Chhabi Nath vs State of U.P. and Another

Hon''ble Bala Krishna Narayana, J.—Heard Learned Counsel for the applicant and learned A.G.A. The present 482 Cr.P.C. petition has been filed for quashing the charge-sheet dated 24.4.2011 submitted in case crime No.316 of 2011, u/s 138-B Electricity Act, P.S. Bhogaon, District Mainpuri.

The contention of the counsel for the applicant is that no offence against the applicant is disclosed and the present prosecution has been instituted with a malafide intention for the purposes of harassment. He pointed out certain documents and statements in support of his contention.

From the perusal of the material on record and looking into the facts of the case at this stage it cannot be said that no offence is made out against the applicant. All the submission made at the bar relates to the disputed question of fact, which cannot be adjudicated upon by this Court u/s 482 Cr.P.C. At this stage only prima facie case is to be seen in the light of the law laid down by Supreme Court in cases of R.P. Kapur Vs. The State of Punjab, , State of Haryana Vs. Bhajan Lal, 1992 SCC (Cr.) 426, State of Bihar Vs. P.P. Sharma, 1992 SCC (Cr.) 192 and lastly Zandu Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. Vs. Mohd. Saraful Haq and another (Para-10) 2005 SCC (Cr.) 283. The disputed defence of the accused cannot be considered at this stage. Moreover, the applicant has got a right of discharge u/s 239 or 227/228, Cr.P.C. as the case may be through a proper application for the said purpose and he is free to take all the submissions in the said discharge application before the Trial Court.

The prayer for quashing the charge-sheet is refused.

However, it is directed that the applicant shall appears and surrenders before the court below within 30 days from today and applies for bail, his prayer for bail shall be considered and decided expeditiously, if possible on the same day in view of the settled law laid by this Court in the case of Amrawati and another Vs. State of U.P. reported in 2004 (57) ALR 290 as well as judgement passed by Hon''ble Apex Court reported in 2009 (3) ADJ 322 (SC) Lal Kamlendra Pratap Singh Vs. State of U.P. For a period of 30 days from today no coercive action shall be taken against the applicant. It is being made clear that in case the applicant failed to surrender before the concerned court within the period indicated hereinabove, this application shall stand dismissed without any further reference to the court below. Subject to the aforesaid directions, this application is finally disposed of.