegations have some substance. [See Vinod Raghuvanshi v. Ajay Arora] (2013) 10 SCC 581."

6. In the case of M/s. Neeharika Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra , 2021 CRILJ 2419, Hon'ble Apex Court, on scope of exercise of powers under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., in Para 23 (iv), (v) & (vii), has observed as under :-

    "iv) The power of quashing should be exercised sparingly with circumspection, as it has been observed, in the 'rarest of rare cases (not to be confused with the formation in the context of death penalty).

    v) While examining an FIR/complaint, quashing of which is sought, the court cannot embark upon an enquiry as to the reliability or genuineness or otherwise of the allegations made in the FIR/complaint;

    vii) Quashing of a complaint/FIR should be an exception rather than an ordinary rule."

7. In the case of Siddharth Mukesh Bhandari v. The State of Gujarat and Another, reported in A.I.R. 2022 SC 3930, Hon'ble Apex Court, has observed as under :-

    "6. It appears from the impugned o

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