The name of the first petitioner in this proceeding stands deleted as ordered on Crl.M.A No.7588/2014. The 2nd petitioner herein is the original 7th accused in Crime No.152/1996 of the Mannar Police Station. Cognizance on the final report submitted by the police was taken, and the accused Nos.1 to 5 faced trial before the learned Additional Sessions Judge-II, Mavelikkara in S.C No.176/2000. The prosecution examined the material witnesses as PW1 to PW3, but none of them supported the prosecution in view of the amicable settlement made out of court. In such a situation, the learned Sessions Judge acquitted the accused Nos.1 to 5 under Section 232 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The case against accused Nos.6 and 7 was split up and re-filed, and the case was later transferred to the register of long pending cases as L.P No.4/2007. Pending the proceeding the original 6th accused Sumodh died. Now only the petitioner herein, who is the original 7th accused, remains to face prosecution. Now he seeks Crl.M.C No. 3897 of 2014 2 orders under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, quashing the prosecution against him on the ground that he and the injured persons have amicably settled the whole dispute, and that the prosecution cannot in any manner improve the case, or the material witnesses will not support the prosecution in view of the acquittal of others as per judgment dated 21.12.2006 in S.C No.176/2000. Crime in the said case was registered on the complaint of one Prasannakumar, that this petitioner and the others assaulted him and his friend Jayakumar and Radhakrishnan, and inflicted injuries on their body. Those persons are respondents 2 to 4 in this proceeding. They have filed affidavit to the effect that they have settled the dispute amicably with the accused, including the petitioner herein, and that they have no complaint or grievance now. As directed by this Court, the petitioner herein surrendered before the trial court, and it is now reported that he was released on bail.
2. A perusal of Annexure B judgment shows that the other five accused obtained judgment of acquittal under Section 232 of the Code of Criminal Procedure when all the material witnesses turned hostile to the prosecution. They are the respondents 2 to 4 herein. Now doubt, they will not in any Crl.M.C No. 3897 of 2014 3 manner support the prosecution in view of the settlement, if the case against the petitioner herein goes to trial. Continuance of prosecution against the petitioners herein will not serve any purpose other than wasting the precious time of the court.
In the result, this Criminal Miscellaneous Case is allowed. The prosecution pending against the 2nd petitioner herein in L.P No.4/2007 before the Additional Sessions Court-II, Mavelikkara will stand quashed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the petitioner will stand released from prosecution. The bail bond, if any, executed by the petitioner will stand discharged.
P.UBAID JUDGE ab