Supreme Court Examines Whether Magistrate Properly Exercised Discretion Under Section 202 CrPC Instead of Ordering Investigation Under Section 156(3) CrPC. Appeal Challenges High Court's Refusal to Interfere with Magistrate's Order in Forgery and Cheating Case.

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Issue of Consideration

Whether the Magistrate should have ordered investigation under Section 156(3) CrPC instead of further inquiry under Section 202(1) CrPC given the allegations of forgery requiring seizure of documents?

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Case Details

2015 LawText (SC) (03) 92

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.600 OF 2007

Adarsh Kumar Goel

Ramdev Food Products Private Limited

State of Gujarat

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Nature of Litigation

Criminal appeal against High Court order upholding Magistrate's direction for further inquiry under Section 202 CrPC instead of investigation under Section 156(3) CrPC.

Remedy Sought

Appellant sought direction for investigation under Section 156(3) CrPC.

Filing Reason

Alleged commission of offences under IPC Sections 409, 420, 406, 467, 468, 471 read with 120-B and 114, involving forgery of partnership documents to usurp trademark.

Previous Decisions

High Court declined to interfere with Magistrate's order dated 16th August 2005; Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Sanand directed report under Section 202(1) CrPC instead of investigation.

Issues

Whether the Magistrate should have ordered investigation under Section 156(3) CrPC instead of further inquiry under Section 202(1) CrPC given the allegations of forgery requiring seizure of documents?

Submissions/Arguments

The appellant argued that the Magistrate failed to apply his mind as the allegations involved forgery and the documents needed to be seized, which warranted investigation under Section 156(3) and not just further inquiry.

Judgment Excerpts

The High Court declined to interfere with the Order dated 16th August, 2005, of the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Sanand on a complaint filed by the appellant against fourteen accused for alleged commission of offences under Sections 409, 420, 406, 467, 468, 471 read with Section 120-B and 114 of the Indian Penal Code directing the Police Sub-Inspector, Sanand, to give a report to the Court within thirty days under Section 202(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short “the Code”) instead of directing investigation under Section 156(3) of the Code, as sought by the appellant. The appellant sought direction for investigation under Section 156(3) of the Code. However, the Magistrate instead of directing investigation as prayed, thought it fit to conduct further inquiry under Section 202 and sought report of the Police Sub Inspector within thirty days.

Procedural History

The appellant filed a complaint before Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Sanand, alleging offences under IPC. On 16th August 2005, the Magistrate directed police to submit a report under Section 202(1) CrPC within 30 days instead of ordering investigation under Section 156(3). The appellant challenged this order before the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad in Special Criminal Application No.1821 of 2005. The High Court vide judgment dated 17th February 2006 declined to interfere. Hence, this appeal by special leave before the Supreme Court.

Acts & Sections

  • Indian Penal Code, 1860: 409, 420, 406, 467, 468, 471, 120-B, 114
  • Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: 156(3), 202(1)
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Supreme Court Supreme Court Examines Whether Magistrate Properly Exercised Discretion Under Section 202 CrPC Instead of Ordering Investigation Under Section 156(3) CrPC. Appeal Challenges High Court's Refusal to Interfere with Magistrate's Order in Forgery and Che...