IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 1292 of 2011 For Approval and Signature:
HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH
========================================================= 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ?
2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ?
3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ?
4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the constitution of India, 1950 or any order made thereunder ?
5 Whether it is to be circulated to the civil judge ?
========================================================= B P SHAH AND OR AMITABHA GANGULY - AUTHORISED OFFICER -
Applicant(s) Versus URMILABEN HASMUKHBHAI PATEL & 3 - Respondent(s) ========================================================= Appearance :
MR MD RANA for Applicant(s) : 1, RULE SERVED BY DS for Respondent(s) : 1, MR LB DABHI ADDL.PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for Respondent(s) : 2, RULE SERVED for Respondent(s) : 3 - 4.
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CORAM : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH
Date : 18/01/2012
ORAL JUDGMENT
1.00. Present petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been preferred by the petitioner – original accused No.1 to quash and set aside the impugned complaint being Criminal Inquiry Case No.51 of 2010 pending in the Court of learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Court No.13, Ahmedabad, filed by respondent No.1 herein, for the offences under Section 29 of the Securitisation Act, 2002 and under Sections 323, 341, 354, 420, 477, 426 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
2.00. The respondent No.1 – original complainant, who was the borrower, has instituted the impugned complaint being Criminal Inquiry Case No.51 of 2010 against the petitioner and others, in the court of learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Ahmedabad, for the offences offences punishable under section Section 29 of the Securitisation Act, 2002 and under Sections 323, 341, 354, 420, 477, 426 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, alleging inter-alia that accused persons have committed the aforesaid offences while taking over the possession of the original complainant. That in the said complaint the learned Metropolitan Magistrate has passed an order for inquiry under section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Being aggrieved by and dissatisfied with the same, the petitioner - original accused No.1 – authorised officer of the UCO Bank has preferred the present petition under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
3.00. Mr.Rana, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner has vehemently submitted that as such the petitioner has not committed any offences as alleged and whatever have been done by the petitioner and concerned officers of the Bank was permissible under the provisions of the Securitisation Act and after following due procedure as required under the provisions of Securitisation Act, the possession of the disputed property was taken over. It is further submitted that the impugned complaint is nothing but abuse of process of law and Court and only with a view to pressurize the bank to settle the dues as per the terms of the complainant. It is further submitted that the impugned complaint is absolutely vexatious and malafide. It is further submitted that the original complainant herein is in habit of filing such complaints against the bank officers and others. It is further submitted that even otherwise on bare reading of the impugned complaint, no case is made out against the petitioner for the offences alleged. It is submitted that by taking over the possession of the property in question in exercise of powers under the Securitisation Act, it cannot be said that the petitioner being officer of the Bank and/or applicant has committed any offences as alleged under Section 29 of the Securitisation Act. It is further submitted that similar such complaints filed against the petitioner have been quashed and set aside by this Court by judgment and order passed in Criminal Miscellaneous Application Nos.2560/2006, 494/2006, 8762/2006 and 8507/2007. Therefore, it is further submitted that even on bear reading of the complaint, it cannot be said that any offence is alleged to have been committed by the petitioner under the Indian Penal Code. Therefore, it is requested to exercise powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and to quash and set aside the impugned complaints which are absolutely malafide, vexatious and it does not disclose any offence against the petitioner.
4.00. Though served nobody appears on behalf of the respondent No.1 – original complainant.
5.00. Mr.L.B. Dabhi, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the State has requested to pass appropriate order considering the facts and circumstances of the case.
6.00. Having heard Mr.Rana, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Mr.Dabhi, learned APP appearing on behalf of the State and considering the impugned complaint and the material on record, it appears that the possession of the properties have been taken over by the bank – the creditors in exercise of powers under the provisions of the Securitisation Act. By taking over the possession of the properties under the provisions of the Securitisation Act, it cannot be said that the petitioner has committed any offence as alleged under Section 29 of the Securitisation Act. Under the circumstances, as such no case is made out against the petitioner for the offence under Section 29 of the Securitisation Act as alleged.
6.01. Now, so far as alleged offences under the Indian Penal Code are concerned, considering the impugned complaint and considering the averments and allegations in the complaint as they are, it does not disclose even a prima facie commission of any offence as alleged. Nothing has been submitted how the offences as alleged under the Indian Penal Code are committed by the petitioner. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, it appears that impugned complaint is nothing but vexatious and has been filed with malafide intention against petitioner and other bank officers and even the Chairman and Managing Director of the bank having its office at Mumbai. Under the circumstances, it appears to the Court that to continue criminal proceedings against the petitioner would be abuse of process of law and Court and therefore, this is a fit case to exercise powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and to quash and set aside the impugned complaint / criminal proceedings. It is also required to be noted and it appears that the respondent No.1 herein – original complainant is in habit of filing false and frivolous complaints and at least in four cases this Court has quashed and set aside the complaints filed by the original complainant – respondent No.1 herein while passing orders in Criminal Miscellaneous Application Nos. 2560/2006, 494/2006, 8762/2006 and 8507/2007.
6.02. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, present petition succeeds and the impugned complaint being Criminal Inquiry Case No.51 of 2010, pending in the Court of learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Court No.13, Ahmedabad is hereby quashed and set aside so far as the petitioner herein – original accused No.1 is concerned. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent.
[M.R. SHAH, J.] rafik