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2009 DIGILAW 2227 (PNJ)

Saroj Goyal v. State of Punjab

2009-12-22

SHAM SUNDER

body2009
JUDGMENT Sham Sunder, J. - This petition, under Section 438 Criminal Procedure Code, has been filed by the petitioners, for the grant of anticipatory bail, in case FIR No. 339, dated 16.12.08, under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 Indian Penal Code, Police Station Division No. 5, Ludhiana. 2. I have heard the Counsel for the parties, and have gone through the record of the case, carefully. 3. The Counsel for the accused-petitioners has submitted, that as per the allegations, the complainant namely Ramnik Gupta, neither executed the power of attorney, nor signed the same, nor appeared, before the Sub-Registrar, at the time of registration, nor the same bore his photograph. He has further submitted that the allegations, against the accused-petitioners, are that, the said power of attorney, was forged by Manish Goyal (non- applicant), by putting up some impostor, in place of Ramnik Gupta, in connivance with them accused-petitioners. He has further submitted that the present FIR, has been got registered, by the complainant with mala fide intention. He has further submitted that no loss, has occurred, to the complainant, nor any gain, has been caused, to the accused-petitioners. He has further submitted that the property, in dispute, alongwith other property, belonged to Smt. Rukmani Devi, who died, on 01.05.91. He has further submitted that petitioner Nos. 1 to 4, sisters of Ramnik Gupta, executed two relinquishment deeds, with respect to the residential as well as commercial properties, on 23.02.98 and 06.10.98, leaving their shares, in favour of their four brothers namely Raj Kumar, Ramesh Kumar, Sunil Kumar and Ramnik Gupta. He has further submitted that, by way of memorandum of family settlement, dated 17.08.2000, all the four brothers inherited the properties, in equal shares. He has further submitted that, as per the family settlement, property mentioned, at Sr. No. 4 of the petition, came to the share of the complainant. He has further submitted that after the execution of the memorandum of family settlement, on 17.08.2000, three brothers, namely Raj Kumar, Sushil Kumar, and Ramesh Kumar, jointly sold their share, by way of execution of sale deeds dated 20.03.03 and 24.08.04, in favour of Veena Rani, Janak Raj, and Kulwant Rai, respectively. He has further submitted that the dispute, is, with regard to the property, situated in Dehradun, measuring 3385 sq. feet (314.53 sq. He has further submitted that the dispute, is, with regard to the property, situated in Dehradun, measuring 3385 sq. feet (314.53 sq. mts) at 3- EC Road, Dehradun (Uttranchal), which was not the subject-matter of the aforesaid settlement, for which, power of attorney, was executed, by four brothers and sisters, in favour of Manish Goyal. He has further submitted that, the accused-petitioners, did not impersonate Ramnik Gupta, complainant. He has further submitted that Ramnik Gupta, was only having share of 39 sq. mts, in the property, in dispute, the value whereof, comes to Rs. 2 lacs. He has further submitted that the instant FIR, has been got registered, with a view to force the petitioners, to persuade Ashish Aggarwal son of Ramesh Aggarwal, the complainant, in FIR No. 24 dated 25.02.05, to effect a compromise with the complainant party. He has further submitted that the petitioners, have been wrongly involved, in the instant case. He has further submitted that the custodial interrogation of the accused-petitioners, is not at all required. He has further submitted that the petitioners are entitled to anticipatory bail. 4. On the other hand, the Counsel for the respondent, has submitted that the petitioners, were present, at the time of the alleged execution of the power of attorney, and they knew, that Ramnik Gupta, one of the alleged executants of the power of attorney, was not present, but, some impostor, was put up in his place, but even then signed/thumb marked the said power of attorney. He has further submitted that the petitioners, connived with Manish Goyal (non- applicant), in whose favour, the alleged power of attorney, was executed, and, thus, they committed serious offences. He has further submitted that the custodial interrogation of the accused is required. He has further submitted that it is not a fit case, in which, the anticipatory bail, should be granted. 5. After giving my thoughtful consideration, to the rival contentions, raised by the Counsel for the parties, in my considered opinion, it is a fit case, in which the application for the grant of anticipatory bail, should be accepted, for the reasons to be recorded hereinafter. The relinquishment deeds and the family settlement, referred to above, do not have any concern with the property, in question, in respect whereof, the power of attorney, was allegedly executed. The relinquishment deeds and the family settlement, referred to above, do not have any concern with the property, in question, in respect whereof, the power of attorney, was allegedly executed. The property, in question, in respect whereof, the alleged power of attorney, was executed, is completely independent of the properties, mentioned in the relinquishment deeds, and the memorandum of settlement. There is no indication, on record, that the petitioners, who are the brothers and sisters of the complainant in any way, connived with Manish Goyal, and facilitated the execution of the power of attorney. They being the members of the same family, appeared to have been involved, in this case falsely. They are not the beneficiaries. So, custodial interrogation of the accused- petitioners, is not at all required, as no recovery, is to be effected, from them, nor any information, is to be got elicited, from them, with regard to the mode and manner, in which, the alleged offences, were committed. It is, no doubt, true that, anticipatory bail, is an extra-ordinary remedy, which can be invoked, only in exceptional circumstances. However, at the same time, the Court, is not powerless, to grant the concession of anticipatory bail, if it comes to the conclusion, that the facts and circumstances of the case, so warrant. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, Criminal Misc. No. M-4256 of 2009, deserves to be accepted, and the order, granting interim anticipatory bail, is liable to be made absolute. 6. For the reasons recorded above, Criminal Misc. No. M-4256 of 2009, is accepted. The order dated 17.02.09, granting interim anticipatory bail, is made absolute. Any observation, made in this order, shall not be taken as an expression of mind, on merits of the case. Petition accepted.