IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
S. ANANTHI, J.
Muthulakshimi - Appellant
Versus
State through the Inspector of Police, Madurai & Another - Respondent
Crl. O.P. (MD)No. 16814 of 2018 & Crl. M.P. (MD)No. 7440 of 2018
Decided On : 14-06-2022
Forgery - Surrender of LIC policy - Quashing of proceedings
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner/accused was alleged to have committed an offence under Section 409 of IPC by surrendering a LIC policy belonging to the defacto complainant and keeping the amount for herself.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the issues raised could only be proved through evidence during trial and therefore the case against the petitioner/accused could not be quashed at this stage.
Issues: The key issues were whether the policy was handed over to the petitioner/accused for surrendering, whether the petitioner/accused kept the amount without intention to pay the defacto complainant, and whether the petitioner/accused paid the amount to the policy of children of Manoharidoss.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the issues could only be resolved through evidence during trial and that the case could not be quashed at the current stage.
Final Decision: The Criminal Original Petition was dismissed, and the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Madurai, was directed to dispose of the case within a period of four months independently.
JUDGMENT
(Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Criminal Procedure Code, to call for the records in C.C.No.174 of 2013 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate Court-II, Madurai, quash all further proceedings.)
1. This Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash the proceedings in C.C.No.174 of 2013 pending on the file of the Judicial Magistrate Court No-II, Madurai.
2. Heard on either side. Perused the material documents on record.
3. The case of the prosecution against the petitioner/accused is alleged to have committed an offence under Section 409 of IPC. The defacto complainant is having a LIC policy in the name of her daughter Dharsini, for which she is the nominee and it was a Money plus policy. The defacto complainant said to have deposited the LIC due amount in the Ganaolipuram Branch. She has paid the LIC due amount and kept the LIC bond along with the LIC receipt in the office drawer itself. Thereafter, due to her family situations she alleged that she forgot that and kept her LIC bond in her office and without remembering the same she made a complaint before the LIC office that as if she lost her LIC bond and tried to apply for duplicate LIC bond. At that time the administrator of the LIC office has stated that her LIC bond has already been surrendered. Hence, the defacto complainant has approached the IDBI Bank and verified that her LIC bond was surrendered and cheque No. 56245 has been transferred on 04.01.2011 in the name of LIC of India. So, again the defacto complainant has approached the LIC office and she came to understand that Tmt. Manoharidoss who is residing at No.56 Bharathi thasan salai, Near Meenakshi Kalyana Mahal, Mahaboopalayam, has said to have forged the signatures of the defacto complainant and by impersonation claiming herself as Vanithamani the said Manoharidoss has surrendered the policy. Originally, the petitioner/accused was examined as a witness and she was enquired number of times in the Thallakulam Crime Police Station and all the facts have been revealed that she has not committed any offences whatsoever. But, after investigation, the petitioner who is an agent surrendered the said policy and received the amount and kept her from December 2010 to March 2011. So charge sheet filed against this petitioner also.
4. The petitioner/accused has stated that she was examined only as prosecution witness. Only the defacto complainant handed over the policy to her for surrendering. If it is so, why the petitioner has received the amount and keep it for four months with her. The petitioner may send written notice to the complainant to disburse the amount.
5. As per statement of the petitioner/accused under Section 164 Cr.P.C., she has produced the cheque of the complainant for the policy of two children of Manoharidoss and got amount instead of cheque. But, it has to be established through evidence.
6. To discharge from the offences the petitioner/accused has to prove three points that, i).Whether the policy was handed over to the petitioner/accused for surrendering by the defacto complainant? and (ii).Whether the petitioner/accused without any intention keep the amount for paying the amount to defacto complainant? and (iii)Whether the petitioner/accused has paid the amount to the policy of children of Manoharidoss.
7. Initially, the alleged complaint was preferred against Manoharidoss only. After completing investigation, charge sheet was laid against this petitioner/accused.
8. The issues can be proved only through evidence during trial. The receipts have also produced by the petitioner/accused which shows that she has paid the amount to LIC only on 06.03.2011.
9. So, at this stage the case against the petitioner/accused cannot be quashed.
10. Finally, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. Since the case is pending from the year 2013, the learned Judicial Magistrate No.II, Madurai, is directed to dispose the case, within a period of four months, from the date of recei
AI
The key legal principle established is that issues raised in a case must be proved through evidence during trial, and the court cannot quash proceedings at an early stage based on these issues.
Sufficiency of reason for delay in disposal of the case and validity of the cognizance order.
Prima facie case in charge sheet prevents quashing charges despite repayment and lack of knowledge claims.
The main legal point established is that criminal law should not be set into motion as a matter of course, and the court must carefully scrutinize the evidence before summoning the accused.
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