the earlier or the first information in regard to the commission
of a cognizable offence satisfies the requirement of Section 154
of the Code and there cannot be second FIR or fresh
investigation of any subsequent information in respect of the
same cognizable offence. Learned senior counsel further
stressed upon that when the police had conducted inquiry on
the information and closed the case there is no point in
re-opening the case by filing FIR that too on the basis of
anonymous letters received by the brother of the deceased
after a lapse of 5 (five) years. In view of the above claim of
learned senior counsel for the appellants, it is imperative to
discuss the scope of ‘Inquiry’ under Section 174 of the Code in
order to ascertain as to whether the ‘information’ received
under Section 174 of the Code satisfies the requirement of
Section 154 of the Code.
Scope of ‘Inquiry’ under Section 174 of the Code:
10) The proceedings under Section 174 have a very limited
scope. The object of the proceedings is merely to ascertain
whether a person has died under suspicious circumstances or
an unnatural death and if so what is the apparent cause of the
death. The question regarding the details as to how the
deceased was assaulted or who assaulted him or under what
circumstances he was assaulted is foreign to the ambit and
scope of the proceedings under Section 174 of the Code.
Neither in practice nor in law was it necessary for the police to
mention those details in the inquest report. It is, therefore,
not necessary to enter all the details of the overt acts in the
inquest report. The procedure under Section 174 is for the
purpose of discovering the cause of death, and the evidence
taken was very short. When the body cannot be found or has
been buried, there can be no investigation under Section 174.
This section is intended to apply to cases in which an inquest
is necessary. The proceedings under this Section should be
kept more distinct from the proceedings taken on the
complaint. Whereas the starting point of the powers of police
was changed from the power of the officer in charge of a police
station to investigate into a cognizable offence without the
order of a Magistrate, to the reduction of the first information
regarding commission of a cognizable offence, whether
received orally or in writing, into writing. As such, the
objective of such placement of provisions was clear which was
to ensure that the recording of the first information should be
the starting point of any investigation by the police. The
purpose of registering FIR is to set the machinery of criminal
investigation into motion, which culminates with filing of the
police report and only after registration of FIR, beginning of
investigation in a case, collection of evidence during
investigation and formation of the final opinion is the
sequence which results in filing of a report under Section 173
of the Code. In George and Others vs. State of Kerala and
Another (1998) 4 SCC 605, it has been held that the
investigating officer is not obliged to investigate, at the stage of
inquest, or to ascertain as to who were the assailants. A
similar view has been taken in Suresh Rai and Others vs.
State of Bihar (2000) 4 SCC 84.
11) In this view of the matter, Sections 174 and 175 of the
Code afford a complete Code in itself for the purpose of
“Inquiries” in cases of accidental or suspicious deaths and are
entirely distinct from the “investigation” under Section 157 of
the Code wherein if an officer in-charge of a police station has
reason to suspect the commission of an offence which he is
empowered to investigate, he shall proceed in person to the
spot to investigate the facts and circumstances of the case. In
the case on hand, an inquiry under Section 174 of the Code
was convened initially in order to ascertain whether the death
is natural or unnatural. Learned senior counsel for the
appellants claims that the earlier information regarding
unnatural death amounted to FIR under Section 154 of the
Code which was investigated by the police and thereafter the
case was closed. On a careful scrutiny of materials on record,
the inquiry which was conducted for the purpose of
ascertaining whether the death is natural or unnatural cannot
be categorized under information relating to the commission of
a cognizable offence within the meaning and import of Section
154 of the Code. On information received by P.S. Mulana, the
police made an inquiry as contemplated under Section 174 of
the Code. After holding an inquiry, the police submitted its
report before the sub-Divisional Magistrate, Ambala stating
therein that it was a case of hanging and no cognizable offence
is found to have been committed. In the report, it was also
mentioned that the father of the deceased-R.P. Sharma (PW-1)
does not want to take any further action in the matter. In view
of the above discussion, it clearly goes to show that what was
undertaken by the police was an inquiry under Section 174 of
the Code which was limited to the extent of natural or
unnatural death and the case was closed. Whereas, the
condition precedent for recording of FIR is that there must be
an information and that information must disclose a
cognizable offence and in the case on hand, it leaves no matter
of doubt that the intimation was an information of the nature
contemplated under Section 174 of the Code and it could not
be categorized as information disclosing a cognizable offence.
Also, there is no material to show that the police after
conducting investigation submitted a report under Section 173
of the Code as contemplated, before the competent authority,
which accepted the said report and closed the case.
12) In view of the above, we are of the opinion that the
investigation on an inquiry under Section 174 of the Code is
distinct from the investigation as contemplated under Section
154 of the Code relating to commission of a cognizable offence
and in the case on hand there was no FIR registered with the
P.S. Mulana neither any investigation nor any report under
Section 173 of the Code was submitted. Therefore, challenge
to impugned FIR under Crime No. 194 of 2005 registered by
P.S. Bhilai Nagar could not be assailed on the ground that it
was second FIR in the garb of which investigation or fresh
investigation of the same incident was initiated.
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 775 OF 2013
Manoj Kumar Sharma V State of Chhattisgarh & Anr.
Citation: 2017 CRLJ 418
1) This appeal has been filed against the judgment and
order dated 27.09.2012 passed by the High Court of
Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur in Criminal Miscellaneous Petition
No. 765 of 2011 whereby learned single Judge of the High
Court dismissed the petition filed by the appellants herein.
2) Brief facts:
(a) Manoj Kumar Sharma-the appellant-accused, who was
serving in the Indian Air Force at the relevant time, got
married to one Nandini on 27.04.1999. On 20.09.1999,
Nandini Sharma (since deceased) committed suicide at her
matrimonial home. The information with regard to the same
was lodged by the Security Officer of the Indian Air Force at
Police Station Mulana, District Ambala. On 22.09.1999, post
mortem was conducted on the body of the deceased and the
body was handed over to the relatives for performing last rites.
(b) On 22.09.1999, the officer in-charge of the investigation,
P.S. Mulana submitted a report being No. 26 stating that there
was no sign of foul play in the occurrence. On the basis of the
investigation, on 24.01.2000, a Final Report was submitted
before the sub-Divisional Magistrate which got accepted on
19.02.2000. Simultaneously, a Court of Inquiry (CoI) was also
convened to investigate into the alleged role of the
appellant-accused but after completion of the Inquiry the case
was finally closed on 25.07.2000.
(c) After five years of the closing of the above case, a fresh
First Information Report (FIR), being No. 194 dated
29.05.2005 was got registered by Shri Shashi Bhushan
Sharma (Respondent No. 2 herein) – brother of the deceased
against Manoj Sharma- appellant No. 1 herein, Heera Lal
2Page 3
Sharma, Mahaveer Prasad Sharma and Smt. Hem Lata
Sharma-the father, uncle and mother of the appellant No. 1
herein respectively at P.S. Bhillai Nagar, District Durg under
Sections 304B, 498A and Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860 (in short ‘the IPC’).
(d) Being aggrieved by the filing of the FIR, the appellants
herein filed a Writ Petition being No. 2890 of 2005 before the
High Court. The Division Bench of the High Court, vide order
dated 25.07.2005, directed for the continuance of the
investigation of the alleged offence.
(e) On 04.04.2007, the said writ petition was withdrawn
with the leave of the court and the appellants herein filed
Criminal Miscellaneous Petition being No. 612 of 2007 before
the High Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (in short ‘the Code’) for quashing of the FIR.
Learned single Judge of the High Court, vide order dated
17.10.2011, allowed the proceedings to continue with a
direction to the police to hold fair and proper investigation to
ensure logical conclusion of the same without unnecessary
delay.
(f) An application for modification being Criminal Misc.
Petition No. 732 of 2011 was filed for modification of the order
dated 17.10.2011 in Criminal Miscellaneous Petition 612 of
2007 on the ground that during the pendency of the judgment
in the matter, the chargesheet came to be filed by the police
before the court which was allowed vide order dated
17.11.2011.
(g) Further, the appellants herein filed Criminal Misc.
Petition being No. 765 of 2011 under Section 482 read with
Section 397 of the Code before the High Court for quashing of
charge sheet and cognizance taken thereof by the Judicial
Magistrate First Class, Durg dated 03.09.2011 and
13.10.2011 respectively in Criminal Proceeding No. 805 of
2011 arising out of Crime No. 194 of 2005 registered at P.S.
Bhilai Nagar, District Durg. Learned single Judge of the High
Court, vide order dated 27.09.2012 dismissed the petition filed
by the appellants herein.
(h) Aggrieved by the abovesaid order, the appellants have
preferred this appeal by way of special leave before this Court.
(3) Heard Mr. Sushil Kumar, learned senior counsel for the
appellants-accused and Mr. Atul Jha, learned counsel for the
respondent-State.
