IMPORTANT POINT
The court clarified the jurisdiction of the Magistrate and the police in relation to the offence under the Telangana Money Lenders Act, affirming their respective authorities.

JUDGMENT

1. This petition is filed to quash the proceedings against the petitioner/Accused in CC No.26 of 2017 on the file of VI Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate at Warangal.

2. The police filed charge sheet against the petitioner on the allegation that he had lent the amount to L.W.1 by mortgaging the defacto complainant's 4 1/2 acres of land at Rampur village. Having received Rs.15.00 lakhs from him, the accused paid Rs.8.00 lakhs, Rs.2.00 lakhs and again paid Rs.10.00 lakhs totaling an amount of Rs.20.00 lakhs. The accused asked to provide Rs.1.00 lakh for releasing gold, which was pledged. L.W.1 sent four tulas of gold chain for the said demand. Again, the defacto complainant paid Rs.3.00 lakhs and requested to release his mortgaged items, for which the accused quarreled that an amount of Rs.23.00 lakhs received was towards interest and the defacto complainant should pay an amount of Rs.55,29,000.00 in all. Aggrieved by the same a complaint was filed.

3. On the basis of the said complaint, police filed charge sheet after investigation for the offence under Sec. 384 of IPC and Ss. 3(5)(b) of the Telangana Money Lenders Act, 1349 Fasli.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that there are pending civil disputes in between the parties and since the money transactions are subject matter of civil court, there cannot be any criminal prosecution. The Learned Magistrate has not taken cognizance under sec. 384 IPC. The learned Magistrate cannot take cognizance of the offence under Telangana Money Lenders Act as the Magistrate has no jurisdiction. According to Sec. 3(5)(b), it is for the Collector to award punishment under the said clause and appeal against such order shall lie to the Sessions Judge.

5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents submits that police have conducted investigation and the defence of the petitioners can be agitated before the concerned trial Court. Clauses (b) and (c) of sub-sec. 5 of Sec. 3 of the Act reads as follows: "(b) If any person contravenes the provisions of clause(a), he shall

be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both. The fine imposed shall, in case of default, be recoverable as arrears of land revenue. The Collector shall have power to award punishment under this clause. An appeal against his order shall lie to the Sessions Judge;

(c) An offence under this sub-sec. shall be cognizable and bailable. Sec. 2(c) of Cr.P.C reads as follows: "(c) " cognizable offence" means an offence for which, and" cognizable case" means a case in which, a police officer may, in accordance with the First Schedule or under any other law for the time being in force, arrest without warrant;"

6. As per Sec. 3(5)(c) of the Act, an offence under sec. 3(5)(b) is cognizable and bailable offence. For the said reason, contravention of Sec. 3(5)(a), which is made punishable under Sec. 3(5)(b) of the Act can be investigated by police. After any police investigation, the police have to file a final report before the jurisdictional Magistrate. Further, according to Sec. 3(5)(c) of the Act the offence is bailable offence, it is the police who can only effect arrest for criminal offence and in the event of such arrest, it is for the concerned Police Officer to produce the arrested accused before the concerned Magistrate within 24 hours in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure. In addition to the powers of investigation by the police and trial by the competent Court, the legislature thought it fit to empower the Collector to award punishment under Sec. 3(5)(b) of the Act. The said empowerment does not oust the jurisdiction of the concerned Magistrate to try the offence or the police to investigate the offence.

7. For the aforementioned reasons, the Criminal Petition lacks merits and the same is dismissed. The trial Court is directed to proceed with the trial in accordance with the procedure.

8. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneo