The petitioner herein is the original second accused in Crime No.21 of 2007 of Sakthikulangara Police Station. The other accused involved in the crime faced trial in SC No.353 of 2008 before the Additional Sessions Court (Adhoc ) II, Kollam and obtained acquittal, when all the material witnesses including the persons who sustained injuries in the incident turned totally hostile to the prosecution. When the petitioner herein absconded from judicial process, the case against him was split up and re-filed, and now it stands transferred to the register of long pending cases as LP 13 of 2010. The original second accused has now approached this Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C to have the prosecution against him quashed on the ground that he and the injured persons have amicably settled the whole dispute, and that continuance of prosecution will not serve any purpose, especially when the other accused had acquitted.
Crl.M.C No.4308 of 2014 2 2. Annexure-A2 judgment produced by the petitioner shows that during trial in SC No.353 of 2008, all the material witnesses including injured persons turned hostile, and they stated nothing to incriminate any of the accused. When cross-examined by the learned Public Prosecutor, all of them stated that the matter stands settled. As composition as such was not possible, the trial court proceeded with trial and accordingly, the prosecution examined the material witnesses.
In the above circumstances, I find that prosecution against the petitioner herein will not serve any purpose. The petitioner seeks orders not just because the other accused stand acquitted, but mainly on the ground that the dispute stands settled. Annexure A2 judgment shows that such a settlement was in fact reported, but it could not be acted upon as composition. Anyway, presently there is no dispute between the parties, and the injured persons have no complaint or grievance. There is absolutely no possibility of then supporting the prosecution in case the case against the petitioner goes to trial. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has held Crl.M.C No.4308 of 2014 3 in so many decisions that even in cases involving non- compoundable offences, the High Court can act under Section 482 Cr.P.C and quash the prosecution, if continuance of prosecution will not serve any purpose, or will only waste the precious time of the court.
In the result, this petition is allowed. The prosecution against the petitioner herein now pending in LP 13 of 2010 of the Additional Sessions Court (Adhoc) II, Kollam will stand quashed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C, and the petitioner will stand released from prosecution. The bail bond, if any, executed by the petitioner will stand discharged.
ma /True copy/ Sd/- P.UBAID JUDGE P.S to Judge