Rival Submissions:
(4) Mr. Sushil Kumar, learned senior counsel for the
appellants vehemently contended that since the place of
incident is Haryana, the FIR and the cognizance of the offence
could not have been taken at Durg. Learned senior counsel
further submitted that the earlier or the first information in
regard to the commission of a cognizable offence satisfies the
requirement of Section 154 of the Code and there cannot be
second FIR or fresh investigation of any subsequent
information in respect of the same cognizable offence. The
investigation was carried out at Durg in Chhattisgarh and the
deceased never resided at the said place after the marriage
thus the court at Durg had no jurisdiction to proceed with the
prosecution. Learned senior counsel finally contended that
the present charge sheet is a sheer abuse of the process and
has been filed without any basis on an FIR which was lodged
after 5 (five) years that too on the basis of anonymous letters.
(5) Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent-State
submitted that no FIR was lodged at Mulana Police Station nor
was there any investigation carried out into any allegation of
commission of a cognizable offence, but upon receipt of
information regarding death, the police had conducted inquiry
under Section 174 of the Code and submitted a report to the
sub-Divisional Magistrate. He further submitted that it is not
a case where the police registered FIR, carried out
investigation and submitted a report under Section 173 of the
Code rather the case was closed stating that no offence was
found to be committed and accepted by the court of competent
jurisdiction. It is further submitted that the FIR was lodged
for the first time in the P.S. Bhilai Nagar and it cannot be said
to be the second FIR of the same incident. The reports of the
Office of the Scene of Crime Unit, Durg and the Director,
Medico Legal Institute, the contents of the FIR, the case diary
statements are prima facie sufficient for initiation of criminal
proceedings for the offence under Sections 304B and 498A of
the IPC. Learned counsel further submitted that as regards
the question of territorial jurisdiction is concerned; the part of
cause of action arose within the territorial jurisdiction of the
court at Durg. He finally submitted that a full enquiry into the
cause of death of the deceased should be made and the ends
of justice would be best served when the accused would be
found guilty for her unnatural death.
(6) We have carefully perused the entire records including
depositions and documents and considered the rival
contentions.
Discussion:
(7) Nandini (since deceased) was married to appellant No. 1
herein on 27.04.1999 at Durg. On 20.09.1999, she died
under suspicious circumstances at her matrimonial home at
Ambala. As per the initial investigation, the cause of death
was hanging. Upon receipt of information, P.S. Ambala
proceeded to hold an inquiry under Section 174 of the Code.
During investigation, no offence was found to have been
committed. It may be mentioned here that Shri R.P.
Sharma-father of the deceased and other relatives were also
present during the investigation. A report of the inquiry made
under Section 174 of the Code was forwarded to
sub-Divisional Magistrate, Ambala which was accepted and
the case was finally closed. Simultaneously, an inquiry was
also conducted by the Indian Air Force which resulted in the
closure of the case while holding that no foul play is suspected
in the case.
(8) After about 5 years, on the basis of anonymous letters
received by the brother of the deceased-Respondent No. 2
herein, wherein the death was described a planned murder,
FIR being No. 194 of 2005 dated 29.05.2005 was registered
against the appellants herein under Sections 304B and 498A
of the IPC. The FIR, in substance, recorded that the deceased
was meted out with cruelty at her matrimonial home on the
behest of appellants for the demand of dowry. On 20.09.1999,
the deceased informed Respondent No. 2 over phone regarding
the quarrel with the appellant No. 1 herein and she was found
dead on the very same date. During investigation, the police
at Durg found that she was actually subjected to cruelty in
connection with the demand of dowry by her in-laws. The
appellant No. 1 herein was arrested for the alleged involvement
in the offence. Being aggrieved by the filing of the FIR, the
appellant No. 1 herein filed a writ petition before the High
Court which got dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated
04.04.2007. A fresh petition under Section 482 of the Code
was also filed before the High Court wherein learned single
Judge of the High Court, vide order dated 17.10.2011
dismissed the petition filed by the appellants herein while
directing the police to complete the investigation speedily.
Further, a petition was filed by the appellants herein for
quashing of charge sheet and cognizance taken of the offence
dated 03.09.2011 and 13.10.2011 respectively in Crime No.
194 of 2005 registered at P.S. Bhilai Nagar, District Durg
which also got dismissed vide High Court’s order dated
27.09.2012.
