IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.
M. Manoharan & Another - Petitioner
Versus
The State Rep by The Inspector of Police, Kancheepuram District & Another - Respondent
CRL.O.P.Nos.9208 & 22111 of 2015 & MP.Nos.1 & 2 of 2015
Decided On : 15-04-2019
Section 482 - Quashing of FIR - IPC 306 - [SUMMARY OF ACT SECTIONS REFERENCED AND DISCUSSED BY THE COURT]
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner sought to quash the FIR registered for the offence under Section 306 of IPC, alleging that the deceased committed suicide due to harassment by the petitioner. The court found prima facie evidence to support the offence and dismissed the petition.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that there was prima facie evidence to support the offence under Section 306 of IPC and declined to quash the FIR.
Issues: The main issue was whether the FIR should be quashed based on the allegations of harassment leading to suicide.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on various judgments to emphasize the cautious use of Section 482 of Cr.P.C. in quashing FIRs and the need for thorough investigation before quashing.
Final Decision: The Criminal Original Petition was dismissed, and the transfer of investigation was not allowed, with directions to complete the investigation within four weeks.
(Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. praying to transfer the investigation in Crime No.221 of 2015 on the file of the respondent police to some other independent agency like CBCID or any other competent agency to investigate the matter.)
Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. praying to call for the records connected with FIR No.221 of 2015 on the file of the first respondent and quash the same.)
1. The petition in Crl.O.P.No.22111 of 2015 has been filed to quash the FIR in Crime No.221 of 2015, registered for the offence under Section 306 of IPC, on the file of the first respondent.
2. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner in Crl.O.P.No. 22111 of 2015 submitted that the second respondent lodged complaint that his son died hanging himself at his resident on 11.03.2015. The deceased was under the care of the petitioner, since he was studying law course in the School of Excellence, Chennai. During the period of his study, the deceased was mingled with the petitioner’s family as one of the family member. After completion of his studies, he enrolled as an advocate and he was living at Oorapakkam in a flat purchased by his father, the second respondent herein. While being so, the petitioner used to engage the deceased for the cases and the petitioner found that the deceased neglected the case entrusted to him. On 11.03.2015, through his new Advocate contacted the deceased to hand over the bundle to the new counsel. However, the deceased refused to hand over the bundle and replied that the petitioner should talk to him. On the date itself, the deceased committed suicide by hanging himself.
2.1. He further submitted that the entire complaint does not disclose any offence as against the petitioner and the petitioner did not instigate or abet the deceased to commit suicide. The learned Senior Counsel further relied upon the caneta of judgments as follows :-
(i) 2015(9) SCC 639 - State of Kerala Vs. S.Unnikrishnan Nair
(ii) 2017(1) SCC 483 - Gurcharan Sigh Vs. State of Punjab
(iii) 2018(7) SCC 781 - Vaijnath Kondiba Khandke
3. Per contra, the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the second respondent filed counter and submitted that on 11.03.2015, when the deceased was in work at his office, the petitioner called him over phone and spoke to him for more than 25 minutes. Without any reasons, the petitioner abused him as if, the deceased cheated him by getting lump sum amount as fees and trashed him to the core by using filthy language for not visiting him. Further he submitted that the petitioner has used inhuman, scandalous words abusing his mother and the same let the deceased into depression and became broken hearted. Therefore, the deceased extremely upset by the language used by the petitioner and immediately rushed to his house and committed suicide. Further he submitted that only it is a FIR stage, and it cannot be quashed on its threshold. When there is specific averments to make out the case for the offence under Section 306 of IPC, it cannot be quashed. He further submitted that, the deceased also sent message to his colleague and friends through his mobile about the systematic harassment and as such he committed suicide. Therefore, he prayed for dismissal of the quash petition.
4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the FIR registered in Crime No.221 of 2015 for the offences under Section 306 of IPC and the investigation is still pending.
5. Heard Mr.B.Kumar, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the first respondent and Mr.N.R.Elango, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the second respondent.
6. On perusal of records, it is seen that the petitioner is the sole accused in Crime No.221 of 2015 registered for the offence under Section 306 of IPC. There is specific allegations in the FIR that the petitioner is a care taker of the deceased, whil
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