IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH BENCH AT INDORE
Anil Verma, J.
Satishchandra Gupta – Appellant
Versus
State of Madhya Pradesh – Respondent
Misc. Criminal Case No. 27653 of 2022
Decided On : 28-06-2022
Anticipatory Bail - Criminal Law - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Section 438 - IPC Sections 406, 409, 418, 420 - SCC 465 - SCC 273
Fact of the Case:
The applicant filed an anticipatory bail application apprehending arrest for offences under IPC Sections 406, 409, 418, 420. The complainant alleged cheating, misappropriation, and fraud related to a land sale agreement.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the applicant denied executing the sale deed and returning the substantial amount received, leading to the dismissal of the anticipatory bail application.
Issues: The issues revolved around the alleged fraudulent land sale agreement, denial of executing the sale deed, and the applicant's eligibility for anticipatory bail.
Ratio Decidendi: The court considered the gravity of the allegations, the nature of the offence, and the prima facie evidence to conclude that the applicant did not deserve anticipatory bail.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the anticipatory bail application under Section 438 of Cr.P.C.
JUDGMENT
1. This is the first anticipatory bail application filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The applicant is apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No. 315/2022 registered at P.S. - Khudel District Indore (M.P.) for commission of offence punishable under Section 406,409, 418 and 420 of IPC.
2. As per the prosecution story, complainant Satbeer Singh Chhabra is Director of M/s Grand Consulting Services Pvt Ltd. He entered into an agreement to sale dated 4.8.2014 with the company through the applicant for purchase of land bearing survey No. 122/6, admeasuring 0.759 hectare situated at village Hasakhedi for consideration of Rs. 63,33,000/- and he paid Rs. 45 lakhs to the present applicant and issued three cheques of Rs. 5 lakhs each to the applicant and balance amount of Rs. 3,33,000/- was to be paid at the time of execution of registered sale deed but applicant sent a notice dated 20.2.2015 to the objector falsely alleging that the sale consideration of subject land was agreed at Rs. 2,37,00,000/- with one Sudhir Verma. The complainant replied the legal notice and denied the alleged consideration of Rs. 2,33,00,000/- by reiterating that Rs. 45 lakhs has been paid in cash and three cheques of Rs. 5 lakhs have been given to the applicant. The substantial amount has been paid by him therefore, applicant has no right to forfeit the amount and applicant was called to execute the sale deed within one month. The complainant is ready and willing to pay the balance amount but applicant was not executing the sale deed in favour of complainant. On 20.11.2021 present applicant told one Sandeep Barjatya who is friend of objector that he had forfeited the amount therefore the present applicant committed cheating, misappropriation and fraud with the complainant. Complainant lodged the FIR at police station Khudel. Accordingly offence has been registered against the applicant.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this matter. He is 68 years old person. After lapse of the period of 8 years false FIR has been registered under the influence of complainant and his associates and present applicant has been implicated in the crime by converting a simple civil dispute into a criminal case. As per agreement dated 4.8.2014 there was a condition that entire remaining amount would have to be paid by complainant to the company within four months from 5.8.2014 and in absence of which any advance given would stand forfeited. Therefore, as per agreemetn advance amount has been forfeited. The applicant is a senior citizen and is suffering from various ailments. The matter is completely based upon documentary evidence. The complainant alongwith his associates are pressurizing the applicant to get the sale deed executed in their faovour. Learned counsel placed reliance upon order dated 17.6.2022 passed by this court in M.Cr.C. No. 28311/2022 in the matter of Mohd Yusuf Vs. State of MP and prays that the applicant be released on anticipatory bail. Per-contra, learned PL for respondent/State opposes the bail application and prays for its rejection.
4. On the other hand learned counsel for objector /Satbeer Singh Chhabra opposes the anticipatory bail application and prays for its rejection by submitting that as per the agreement to sale dated 4.8.2014 consideration amount was Rs. 63,33,000/- but applicant with the motive of cheating and fraud sent a notice dated 20.2.2015 by falsely alleging that sale consideration of subject land was agreed to Rs. 2.37 crore, the objector was always ready and willing to pay the balance amount but present applicant denied for the same. The applicant has received substantial payment of Rs 45 lakhs from complainant but he has denied the execution of sale deed, hence he does not deserve for anticipatory bail.
5. Perused the case diary as well as the impugned order passed by the court below.
6. The Hon'ble Apex court in the
Arnesh Kumar vs. State of Bihar
Shivnarayan Laxminarayan Joshi and other vs. State of Maharashtra
The power of anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Cr.P.C. is to be exercised in exceptional cases, and custodial interrogation may be necessary for effective investigation in certain cases.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the court's discretion to grant anticipatory bail based on the nature of the allegations, the circumstances of the case, and the willingness of the....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that delay in filing an FIR, along with the content of relevant documents and the scope of Section 438 of the Cr.P.C., can be valid considerations ....
The court denied anticipatory bail due to substantial evidence of cheating under IPC sections.
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.