9) Learned senior counsel for the appellants submitted that
the earlier or the first information in regard to the commission
of a cognizable offence satisfies the requirement of Section 154
of the Code and there cannot be second FIR or fresh
investigation of any subsequent information in respect of the
same cognizable offence. Learned senior counsel further
stressed upon that when the police had conducted inquiry on
the information and closed the case there is no point in
re-opening the case by filing FIR that too on the basis of
anonymous letters received by the brother of the deceased
after a lapse of 5 (five) years. In view of the above claim of
learned senior counsel for the appellants, it is imperative to
discuss the scope of ‘Inquiry’ under Section 174 of the Code in
order to ascertain as to whether the ‘information’ received
under Section 174 of the Code satisfies the requirement of
Section 154 of the Code.
Scope of ‘Inquiry’ under Section 174 of the Code:
10) The proceedings under Section 174 have a very limited
scope. The object of the proceedings is merely to ascertain
whether a person has died under suspicious circumstances or
an unnatural death and if so what is the apparent cause of the
death. The question regarding the details as to how the
deceased was assaulted or who assaulted him or under what
circumstances he was assaulted is foreign to the ambit and
scope of the proceedings under Section 174 of the Code.
Neither in practice nor in law was it necessary for the police to
mention those details in the inquest report. It is, therefore,
not necessary to enter all the details of the overt acts in the
inquest report. The procedure under Section 174 is for the
purpose of discovering the cause of death, and the evidence
taken was very short. When the body cannot be found or has
been buried, there can be no investigation under Section 174.
This section is intended to apply to cases in which an inquest
is necessary. The proceedings under this Section should be
kept more distinct from the proceedings taken on the
complaint. Whereas the starting point of the powers of police
was changed from the power of the officer in charge of a police
station to investigate into a cognizable offence without the
order of a Magistrate, to the reduction of the first information
regarding commission of a cognizable offence, whether
received orally or in writing, into writing. As such, the
objective of such placement of provisions was clear which was
to ensure that the recording of the first information should be
the starting point of any investigation by the police. The
purpose of registering FIR is to set the machinery of criminal
investigation into motion, which culminates with filing of the
police report and only after registration of FIR, beginning of
investigation in a case, collection of evidence during
investigation and formation of the final opinion is the
sequence which results in filing of a report under Section 173
of the Code. In George and Others vs. State of Kerala and
Another (1998) 4 SCC 605, it has been held that the
investigating officer is not obliged to investigate, at the stage of
inquest, or to ascertain as to who were the assailants. A
similar view has been taken in Suresh Rai and Others vs.
State of Bihar (2000) 4 SCC 84.
11) In this view of the matter, Sections 174 and 175 of the
Code afford a complete Code in itself for the purpose of
“Inquiries” in cases of accidental or suspicious deaths and are
entirely distinct from the “investigation” under Section 157 of
the Code wherein if an officer in-charge of a police station has
reason to suspect the commission of an offence which he is
empowered to investigate, he shall proceed in person to the
spot to investigate the facts and circumstances of the case. In
the case on hand, an inquiry under Section 174 of the Code
was convened initially in order to ascertain whether the death
is natural or unnatural. Learned senior counsel for the
appellants claims that the earlier information regarding
unnatural death amounted to FIR under Section 154 of the
Code which was investigated by the police and thereafter the
case was closed. On a careful scrutiny of materials on record,
the inquiry which was conducted for the purpose of
ascertaining whether the death is natural or unnatural cannot
be categorized under information relating to the commission of
a cognizable offence within the meaning and import of Section
154 of the Code. On information received by P.S. Mulana, the
police made an inquiry as contemplated under Section 174 of
the Code. After holding an inquiry, the police submitted its
report before the sub-Divisional Magistrate, Ambala stating
therein that it was a case of hanging and no cognizable offence
is found to have been committed. In the report, it was also
mentioned that the father of the deceased-R.P. Sharma (PW-1)
does not want to take any further action in the matter. In view
of the above discussion, it clearly goes to show that what was
undertaken by the police was an inquiry under Section 174 of
the Code which was limited to the extent of natural or
unnatural death and the case was closed. Whereas, the
condition precedent for recording of FIR is that there must be
an information and that information must disclose a
cognizable offence and in the case on hand, it leaves no matter
of doubt that the intimation was an information of the nature
contemplated under Section 174 of the Code and it could not
be categorized as information disclosing a cognizable offence.
Also, there is no material to show that the police after
conducting investigation submitted a report under Section 173
of the Code as contemplated, before the competent authority,
which accepted the said report and closed the case.
