2003 Supreme(MP) 165

2003(1) JLJ 325
(SUPREME COURT)
S. Rajendra Babu, Brijesh Kumar and G.P. Mathur, JJ.
Ajay Mitra
Versus
State of M.P. and others
Cr. Appeal Nos. 130-32 of 2003, against the orders of the M.P. High Court in Misc. Cr. Case No. 202 of 2002;
Decided on : 28.1.2003.

Headnote:(1) Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss. 420 and 415 -- cheating -- mens rea on the part of accused must be established before he can be convicted of cheating.

       Sanjiva Bottlini Company, through its director Rajiv Mehta, filed a criminal complaint against 11 accused including the appellants in the Court of Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Bhopal on July 24, 2000 for their prosecution under section 420 read with section 511, IPC. [Para 4

       On January 11, 2001, the police submitted a report that on the basis of the complaint, case Crime No.5 of 2001, case Crime No. 13 of 2001 and case Crime No. 18 of 2001 have been registered under sections 20, 120B and 34, IPC. On the same date, the learned Magistrate passed an order that the police had registered the offence and investigation is being carried on and, therefore, the complainant should make available Hindi translation of the documents and fixed January 30, 2001 as the next date. Thereafter, the appellants filed three criminal miscellaneous petitions under section 482, CrPC. before the High Court for quashing of the FIR and the proceedings of the case before the learned Magistrate. After hearing the parties, the High Court held that the investigation had not yet commenced in connection with the FIRs which had been registered at the police station and, therefore, the petitions were premature and, accordingly, all the three petitions were rejected. [Para 7]

       Held: A guilty intention is an essential ingredient of the offence of cheating. In other words, ‘mens rea‘ on the part of the accused must be established before he can be convicted of an offence of cheating. AIR 1956 SC 575 and AIR 1954 SC 724 relied on. [Para 16]

       Unless the complaint showed that the accused had dishonest or fraudulent intention at the time the complainant parted with the money, it would not amount to an offence under section 420, IPC and it may only amount to breach of contract. AIR 1974 SC 301 relied on.

       In order to constitute the offence of cheating, the intention to deceive should be in existence at the time when the inducement was offered. (2000) 3 SCC 693 relied on. [Para 17]

       (2) Criminal P.C., 1973 -- Ss. 482, 154 and 200 -- FIR or complaint not disclosing an offence -- may be quashed under inherent powers to secure ends of justice or to prevent abuse of the Court.

       The question which arises is that where the complaint or the FIR does not disclose commission of a cognizable offence, whether the same can be quashed at the initial stage ? ... The first information report which does not allege or disclose that the essential requirements of the penal provision are prima facie satisfied, cannot form the foundation or constitute the starting point of a lawful investigation. It is surely not within the province of the police to investigate into a report (FIR) which does not disclose the commission of a cognizahle offence and the Code does not impose upon them the duty of inqJ1ry in such cases. It was further held that an investigation can be quashed if no cognizable offence is disclosed by the FIR. AIR 1982 SC 949 and AIR 1992 SC 604 relied on. (1999) 8 SCC 686 distinguished. [Para 19 & 20]

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