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2012 DIGILAW 596 (CAL)

Bikash Krishna Bhowmick v. State

2012-07-06

DIPAK SAHA RAY

body2012
JUDGMENT: DIPAK SAHA RAY, J. 1. THE present case arises out of an application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 for quashing the criminal proceeding of Kasba P.S. Case No. 175(5) of 2010 corresponding to B.G.R. No. 2674 of 2010 under Sections 323/506/354/420/120B of the Indian Penal Code which is pending before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alipore, South 24 Parganas. 2. THE relevant facts of the present case are, in a nutshell, as follows: 3. O.P. No. 2 herein as defacto complainant filed a petition of complaint before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alipore, South 24 Parganas which was sent to the O.C., Kasba P.S. for investigation after treating that compliant as FIR under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Accordingly, Kasba P.S. case No. 179(5) of 2010 was started. In the said petition of complaint the defacto complainant alleged therein inter alia that the defacto complainant and her mother entered into an agreement with the accused person on 23.5.2005 for development and construction of a multistoried building after demolishing their dilapidated structure and at the time of execution of the said agreement, the defacto complainant and her mother delivered all the papers viz. Power of Attorney, original Deed of Conveyance of the property etc. But even after the lapse of 5-6 years the accused/developer did not develop the property. Accordingly, notice was issued upon the accused but he did not pay any heed to that notice. He also did not return the aforesaid documents which were handed over to him. Accordingly, the matter was informed to Kasba P.S. and G.D. was lodged vide Kasba P.S. G.D. Entry No. 567 dated 9.4.2010; but no action was taken by the Police. It is further alleged that the defacto complainant and her mother went to the house of the accused person on 4.5.2010 at 9 A.M. for getting back their said valuable papers and documents of their property. But the accused person refused to return the same and threatened the defacto complainant with dire consequences. The accused person and his henchman tried to outrage the modesty of the defacto complainant and drove them out from his house after assaulting them. The defacto complainant also informed the above matter to the Kasba P.S. vide Kasba P.S. G.D. Entry No. 432 dated 7.5.2010. The accused person and his henchman tried to outrage the modesty of the defacto complainant and drove them out from his house after assaulting them. The defacto complainant also informed the above matter to the Kasba P.S. vide Kasba P.S. G.D. Entry No. 432 dated 7.5.2010. As the Police of Kasba P.S. did not take any step inspite of getting the aforesaid information from the defacto complainant, she filed the instant petition of complaint before the learned court. 4. IT is the case of the petitioner that O.P. No. 2 that is, the defacto complainant filed a case with an ulterior motive to harass him. It is alleged that the dispute between the parties is purely civil in nature and accordingly, the petitioner/accused initiated a civil suit No. 1444 of 2008 against the defacto complainant and her mother which is still pending. It has been further alleged that the petition of complaint does not disclose necessary ingredient of any criminal offence. Even then by influencing the Police Personnel, the defacto complainant and her mother got the said case charge sheeted, though the Police failed to collect any prima facie materials in support of the allegations made by the defacto complainant. Accordingly, the instant application has been filed praying for quashing the proceedings of Kasba P.S. case No. 179(5) of 2010. 5. IT is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petition of complaint does not contain the ingredient of alleged offences under Sections 323/354/420/506/120B IPC. It is further submitted by the learned counsel that the Police during investigation failed to collect any incriminating materials against the petitioner/accused person even then charge sheet has been submitted in this case. It is also argued by the learned counsel for the petitioner herein that in order to harass and to create pressure upon him the defacto complainant filed the said criminal case though the allegations made in the complaint discloses mere civil dispute. 6. THE learned counsel appearing for the State has submitted that after investigation, charge sheet has been submitted meaning thereby that a prima facie case has been made out. Since charge sheet prima facie discloses criminal offence., the allegations made therein will have to be taken on the face value. Accordingly, the proceeding in question cannot be quashed. 6. THE learned counsel appearing for the State has submitted that after investigation, charge sheet has been submitted meaning thereby that a prima facie case has been made out. Since charge sheet prima facie discloses criminal offence., the allegations made therein will have to be taken on the face value. Accordingly, the proceeding in question cannot be quashed. He has further submitted that inherent power under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has to be exercised sparingly, carefully and with great caution and also in the rarest of rare cases. 7. THERE is no controversy that the defacto complainant of this case and her mother entered into an agreement for developing and constructing a multistoried building after demolishing their dilapidated structure. There is also no controversy that the defacto complainant issued a notice upon the accused person for getting back the documents which were handed over to the accused person at the time of executing the said agreement. There does not appear to be any controversy that during investigation as a prima facie case was made out, the Police submitted charge sheet against the present accused person. 8. THE controversy mainly relates to the question as to:- i) whether the FIR of this case was filed against the accused person mala fide and with ulterior motive; ii) whether the allegation made in the complaint prima facie disclose commission of the offences as alleged in the FIR and iii) whether the charge sheet prima facie constituted the offences as alleged in the FIR. 9. NOW, after taking into consideration all relevant facts and materials and giving due regard to the submission made by the learned counsels for both the parties, it appears that three points are required to be considered whether there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the petitioner/accused person; whether there is an abuse of the process of the court; and whether ends of justice demands quashing of the proceedings. 10. IN this case, some documents have been filed by the petitioner/accused person alongwith his application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. From the documents (affidavit at pages 73 and 74) filed alongwith the application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, go to show that the defacto complainant received the deed in respect of plot No. 789 and also General Power of Attorney from the accused person. From the documents (affidavit at pages 73 and 74) filed alongwith the application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, go to show that the defacto complainant received the deed in respect of plot No. 789 and also General Power of Attorney from the accused person. So, it appears that the defacto complainant/O.P. No. 2 herein has given correct information in her petition of complaint that some documents were given to the accused at the time of execution of the agreement which were not returned to her. 11. ADMITTEDLY, a civil suit was initiated by the petitioner/accused in connection with the said agreement executed by both the parties. But institution of civil suit and/or civil remedy is available, are not the ground for dismissal of the proceedings. 12. NOW, on plain reading of the FIR, it appears that the contents of the FIR disclose criminal offences. It has already been pointed out that after investigation, Police has submitted charge sheet in this case under Section 323/506/354/420/120B IPC meaning thereby that during investigation a prima facie case has been made out under the aforesaid Sections of the IPC. 13. HAVING regard to all such facts and circumstances, I find no merit in the present application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which accordingly must be dismissed. 14. ACCORDINGLY, the instant application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure fails. 15. CRR 1595 of 2011 is dismissed and in the nature and background of the case without cost. 16. LET a copy of this judgment be sent to the learned trial court for information and necessary action. 17. URGENT Photostat certified copy of this judgment be supplied to the parties, if applied for, subject to compliance with all necessary formalities.