12) In view of the above, we are of the opinion that the
investigation on an inquiry under Section 174 of the Code is
distinct from the investigation as contemplated under Section
154 of the Code relating to commission of a cognizable offence
and in the case on hand there was no FIR registered with the
P.S. Mulana neither any investigation nor any report under
Section 173 of the Code was submitted. Therefore, challenge
to impugned FIR under Crime No. 194 of 2005 registered by
P.S. Bhilai Nagar could not be assailed on the ground that it
14Page 15
was second FIR in the garb of which investigation or fresh
investigation of the same incident was initiated.
Territorial Jurisdiction:
13) Learned senior counsel for the appellants vehemently
contended that the P.S. Bhilai Nagar, Durg had no territorial
jurisdiction to investigate the matter alleging commission of
offence under Sections 304B and 498A of the IPC because
none of the part of the alleged offence was committed within
the territorial jurisdiction of P.S. Bhilai Nagar, Durg. It is true
that territorial jurisdiction also is prescribed under
sub-section (1) of Section 156 to the extent that the officer can
investigate any cognizable case which a court having
jurisdiction over the local area within the limits of such police
station would have power to enquire into or try under the
provisions of Chapter XIII. However, sub-section (2) makes the
position clear by providing that no proceeding of a police
officer in any such case shall at any stage be called in
question on the ground that the case was one which such
officer was not empowered to investigate. After investigation is
completed, the result of such investigation is required to be
15Page 16
submitted as provided under Sections 168, 169 and 170.
Section 170 specifically provides that if, upon an investigation,
it appears to the officer in charge of the police station that
there is sufficient evidence or reasonable ground of suspicion
to justify the forwarding of the accused to a Magistrate, such
officer shall forward the accused under custody to a
Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence upon
a police report and to try the accused or commit for trial.
Further, if the investigating officer arrives at the conclusion
that the crime was not committed within the territorial
jurisdiction of the police station, then FIR can be forwarded to
the police station having jurisdiction over the area in which
the crime is committed. But this would not mean that in a
case which requires investigation, the police officer can refuse
to record the FIR and/or investigate it. Chapter XIII of the
Code provides for “jurisdiction of the criminal courts in
inquiries and trials”. It is to be stated that under the said
Chapter there are various provisions which empower the court
for inquiry or trial of a criminal case and that there is no
absolute prohibition that the offence committed beyond the
16Page 17
local territorial jurisdiction cannot be investigated, inquired or
tried. This would be clear by referring to Sections 177 to 188.
For our purpose, it would suffice to refer only to Sections 177
and 178 which are as under:
“177. Ordinary place of enquiry and trial.—Every offence
shall ordinarily be inquired into and tried by a Court within
whose local jurisdiction it was committed.
178. Place of enquiry or trial.—(a) When it is uncertain in
which of several local areas an offence was committed, or
(b) where an offence is committed partly in one local area
and partly in another, or
(c) where an offence is a continuing one, and continues to be
committed in more local areas than one, or
(d) where it consists of several acts done in different local
areas, it may be enquired into or tried by a Court having
jurisdiction over any of such local areas.”
A reading of the aforesaid sections would make it clear that
Section 177 provides for “ordinary” place of enquiry or trial.
Section 178, inter alia, provides for place of enquiry or trial
when it is uncertain in which of several local areas an offence
was committed or where the offence was committed partly in
one local area and partly in another and where it consisted of
several acts done in different local areas, it could be enquired
into or tried by a court having jurisdiction over any of such
local areas. Hence, at the stage of investigation, it cannot be
17Page 18
held that the SHO does not have territorial jurisdiction to
investigate the crime. But after the investigation is over, if the
officer arrives at the conclusion that the cause of action for
lodging the FIR has not arisen within his territorial
jurisdiction, then he will forward the case to the Magistrate
concerned empowered to take cognizance of the offence.
14) In the instant case, the question of territorial jurisdiction
was just one of the grounds for quashing the proceedings
along with the other grounds and, therefore, the High Court
should have examined whether the case was fit to be quashed
on other grounds or not. Nandini Sharma committed suicide
in her matrimonial home at Ambala. The information with
regard to the said incident was forwarded to the Police Station
Mulana, District Ambala. On 22.09.1999, post mortem on the
body was conducted and the case was closed by submitting a
final report before the SDM stating that there was no sign of
foul play in the occurrence. Since the appellant No. 1 was a
Flying Officer at the relevant time, a Court of Inquiry (CoI) was
also convened to investigate into the alleged role of the
appellant No. 1 herein which was finally closed on 25.07.2000.
