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2019 DIGILAW 365 (RAJ)

Prakash Chand v. State of Rajasthan, Thr. PP, Rajasthan

2019-01-31

KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA

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JUDGMENT 1. Today, an application bearing No. 83334/2018 is listed, wherein it is prayed that SBCRLMP No. 5103/2018 be finally disposed of to give affect to the orders passed by this Court in other petitions. 2. On the joint request made by the learned counsel for the parties, SBCRLMP No. 5103/2018 is taken up for final disposal. 3. This case has a chequered history. Respondent No. 2 Rajkumar Jain had allegedly issued two cheques in favour of the petitioners. The said cheques on presentation had bounced. Resultantly, both the petitioners filed two separate complaints under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act. 4. Before institution of complaint, respondent No. 2 had filed a complaint alleging that the petitioners had forged and fabricated the bank return memo. On the said complaint, order was passed under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. and FIR No. 126/2008 was registered at Police Station Kotwali, Kota for the offences under Sections 420, 406, 409 and 120B IPC. In the said FIR, the investigating agency filed the Final Report in negative form by opining that the dispute is civil in nature. Respondent No. 2 filed a protest petition and the said protest petition was treated as complaint and preliminary evidence of the complainant was recorded. Thereafter, the trial court on 29.9.2011 dismissed the complaint. Aggrieved against the same, the respondent No. 2 filed a revision petition. In the said revision petition, the revisional court below on 5.8.2016 ordered to hold further investigation. The police after further investigation filed a report in terms of Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. and the court of Magistrate took cognizance of offences under Sections 420, 406, 467, 468, 471 and 120B IPC. 5. The order of cognizance was passed on 5.3.2018. After 5.8.2016 i.e. from the date impugned order was passed by the revisional court below, much water has flown resulting into passing of order dated 5.3.2018 by the trial court, whereby the cognizance of offences was taken. 6. This Court on 28.8.2018 had passed the following order:- "Shri Suresh Sahni, learned counsel for the petitioners contends that on the complaint filed by respondent No. 2, concerned Magistrate passed orders under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. and consequently, FIR was registered against the accused petitioners. Learned counsel submits that in the above said FIR, investigating agency submitted Final Report in negative form. Learned counsel submits that in the above said FIR, investigating agency submitted Final Report in negative form. Learned counsel contends at bar that after filing of Final Report in negative form by the investigating agency, the Court of Magistrate proceeded under Chapter-XV of Code of Criminal Procedure and recorded preliminary evidence of the complainant under Section 200 Cr.P.C. Learned counsel submits that having recorded preliminary evidence, the Court of Magistrate had dismissed the complaint and aggrieved against the same, the complainant preferred a revision petition. Learned counsel contends that the revisional court below in the impugned order has ordered further investigation which is not permissible. Learned counsel submits that once the procedure under Chapter-XV of Code of Criminal Procedure was resorted to, the only remedy for the court below was to order inquiry under Section 202 Cr.P.C. or take cognizance of the offence, but in no way the investigating agency can be directed by the revisional court to carry further investigation. Issue notice to respondents for 13.11.2018. Meanwhile, operation of the impugned order shall remain stayed." 7. It was incumbent for the petitioners to assail the order dated 5.8.2016 before passing of order of cognizance. For a good period of two years, the order passed by the revisional court below whereby further investigation was ordered, was not challenged. 8. A perusal of the Section 465 Cr.P.C. will lead to only inference that irregularity should have been challenged at very initial stage. Even otherwise, irregularity committed by the revisional court below will not fall under Section 461 Cr.P.C., as one which will vitiate the proceedings. Therefore, because of delay and latches on the part of the petitioners and furthermore, because order of cognizance was later passed, the present petition cannot be entertained and same is dismissed being devoid of merits. 9. In view of disposal of main case, application bearing No. 83334/2018 also stands disposed of.