Rishi Anand
& Anr Vs. Government of N.C.T. of Delhi & Ors [2002] Insc 155 (20 March 2002)
D.P.
Mohapatra & P. Venkatarama Reddi P. Venkatarama Reddi, J.
Leave
granted and appeal heard.
By the
impugned order, the High Court of Delhi rejected the application of the
petitioners/appellants for quashing F.I.R. No. 467 of 1998 registered by the
Greater Kailash Police Station in respect of the offence under Section 406 IPC.
The informant (Respondent No.2) is the brother's wife of the first appellant by
name Rishi Anand presently living in Fairfax, USA and she is the daughter-in-law of
the second appellant by name Raj Kumar Anand. The other two accused named in
the FIR are the husband and mother-in-law of the complainant. The husband is
also living in Fairfax, USA. A son was born out of the wed-lock in April 1996. Even before that, it
appears the relations between the respondent and the husband & his family
members became strained. Unfortunately, the marital life came to an end within
1-1/2 years after the marriage. It appears that a decree of divorce was granted
on an application filed by the husband by the Circuit Court at Fairfax on 10.12.1999. The first respondent
lodged a complaint with the Police on 15.1.1997. Although in the first
information report, various other offences viz. under Sections 498 A, 323 IPC
and Section 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act are mentioned, the FIR was registered
for an offence under Section 406 of Indian Penal Code. After investigation, the
charge-sheet was filed. Cognizance was taken by the Metropolitan Magistrate,
Greater Kailash and process for appearance was issued. Non-bailable warrant has
also been issued against the first appellant as he failed to appear before the
Court on the specified date. At that stage, petitions were filed under Section
482 Cr.P.C. by the appellants herein for quashing the FIR against them. By a
brief order dated 7.12.2000 which is assailed in the present appeal, the High
Court observed that certain disputed questions regarding return of the articles
of the complainant have to be examined at the trial and there is no ground to
quash the FIR at this stage.
It is
the contention of the appellant that the FIR does not disclose the offence
under Section 406 and even going by the allegations, there is absolutely no
material even prima facie to arraign the appellants as accused in the case. As
regards the first appellant who is the husband's brother, it is contended that
he came to India to attend the wedding of his
brother (Accused No.1) and having attended the wedding on 27th January, 1995, he left for USA the same night and he was unnecessarily implicated
in the case. On behalf of the second appellant, it is submitted that the first
respondent was in India only for five days after the
marriage, she took along with her jewellery and other valuable items as seen
from the export certificate filed and whatever remaining articles were left at
appellant's home were returned. It is contended that ingredients of offence
under Section 406 are lacking vis-à-vis the role ascribed to both the
appellants.
The
High Court observed that the factum of return of articles is under dispute and
it can only be examined after trial and that no case has been made out for
quashing the FIR. The High Court did not address itself to the crucial question
whether the substance of the allegations in the complaint coupled with any
other material on record justified the prosecution of the appellants under
Section 406 and the Magistrate taking cognisance of the alleged offence. In a
recent case this Court consisting of one of us (D.P. Mohapatra, J.) and Shivaraj
V. Patil, J. reminded the High Court of the obligation to intervene under
Section 482 Cr.P.C. in cases where manifest error has been committed by the
Magistrate in issuing process despite the fact that the alleged acts did not at
all constitute the offences (in that case under Sections 406 and 420 IPC). It
was observed thus :- "while exercising power under section 482 of Criminal
Procedure Code the High Court has to look at the object and purpose for which
such power is conferred on it under the said provision.
Exercise
of inherent power is available to the High Court to give effect to any order
under the Criminal Procedure Code, or to prevent abuse of the process of any
court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice. This being the position,
exercise of power under section 482 of Criminal Procedure Code should be
consistent with the scope and ambit of the same in the light of the decisions
afore-mentioned. In appropriate cases, to prevent judicial process from being
an instrument of oppression or harassment in the hands of frustrated or
vindictive litigants, exercise of inherent power is not only desirable but
necessary also, so that the judicial forum of court may not be allowed to be
utilized for any oblique motive. When a person approaches the High Court under
section 482 of Criminal Procedure Code to quash the very issue of process, the
High Court on the facts and circumstances of a case has to be exercise the
powers with circumspection as stated above to really serve the purpose and
object for which they are conferred." On a perusal of the complaint, we
find no allegations much less of specific nature even to remotely connect the
first appellant with the alleged offence under Section 406. It is not the case
of the informant that any of her articles were entrusted to him at the time of
marriage.
There
is no dispute that he went back to USA
after a brief stay immediately after the marriage. Learned counsel for the
first respondent has, however, maintained that this appellant is residing with
his brother in Fairfax, USA and he was a privy to the acts of harassment and suffering caused to
his client. Our attention has been invited to the following statement in para 8
of the FIR :- "From January 1996, Accused No.4, in criminal conspiracy
with Accused No.1, started misbehaving with the complainant by abusing her,
criminally intimidating, kicking and throwing her belongings and repeatedly
demanding car for their use in India, flat and other expensive items in dowry
befitting the status of their family in India." In para 9, it is alleged
that the complainant was beaten mercilessly by Accused Nos. 1, 3 and 4 and was
insulted and humiliated. These alleged acts which took place beyond the territory of India, even if assumed to be correct, does not make out a case to
proceed against the first appellant for an offence under Section 406 IPC. The
High Court, in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C., ought to
have quashed the criminal proceedings against the 1st appellant.
As far
as the second appellant is concerned, we are not inclined to disturb the order
of the High Court and put a stop to the proceedings at this stage. It is stated
in para 14 of the FIR that the articles listed in Annexure 'A' belonging to the
first respondent are not being returned to her with a dishonest intention. No
doubt some documents are being relied upon to establish that the respondent had
herself taken her jewellery and other valuable items. But, the truth or
otherwise of the respective versions should be gone into at the trial, as
observed by the High Court. Assuming that there was omission in giving certain
details about the alleged entrustment of moveable properties of the informant
and the dishonest intentions of the appellant, that by itself, in the
circumstances of the case, does not afford a valid ground to quash the
proceedings against the second appellant also. In making this observation, we
shall not however be understood to have expressed any view on merits.
In the
result the appeal of the first appellant is allowed and the proceedings against
him are quashed. The appeal is dismissed as far as the second appellant is
concerned.
..J.
(D.P. Mohapatra)
..J.
(P.Venkatarama
Reddi) March 20, 2002.
Back