18Page 19
None of the family members of the deceased raised any doubt
on the death of Nandini or named anyone in the appellant’s
family especially when the father, brother and other relatives
of the deceased were present at Ambala during the period
when the investigation was carried on. On a correct
appreciation of record, we do not find even a whisper about
the cruelty meted out to her soon before her death. In fact, it
is on record that the appellant No. 1 visited Durg several times
after the death of Nandini and stayed with in-laws.
15) The territorial jurisdiction of a court with regard to a
criminal offence would be decided on the basis of the place of
occurrence of the incident. In the instant case, the suicide
was committed at Ambala. The Ambala police closed the case
after fulfilling the requirements of Section 174 of the Code
holding that there was no foul play in the incident and also
there was no requirement of lodging FIR under Section 154 as
none of the family members of the deceased raised any
suspicion over the death even though the death was
committed within seven years of marriage. Also, there is no
evidence of it being a continuing offence. Hence, the offence
19Page 20
alleged cannot be said to have been committed wholly or partly
within the local jurisdiction of the Magistrate’s Court at Durg.
Prima facie, none of the ingredients constituting the offence
can be said to have occurred within the local jurisdiction of
that Court.
16) In the case on hand, as per the materials on record, in
Crime No. 194 of 2005, charge sheet has been filed and the
Judicial Magistrate First Class, Durg has taken cognizance of
the proceedings. In the present fact situation, we are of the
considered opinion that the Court at Durg has no territorial
jurisdiction to try the case and the proceedings are liable to be
quashed on the ground of lack of territorial jurisdiction since
the entire cause of action for the alleged offence had
purportedly arisen in the city of Ambala.
Delay in lodging of FIR
17) In the case on hand, after 5 (five) years of the closing of
the above case under Section 174 of the Code, a fresh FIR
being No. 194 of 2005 was registered on the basis of
anonymous letters received by Respondent No. 2 herein –
brother of the deceased at Durg under Sections 304B, 498A
20Page 21
and Section 34 of the Code stating that the death of Nandini
Sharma was a pre-planned murder. Even after the death of
Nandini, the relations between the appellant No. 1 herein and
his in-laws were cordial as can easily be seen from the
evidence on record. Appellant No. 1 herein met his in-laws
several times at Durg. Neither at the time of the death of
Nandini nor before receiving of anonymous letters by
Respondent No. 2 herein, was there any iota of doubt in the
minds of the respondents with regard to the appellants herein.
Even the father of the deceased never raised suspicion on the
conduct of his son-in-law and only after receiving of the above
said letters by Respondent No. 2, after a lapse of 5 (five) years,
he gave his deposition that his daughter was subjected to
cruelty for the demand of dowry on the hands of the
appellants herein.
18) Delay in lodging the FIR often results in embellishment,
which is a creature of an afterthought. On account of delay,
the FIR not only gets bereft of the advantage of spontaneity,
danger also creeps in of the introduction of a coloured version
or exaggerated story. In our opinion, such extraordinary
21Page 22
delay in lodging the FIR raises grave doubt about the
truthfulness of allegations made by Respondent No. 2 herein
against the appellants, which are, in any case, general in
nature. We have no doubt that by making such reckless and
vague allegations, Respondent No. 2 herein has tried to rope
the appellants in criminal proceedings. We are of the
confirmed opinion that continuation of the criminal
proceedings against the appellants pursuant to this FIR is an
abuse of the process of law. Therefore, in the interest of
justice, the FIR deserves to be quashed. In this context, it is
apt to quote the following decision of this Court in Jai
Prakash Singh vs. State of Bihar & Anr. (2012) 4 SCC 379
wherein it was held as under:-
“12. The FIR in a criminal case is a vital and valuable piece
of evidence though may not be substantive piece of evidence.
The object of insisting upon prompt lodging of the FIR in
respect of the commission of an offence is to obtain early
information regarding the circumstances in which the crime
was committed, the names of the actual culprits and the part
played by them as well as the names of the eye-witnesses
present at the scene of occurrence. If there is a delay in lodging
the FIR, it loses the advantage of spontaneity, danger creeps in
of the introduction of coloured version, exaggerated account or
concocted story as a result of large number of
consultations/deliberations. Undoubtedly, the promptness in
lodging the FIR is an assurance regarding truth of the
informant’s version. A promptly lodged FIR reflects the firsthand
22Page 23
account of what has actually happened, and who was
responsible for the offence in question.”
