IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA
Rakesh Kainthla, J.
Pramod Singh Parmar and others - Petitioners
Versus
State of Himachal Pradesh and others - Respondents
Cr. MMO No. 541 of 2023
Decided On : 28-12-2023
Rape - Criminal Procedure Code - Sections 156(3), 376, 354, 354-C, 420, 384, 506, 498-A, 120-B, 66(c), 67(a) of IPC and Sections 498-A, 506, 420, 509 of IPC and Section 66(c), 67(a) of Information Technology Act
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner was accused of raping the informant after promising marriage, threatening her with a knife, and subsequently harassing her. The petitioner sought to quash the FIR, claiming the allegations did not constitute any offence.
Finding of the Court:
The Court found that the allegations in the FIR disclosed the commission of cognizable offences and refused to quash the FIR. The Court emphasized that the delay in reporting the matter and the consent issue did not warrant quashing the FIR.
Issues: The issues involved the commission of cognizable offences, consent, and delay in reporting the matter to the police.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court held that the power under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. can be exercised to prevent the abuse of process or secure the ends of justice. The Court can quash the F.I.R. if the allegations do not constitute an offence or make out a case against the accused. However, it is not permissible for it to conduct a mini-trial to arrive at such findings.
Final Decision: The Court dismissed the petition, stating that the allegations in the FIR disclosed the commission of cognizable offences and refused to quash the FIR.
JUDGMENT :
Rakesh Kainthla, J.
The informant filed a complaint under Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C. in the Court of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Court No.1, Amb, District Una, H.P. stating that petitioner no. 3 and the informant met each other in December 2018. Petitioner No. 3 started exchanging messages through social media. They fell in love with each other. They met each other on 2.1.2019 at Bombay Picnic Spot. Petitioner No. 3 offered to solemnize marriage with the informant but she declined by saying that she was only aged 20 years and could not perform marriage without the consent of her parents. The petitioner no. 3 told the informant in February 2019 that he had made arrangements for the performance of the marriage and they would have to go to Naddi, Tehsil Dharamshala. Petitioner No.3 and the informant went to Naddi on 10.2.2019 where they stayed in a hotel named Naddi Hills. Petitioner No. 3 told the informant that marriage would be solemnized on the next day and they should stay in one room. The informant asked petitioner no. 3 to book a separate room but he assured that he would not touch her until the solemnization of the marriage. Petitioner No. 3 attempted to perform sexual intercourse with the informant but she resisted. Petitioner No. 3 said that he would disclose her relationship to her parents and relatives. The informant did not agree. The petitioner no. 3 opened his bag, took out a knife and raped the petitioner. He also video-recorded the incident. Petitioner No. 3 did not solemnize the marriage on the next day as promised. He assured to solemnize the marriage after some time. He uploaded the screenshot of the video on social media. These were also sent to the four College students where the informant was studying. The informant confronted petitioner no.3 who threatened to circulate the video amongst the general public. He took the informant to Nagrota and made her to spend one night in Sky Blue Hotel, where he again raped her. Petitioner No. 3 again took the informant to Naddi, where he raped her after threatening that he would make the video viral. Subsequently, he edited the video and put it on the social media. The informant was defamed in the College. The matter was brought to the notice of petitioner no. 1 and 2. Father of the petitioner no. 3 levelled false allegations against the informant and her mother. The matter was brought to the notice of the Crime Branch, Dharamshala. The police called petitioner no. 3 and his relatives. Petitioner No. 3 and his relatives visited the Crime Branch on 11.4.2019, where he admitted his guilt. He stated that he was ready to perform marriage with the informant. The marriage was solemnized between the parties on 9.5.2019. The informant went to the house of the petitioners but they refused to keep her in their house. Petitioner No. 3 gave beatings to the informant. He stated that he had solemnized the marriage with the informant to wriggle out of the consequences of the complaint made to the police and he had no intention to marry the informant. The informant narrated all these facts to her mother, who made a complaint to the police. The police called the petitioner no. 3 and he apologized before the police. The informant went to Chandigarh. Petitioner no. 3 visited and abused her in Chandigarh. He threatened to divorce the informant. The Panchayat was convened in which the petitioner no. 3, his father and relatives visited but the matter could not be reconciled. The police registered the FIR, conducted the investigation and filed a charge sheet against petitioner no .3 for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 376, 354, 354-C, 420, 384, 506, 498-A, 120-B of IPC and Section 66(c), 67(a) of Information Technology Act, against petitioner no. 1 for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 498-A, 506, 420 and 509 of IPC and against petitioner no. 2 for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 498-A and 509 of IPC.
2. The
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Karnel Singh v. State of M.P. (1995) 5 SCC 518: AIR 1995 SC 2472
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Pramod Suryabhan Pawar v. State of Maharashtra
R.P. Kapur v. State of Punjab (AIR 1960 SC 866)
State of Andhra Pradesh v. M. Madhusudhan Rao (2008) 15 SCC 582
State of Haryana (2009) 6 SCC 635: AIR 2009 SC 2190
State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal
State of Himachal Pradesh v. Prem Singh
State of Karnataka v. M. Devendrappa and another
State of Maharashtra v. Savala Sagu 1997 Bom CR Cri
State of Punjab v. Gurmeet Singh (1996) 2 SCC 384: AIR 1996 SC 1393)
Supriya Jain v. State of Haryana
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V. Ravi Kumar v. State represented by Inspector of Police, District Crime Branch, Salem, Tamil Nadu
The court emphasized that when a victim alleges rape and states there was no consent, the presumption under Section 114A of the IPC must apply, reinforcing that such matters must be resolved in a ful....
Right to protection from sexual harassments is universally recognised basic human rights - Common minimum requirement of right has received global acceptance. This right has been embodied in Articles....
Legal proposition in respect of quashing of FIR/Complaint and criminal proceeding under Section 482 Cr.P.C.
Delay in filing an FIR for sexual offences does not invalidate the complaint; jurisdiction of police upheld due to the continuing nature of the offence.
The evidence must establish the commission of the offence, and the Court cannot conduct a mini-trial while exercising jurisdiction under Section 482 of Cr.P.C.
(1) Power under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. can be exercised even after filing of charge-sheet. (2) Sexual intercourse with married lady on false promise of marriage is not a case of misconception of fact....
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