On the complaint lodged by the second respondent, a case in Crime No.1207 of 2016 was registered and after completing the investigation, the police have filed a final report in C.C.No.473 of 2016 before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.VI, Madurai, against the petitioner for offences under Sections 188 and 506(ii) of the Indian Penal Code, challenging which, the petitioner is before this Court.
2. Heard Mr.C.Muthu Saravanan, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.A.P.Balasubramani, learned Government Advocate (Criminal side), appearing on behalf of the first respondent.
3. Mr.C.Muthu Saravanan, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that for taking cognizance of an offence under
Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, the procedure contemplated under
Section 195 of the Code of Criminal Procedure should have to be followed and in this case, the same has not been followed, but, whereas, a final report has been filed under
Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by the police, based on which, the learned Judicial Magistrate No.VI, Madurai, has taken cognizance of the offence.
4. There appears to be sufficient force in the submission of Mr.C.Muthu Saravanan, learned counsel for the petitioner. Inasmuch as for initiating a prosecution under
Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, the procedure under
Section 195 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has to be followed, which has been held by the Supreme Court in C.Muniappan v. State of Tamil Nadu reported in 2010(9) SCC 567. Therefore, the order of the learned Magistrate taking cognizance of the offence under
Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code stands quashed.
5. However, on a reading of the final report, it is seen that there are prima facie materials to proceed against the petitioner for the offence under
Section 506(ii) of the Indian Penal Code.
6. In the result, this Criminal Original Petition is partly allowed. However, it is made clear that whatever mentioned herein is only for the limited extent of deciding the quash application and not for trial and the Trial Court shall proceed with the case uninfluenced by this order. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
To
1.The Judicial Magistrate No.VI, Madurai.
2.The Sub-Inspector of Police, E-1, K.Pudur Police Station, Madurai City.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai..