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2023 Supreme(P&H) 2900

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
VIKRAM AGGARWAL, J.
Ashraf Khan – Petitioner
Versus
Mohan Kumar Goyal & Anr. – Respondents
CRR NO. 1733 of 2016
Decided On : 31-05-2023

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. Mohd. Arshad, Advocate; For the Petitioner

Headnote:(A) Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 228, 323, 342, 352, 500, 506, 120-B - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 345 - Revision Petition against dismissal of complaint for lack of prima facie evidence - Allegations included threat to witnesses and misconduct by advocates representing the opposing party. (Paras 1-9)

(B) Criminal Procedure - Summoning of accused - Legality of police complaints - High standard of prima facie evidence required for summoning - The trial court must apply its mind to the evidence as a whole without mere reliance on allegations. (Paras 7-8)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner contested the dismissal of his complaint alleging misbehavior and intimidation by respondents during a previous proceeding, asserting that threats prevented a witness's testimony.

Findings of Court:
The trial court found insufficient evidence to summon the respondents, stating that the allegations were not convincing and could undermine legal practice if upheld.

Issues: Whether the trial court erred in not summoning respondents based on the allegations of witness intimidation.

Ratio Decidendi: The court upheld that without substantial evidence, the summoning of accused cannot be justified and reiterated the necessity of convincing prima facie case against the accused.

Result: Revision petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. overview of petitioner's claims and initial factual background. (Para 1 , 2)
2. discussion of trial court's dismissal of the complaint. (Para 3)
3. arguments presented by the petitioner regarding evidence. (Para 4 , 5)
4. court's analysis of issues surrounding summoning of accused. (Para 6 , 8)
5. clarification of legal principles governing summoning. (Para 7)
6. conclusion: dismissal of the revision petition. (Para 9)

JUDGMENT

Mr. Vikram Aggarwal, J.

By way of the present revision petition, the petitioner assails the judgement dated 21.03.2016 passed by the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Ferozepur Jhirka (District Mewat) vide which the complaint filed by the petitioner under Sections 228 , 323, 342, 352, 500, 506, 120-B IPC read with Section 345 Cr.P.C. was dismissed.

2. The facts, briefly put, are that the present petitioner was an accused in a complaint filed by one Kirpal Singh under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (for short 'the NI Act'). The said complaint was fixed for defence evidence and on 04.12.2014, one witness namely Abdul Salam was present. He tendered his affidavit in his examination in chief. However, as per the petitioner, the counsel for the complainant namely Mohan Kumar Goyal, Advocate (respondent No.l) intentionally did not appear to cross examine the witness on the pretext that he was ill. When the witness Abdul Salam came outside the Court premises after the case had been adjourned to 17.12.2014, respondent No.l called the said witness and threatened him asking him not to depose in favour of the present petitioner. Under the circumstances, Abdul Salam did not appear before the Court on 17.12.2014. The case was adjourned to 15.01.2015 but the witness again refused to accompany the petitioner. He even swore an affidavit dated 14.01.2015 stating that he was unable to accompany the petitioner because of the threats having been extended by respondent No.1. On 15.01.2015, when the affidavit was presented before the Court, the brother of respondent No.l Manoj Kumar Goyal, Advocate (respondent No.2) snatched the affidavit from the petitioner and tore it. The matter was noticed by the Presiding Officer in his order also. The petitioner had to be escorted out of the Court Complex by the gunman of the Presiding Officer. Under the circumstances, a complaint was filed by the petitioner under Sections 228 , 323, 342, 352, 500, 506, 120-B IPC read with Section 345 Cr.P.C. with the aforementioned facts/allegations.

3. The trial Court did not forward the complaint for registration of FIR as per the provisions of Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. and declined the said prayer vide order dated 07.08.2015. Accordingly, three witnesses were examined by the complainant in his preliminary evidence. These witnesses were Abdul Salam (the witness who had to appear in the complaint under section 138 of the NI Act), the petitioner himself and one Asgar. Certain documents were also marked as Mark-A to Mark-F. After considering the preliminary evidence, the complaint was dismissed by the trial Court leading to the filing of the present revision petition.

4. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and have also perused the paper book.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the trial Court erred in dismissing the complaint filed by the petitioner despite cogent evidence having been led by the petitioner in support of his allegations. Learned counsel has submitted that at the stage of summoning, only a prima facie case was to be made out and the Court was not required to delve deep into the merits of the controversy. Learned counsel has referred to the orders passed by the trial Court Annexure P-l and P-3, the affidavit dated 14.01.2015 (Annexure P-2), the representation moved to the High Court (Annexure P-4), the order passed by the High Court on the same (Annexure P-5) and statement of Abdul Salam (Annexure P-7). Learned counsel has contended that this evidence led on the record of the cas

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