IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
RAJENDRA KUMAR-IV, J.
Chaudhary Chhatrapal Yadav - Applicant
Versus
State of U.P. and Another - Opposite Parties
Application U/S 482 No. 24025 of 2021
Decided On : 19-11-2022
Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Section 306, 504, 506, 386 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 482, 161, 227 – Framing of charges – Ground to commit suicide – Examination of witnesses by police – Discharge – Abetment of suicide – Punishment for criminal intimidation – Application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by applicant to quash order passed by Additional District and Sessions Judge, Court No.1/Special Judge, DAA, in Session Case, State versus, under Section 306, 504 and 506 IPC, Police Station), District whereby learned trial Court dismissed discharge application moved by applicant under Section 227 for discharging him in alleged sections and charge has been directed to be framed under Sections 306, 504 and 506 against applicant and other co-accused – Held, Court is of view that all ingredients of instigation of abetment to commit suicide are completely absent in material collected during course of investigation and, therefore, it cannot be said that the accused-applicant has committed any offence under Section 306 IPC – There is no offending action proximate to time of occurrence on part of applicant, which would have led or compelled deceased to commit suicide – While framing charge, Trial Court has not appreciated judgment cited in body of impugned order in right perspective and it misinterpreted judgment – In light of facts and circumstances of present case, allegation made against applicant, evidence collected by prosecution and aforesaid discussions, Court is of view that application is liable to be allowed – Impugned order 21, and further proceedings thereof against applicant are quashed – Applicant is discharged from offence alleged - Disposed of.
JUDGMENT :
1. Heard learned Counsel for the respective parties.
2. The present application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by applicant to quash the order dated 08.10.2021 passed by Additional District and Sessions Judge, Court No.1/Special Judge, DAA, Mahoba in Session Case No.291 of 2021, State versus Chaudhary Chhatrapal Yadav and other, (Case Crime No.65 of 2021), under Section 306, 504 and 506 IPC, Police Station Kotwali Nagar Mahoba), District Mahoba whereby learned trial Court dismissed the discharge application moved by applicant under Section 227 for discharging him in the alleged sections and charge has been directed to be framed under Sections 306, 504 and 506 against the applicant and other co-accused.
3. Main Prayer in the application is as under:-
4. Impugned order has been assailed by the accused-applicant mainly on the ground that he has been falsely implicated in the present case due to political rivalry. He has no concerned with the present crime. He has committed no offence. Prosecution story is false and fake. He neither tortured the victim/deceased nor demanded/took any money. He never instigated the victim to commit suicide. There is no role of the present applicant in committing suicide of the victim. Accused-applicant has no concerned at all with the present case. Learned Counsel contends that no offence, as alleged, is made out. He showed some papers as well as statements in support of his contention and relied upon the judgments as under :-
ii. M. Mohan vs. State Represented by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, (2011) 3 SCC 626.
iii. Gurcharan Singh vs. State of Punjab, (2017) 1 SCC 433.
iv. M. Arjunan vs. State Represented by its Inspector of Police, (2019) 3 SCC 315.
5. From the side of opposite parties, application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been opposed by alleging that accused-applicant is man of criminal antecedents, number of criminal cases have been registered against him. He operates a gang of criminals. Prior to the present incident, accused-applicant has demanded/ took some money from the son of victim/deceased who lodged an FIR against the applicant and some other persons under Section 386 IPC in police station concerned. When the police took no action, victim/deceased has decided to end his life and committed suicide by way of shooting himself with his licency rifle, which is alleged to be used in incident, was found on spot and suicide note allegedly written by victim himself was also recovered by the police from the spot. It is further stated that the Investigating Officer has collected credible evidence like suicide note, previous FIR and CCTV clip and statements of witnesses who have verified the prosecution versions. The Investigating Officer has rightly submitted charge sheet against the applicant and other accused persons and no illegality in the same. It was further alleged that accused-applicant is habitual offender having long criminal history of heinous crime like murder, dacoity, extortion etc. in order to take goonda tax. He started threatening to the brother of opposite party no.2 and took huge amount from him, when the victim/deceased came to know the fact of goonda tax taken by the accused-applicant, objected the same and lodged an FIR under Section 386 IPC bearing case Crime No.52 of 2021 but the local police did not tak
Ramesh Kumar v. State of Chhattisgarh
M. Mohan vs. State Represented by the Deputy Superintendent of Police
Gurcharan Singh vs. State of Punjab
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Amit Kapoor Vs. Ramesh Chander and another
Niranjan Singh Karam Singh Punjabi, Advocate Vs. Jitendra Bhimraj Bijja and others
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Kishangiri Mangalgiri Goswami v. State of Gujarat
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State of West Bengal v. Orilal Jaiswal
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The judgment established that for conviction under Section 306 I.P.C, there must be a clear mens rea and active instigation or intentional aid by the accused in the commission of suicide.
At the stage of framing charges, even a strong suspicion is sufficient to frame the charges, and the requirement of mens rea for abetment of suicide under IPC 306.
The assessment of materials at the stage of consideration of charge is different from the appreciation of evidence at the trial stage, and the court must form an opinion based on the available materi....
To establish abetment of suicide under IPC, there must be direct incitement or actions compelling the victim to commit suicide; mere allegations of harassment are insufficient.
The court established that mere financial distress and harassment do not constitute abetment of suicide under IPC Section 306 without clear intent to instigate such a decision.
For liability under Section 306 IPC, there must be clear evidence of instigation or active involvement in the suicide, which was absent in this case.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the requirement of strong suspicion and examination of circumstances to determine instigation for abetment of suicide under Section 306 of IPC.
To establish abetment of suicide under Section 306 IPC, there must be clear instigation or intentional aid; mere suspicion or threats are insufficient.
To establish abetment of suicide under Section 306 IPC, there must be clear evidence of instigation or aid by the accused; mere emotional distress or broken relationships do not suffice.
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