The court ruled that an FIR cannot be quashed during an ongoing investigation when prima facie cognizable offences are disclosed, emphasizing the importance of allowing police to complete their investigation.

JUDGMENT

Mr. Anoop Chitkara, J.

The petitioner, who is not the owner of the firm and vehicle from which the police had recovered goods without payment of Goods and Services Tax (For short 'GST') and on the allegations of involvement of GST officials and other government officials who were running racket for GST, has come up before this court seeking quashing of the above captioned FIR.

2. I have heard counsel for the petitioner and gone through the record for the purpose that whether the petition is worthy for issuance of notices or not. I have heard counsel for the petitioner on 12.01.2024 and after that on 15.01.2024 and today again for the third time.

3. The petitioner has annexed the FIR in question as Annexure P-1, which reads as follows:-

"FIR contents- SHO PS Vigilance Bureau Bathinda, Range Bathinda. Secret information has been received that Jagsir Singh and his son Mandeep Singh who are coming from Haryana-Delhi side are hiding goods in vehicles without bill through their Delhi Malwa transport and stealing government tax in connivance with government officials/employees of Excise and Taxation. They are bringing the goods and cheating the government causing the financial loss. By doing this the government employees/officials abuse their position and get corruption money from private persons for their personal benefit. On receiving this information by making checking parties Vehicle No. DL 1GE 0476 Marka Cantor, Driver Sanjay Kumar son of Ram Yadav Resident of Village Kaveli Tehsil Badlapur District zonpur (Uttar Pradesh), Vehicle No. PB 03BH 6582 Marka Cantor Driver Gurdas Singh Son of Jagroop Singh Resident of Village Balahar vanju District Bathinda and Vehicle No. HR 57A 8522 Marka Cantor Driver Jagsir Singh Son of Amarjit Singh Resident of Village Sikanderpur Thed Tehsil and District Sirsa (Haryana) and Passer Rinku Son of Gurcharan Singh House No. MCB Z8 3023 Street No.08, Baba Deep Singh Nagar Bathinda, Vehicle No.PB03BA6531 marka Intosliva vehicles were stopped and the along with the government witnesses were checked and drivers and passengers of the vehicles were questioned, Checking memos prepared. On physical inspection of vehicle no. HR 57A 8522, 172 bundles (nug) of goods and articles were found to be billed and 64 were unbilled. On physical inspection of vehicle number PB 03BH 6582, 136 bundles (nug) were found to be billed and 05 were unbilled. On physical inspection of vehicle number DL 1GE 0476, 227 bundles (nug) were found to be billed and 02 were unbilled. On government officials/employees by obtaining corruption from private persons for personal gain, by misusing their position and by connivance with these private person, cheating the government by stealing tax offence 7, 13 PC Act 1988 (Amendment) 2018 and 420, 120-B I.P.C. has been occured. Ruka against the accused (1) Jagsir Singh son of Karnail Singh resident of Street No. 10 Jujhar Singh Nagar Bathinda (2) Mandeep Singh son of Jagsir Singh resident of street number 10 Jujhar Singh Nagar Bathinda (3) Rinku Singh son of Gurcharan Singh Resident Baba Deep Singh Nagar Street No. 8 Bathinda (4) Sanjay Kumar Son of Ram Yadav R/O Village Kaveli Tehsil Badlapur District Zonpur (Uttar Pradesh) (5) Gurdas Singh son of Jagroop Singh Resident of Village Balahar wanju District Bathinda (6) Jagsir Singh son of Amarjit Singh resident of village Sikandarpur Thed tehsil and district Sirsa and Excise and Taxation Department Officers/Employees against the above offence for registration of FIR has been sent through Constable Gurmeet Singh No.6/638 IRB to file the said case to Vigilance Bureau, Range Bathinda. On registration of FIR, the number of fir should be conveyed. Original rukka and fir should be brought to me DSP for investigation. Special reports to be issued. At vigilance bureau, unit