19) Whether an offence has been disclosed or not, must
necessarily depends on the facts and circumstances of each
case. If on consideration of the relevant materials, the Court is
satisfied that an offence is disclosed, it will normally not
interfere with the investigation into the offence and will
generally allow the investigation into the offence to be
completed in order to collect materials for proving the offence.
20) In the above backdrop, it is also imperative to discuss the
scope of inherent power of the High Court under Section 482
of the Code. The appellants before us filed a petition under
Section 482 of the Code for quashing of the FIR on the ground
that the FIR was filed after a delay of 5 (five) years and is
barred by territorial jurisdiction. The High Court, on the other
hand, after taking note of the fact that the investigation is in
the final stage in the matter and a charge sheet is ready to be
filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, ordered for its
continuance without taking into consideration that it is barred
23Page 24
by law. The court at Durg did not take notice of the fact that
there is a legal bar engrafted in the matter for its continuance
and the proceedings have been maliciously instituted after a
delay of five years with an ulterior motive for wreaking
vengeance on the appellants. This point has been more
clarified in State of Haryana and Others vs. Bhajan Lal
and Others (1992) Supp (1) SCC 335, wherein this Court also
stated that though it may not be possible to lay down any
precise, clearly defined, sufficiently channelised and inflexible
guidelines or rigid formulae or to give an exhaustive list of
myriad kinds of cases wherein power under Section 482 of the
Code for quashing of the FIR should be exercised, there are
circumstances where the Court may be justified in exercising
such jurisdiction. These are, where the FIR does not prima
facie constitute any offence, does not disclose a cognizable
offence justifying investigation by the police; where the
allegations are so absurd and inherently improbable on the
basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just
conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding
against the accused; where there is an expressed legal bar
24Page 25
engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code; and where a
criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide
and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an
ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and
with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge.
Despite stating these grounds, the Court unambiguously
uttered a note of caution to the effect that the power of
quashing a criminal proceeding should be exercised very
sparingly and with circumspection and that too, in the rarest
of rare cases; the Court also warned that the Court would not
be justified in embarking upon an enquiry as to the reliability
or genuineness or otherwise of the allegations made in the FIR
or the complaint and that the extraordinary or inherent
powers do not confer an arbitrary jurisdiction on the Court to
act according to its whims or caprice. In para 102 of the
judgment, it was held as under:-
“102. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various
relevant provisions of the Code under Chapter XIV and of the
principles of law enunciated by this Court in a series of
decisions relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power
under Article 226 or the inherent powers under Section 482 of
the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above, we
give the following categories of cases by way of illustration
25Page 26
wherein such power could be exercised either to prevent abuse
of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of
justice, though it may not be possible to lay down any precise,
clearly defined and sufficiently channelised and inflexible
guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an exhaustive list of
myriad kinds of cases wherein such power should be exercised.
(1) Where the allegations made in the first information
report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their
face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima
facie constitute any offence or make out a case against
the accused.
(2) Where the allegations in the first information report
and other materials, if any, accompanying the FIR do not
disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation
by police officers under Section 156(1) of the Code except
under an order of a Magistrate within the purview of
Section 155(2) of the Code.
(3) Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR
or complaint and the evidence collected in support of the
same do not disclose the commission of any offence and
make out a case against the accused.
(4) Where, the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a
cognizable offence but constitute only a non-cognizable
offence, no investigation is permitted by a police officer
without an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under
Section 155(2) of the Code.
(5) Where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint
are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of
which no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion
that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the
accused.
(6) Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of
the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under
which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the
institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or
where there is a specific provision in the Code or the
concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the
grievance of the aggrieved party.
(7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended
with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously
instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance
on the accused and with a view to spite him due to
private and personal grudge.”
