Hori Lal vs State of U.P. and Another

Bala Krishna Narayana, J.—Heard learned Counsel for the applicant and learned A.G.A.

The present application u/s 482 Code of Criminal Procedure has been filed for quashing the charge sheet dated 20.03.2009 passed in Case Crime No. 17 of 2009, under Sections 147, 148, 323, 324, 504, 506 and 452 I.P.C., Police Station Magorra, District Mathura pending in the Court of Judicial Magistrate, Mathura.

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 referred to 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 Code of Criminal Procedure 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 v. Bhajan Lal 1992 SCC 426, State of Bihar v. P.P. Sharma 1992 SCC 192 and lastly Zandu Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. v. Mohd. Saraful Haq and Anr. (Para-10) 2005 SCC 283.

The disputed defence of the accused cannot be considered at this stage. Moreover, the applicant has got right of discharge u/s 239 or 227/228 Code of Criminal Procedure as the case may be through a proper application for the said purpose and they are 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, liberty is given to the applicant to seek discharge at the appropriate stage.

However, it is directed that the applicant shall appear and surrender before the court below within 30 days from today and applies for bail, his prayer for bail shall be considered and decided on the same day keeping in view of the settled law laid by this Court in the case of Amrawati and Anr. v. State of U.P., reported in 2004 (57) ALR 290 as well as judgment passed by Hon''ble Apex Court reported in 2009 (3) ADJ 322 Lal Kamlendra Pratap Singh v. State of U.P. For a period of 30 days from today or till the disposal of the application for grant of bail whichever is earlier, no coercive action shall be taken against the applicant. However, in case in applicant does not appear before the Court below within the aforesaid period, coercive action shall be taken against him.

With the aforesaid directions, this application is finally disposed of.