IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
G.S. Ahluwalia, J.
Amir Khan @ Rinku v. State of M.P.
Miscellaneous Criminal Case No. 10744 of 2025 (G); Decided on 12.3.2025
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 -- Ss. 528 and 193(1) -- Criminal P. C., 1973 -- Ss. 482 and 173(1) -- direction for arrest -- crime registered on complaint -- no further action taken by police -- giving direction to arrest accused and file charge-sheet amounts to supervising investigation -- High Court cannot supervise jurisdiction -- prayer declined -- however, completion of investigation without unnecessary delay mandate of law -- investigating officer directed to conclude investigation as early as possible and to take necessary steps as required under law -- in case of any grievance, applicant free to make application to Superintendent of Police. (2009) 10 SCC 488 followed. [Paras 5 to 9]
ukxfjd lqj{kk lafgrk] 2023 & èkkjk 528 rFkk 193¼1½ & naM çfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 & èkkjk 482 rFkk 173¼1½ & fxjrkjh dk funs'k & f'kdk;r ij vijkèk jftLVªhÑr & iqfyl }kjk vkxs d¨Ã dkjZokà ugÈ dh xà & vfÒ;qä d¨ fxjrkj djus rFkk vkj¨ii= çLrqr djus dk funs'k nsuk vUos"k.k dk vèkh{k.k djus dh dksfV esa vkrk gS & mPp U;k;ky; vUos"k.k dk vèkh{k.k ugÈ dj ldrk & çkFkZuk ukeatwj & rFkkfi] vuko';d foyac d¢ fcuk vUos"k.k iw.kZ fd;k tkuk fofèk dh vkKk & vUos"k.k vfèkdkjh d¨ ;FkklaÒo 'khÄz vUos"k.k iw.kZ djus rFkk fofèk d¢ vèkhu ;Fkkisf{kr vko';d dkjZokà djus dk funs'k & fdlh f'kdk;r dh n'kk esa] vkosnd iqfyl vèkh{kd d¨ vkosnu nsus d¢ fy, Lora=A 2009 ¼10½ ,llhlh 488 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 5 ls 9½
ORDER
1. This application under section 528 of BNSS has been filed seeking the following relief :-
^^vr% ekuuh; U;k;ky; ls fouez çkFkZuk gS fd] ;kfpdkdrkZ dh v¨j ls çLrqr vkosnu i= Lohdkj fd;k tkdj Qjkj vfÒ;qäx.k d¨ fxjrkj fd, tkus gsrq çfr ;kfpdkdrkZx.k d¨ funsZf'kr fd;k tkus dh Ñik djsaA^^
2. It is submitted by counsel for applicant that on the complaint made by applicant, Crime No.63/2025 has been registered by Police Station Kampoo, District Gwalior, but no further action has been taken by the police and even accused persons have not been arrested.
3. So far as prayer made by applicant for issuing a direction to the police to arrest accused persons and filing of charge-sheet is concerned, the same cannot be granted.
4. The Supreme Court in the case of D. Venkatasubramaniam and others vs. M.K. Mohan Krishnamachari and another reported in (2009) 10 SCC 488 has held as under :-
''19. The High Court, within a period of one month from the date of filing of the petition, finally disposed of the same observing that,
“it is obligatory on the part of the respondent police to conduct investigation in accordance with law, including recording of statements from witnesses, arrest, seizure of property, perusal of various documents and filing of chargesheet. It is also needless to state that if any account is available with the accused persons, or any amount is in their possession and any account is maintained in a nationalised bank, it is obligatory on the part of the respondent police to take all necessary steps to safeguard the interest of the aggrieved persons in this case”.
The Court accordingly directed the police to expedite and complete the investigation within six months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order. The said order of the High Court is impugned in these appeals.
25. It is the statutory obligation and duty of the police to investigate into the crime and the courts normally ought not to interfere and guide the investigating agency as to in what manner the investigation has to proceed. In M.C. Abraham v. State of Maharashtra (2003) 2 SCC 649 this Court observed: (SCC pp. 657-58, para 14)
“14. … Section 41 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides for arrest by a police officer without an order from a Magistrate and without a warrant. The section gives discretion to the police officer who may, without an order from a Magistrate and even without a warrant, arrest any person in the situations enumerated in that section. It is open to him, in the course of investigation, to arrest any person who has been concerned with any cognizable offence or against whom reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists of his having been so concerned. Obviously, he is not expected to act in a mechanical manner and in all cases to arrest the accused as soon as the report is lodged. In appropriate cases, after some investigation, the investigating officer may make up his mind as to whether it is necessary to arrest the accused person. At that stage the court has no role to play. Since the power is discretionary, a police officer is not always bound to arrest an accused even if the allegation against him is of having committed a cognizable offence. Since an arrest is in the nature of an encroachment on the liberty of the subject and does affect the reputation and status of the citizen, the power has to be cautiously exercised. It depends inter alia upon the nature of the offence alleged and the type of persons who are accused of having committed the cognizable offence. Obviously, the power has to be exercised with caution and circumspection.”
31. The High Court, without recording any reason whatsoever, directed the police that it is obligatory on their part to record statements from witnesses, arrest, seizure of property and filing of charge sheet. It is difficult to discern as to how such directions resulting in far reaching consequences could have been issued by t
The completion of investigation without unnecessary delay is mandated by law, and the court cannot supervise the investigation or give directions that would amount to supervising the investigation.
The court reaffirmed that police discretion in investigations must be respected, and judicial interference should be limited to exceptional circumstances.
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.