26Page 27
21) While discussing the scope and ambit of Section 482 of
the Code, a similar view has been taken by a Division Bench of
this Court in Rajiv Thapar and Others vs. Madan Lal
Kapoor (2013) 3 SCC 330 wherein it was held as under:-
“29. The issue being examined in the instant case is the
jurisdiction of the High Court under Section 482 CrPC, if it
chooses to quash the initiation of the prosecution against an
accused at the stage of issuing process, or at the stage of
committal, or even at the stage of framing of charges. These are
all stages before the commencement of the actual trial. The
same parameters would naturally be available for later stages
as well. The power vested in the High Court under Section 482
CrPC, at the stages referred to hereinabove, would have
far-reaching consequences inasmuch as it would negate the
prosecution’s/complainant’s case without allowing the
prosecution/complainant to lead evidence. Such a
determination must always be rendered with caution, care and
circumspection. To invoke its inherent jurisdiction under
Section 482 CrPC the High Court has to be fully satisfied that
the material produced by the accused is such that would lead to
the conclusion that his/their defence is based on sound,
reasonable, and indubitable facts; the material produced is
such as would rule out and displace the assertions contained in
the charges levelled against the accused; and the material
produced is such as would clearly reject and overrule the
veracity of the allegations contained in the accusations levelled
by the prosecution/complainant. It should be sufficient to rule
out, reject and discard the accusations levelled by the
prosecution/complainant, without the necessity of recording
any evidence. For this the material relied upon by the defence
should not have been refuted, or alternatively, cannot be
justifiably refuted, being material of sterling and impeccable
quality. The material relied upon by the accused should be such
as would persuade a reasonable person to dismiss and
condemn the actual basis of the accusations as false. In such a
27Page 28
situation, the judicial conscience of the High Court would
persuade it to exercise its power under Section 482 CrPC to
quash such criminal proceedings, for that would prevent abuse
of process of the court, and secure the ends of justice.
30. Based on the factors canvassed in the foregoing
paragraphs, we would delineate the following steps to determine
the veracity of a prayer for quashment raised by an accused by
invoking the power vested in the High Court under Section 482
CrPC:
30.1. Step one: whether the material relied upon by the
accused is sound, reasonable, and indubitable i.e. the material
is of sterling and impeccable quality?
30.2. Step two: whether the material relied upon by the
accused would rule out the assertions contained in the charges
levelled against the accused i.e. the material is sufficient to
reject and overrule the factual assertions contained in the
complaint i.e. the material is such as would persuade a
reasonable person to dismiss and condemn the factual basis of
the accusations as false?
30.3. Step three: whether the material relied upon by the
accused has not been refuted by the prosecution/complainant;
and/or the material is such that it cannot be justifiably refuted
by the prosecution/complainant?
30.4. Step four: whether proceeding with the trial would
result in an abuse of process of the court, and would not serve
the ends of justice?
30.5. If the answer to all the steps is in the affirmative, the
judicial conscience of the High Court should persuade it to
quash such criminal proceedings in exercise of power vested in
it under Section 482 CrPC. Such exercise of power, besides
doing justice to the accused, would save precious court time,
which would otherwise be wasted in holding such a trial (as well
as proceedings arising therefrom) specially when it is clear that
the same would not conclude in the conviction of the accused.”
Conclusion:
22) In view of the above discussion, we are of the considered
opinion that the allegations made in the FIR are inherently
improbable and the evidence collected in support of the same
28Page 29
do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a
case against the appellants herein. Further, to invoke
inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code, the High
Court must be fully satisfied that the material produced on
record is based on sound, justifiable and reasonable facts. In
the case on hand, malicious prosecution was instituted by the
brother of the deceased after a period of five years that too on
the basis of anonymous letters. There was no accusation
against the appellants before filing of the FIR. The allegations
are vague and do not warrant continuation of criminal
proceedings against the appellants. Also, the court at Durg
has no territorial jurisdiction because cause of action, if any,
has arisen in Ambala. The criminal proceeding is grossly
delayed and a result of belated afterthought. The High Court
failed to apply the test whether the uncontroverted allegations
as made prima facie, establish the offence. It is also for the
court to take into consideration any special features which
appear in a particular case to consider whether it is expedient
and in the interest of justice to permit the prosecution to
continue. The High Court did not apply its mind judiciously
and on an incorrect appreciation of record, ordered for
continuance of the investigation on a petition under Section
482 of the Code. This power must be exercised judiciously
and not capriciously or arbitrarily, as any improper or
capricious exercise of such power may lead to undesirable
results.
23) In view of the foregoing discussion, FIR No. 194 dated
29.05.2005 is hereby quashed and the criminal proceeding
against the appellants is dropped for want of prosecution.
Consequently, the appeal is allowed.
...…………….………………………J.
(MADAN B. LOKUR)
.…....…………………………………J.
(R.K. AGRAWAL)
NEW DELHI;
AUGUST 23, 2016.
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