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902_wp_1252_2015

CRIMINALWRITPETITIONNO.1252OF2015

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1.BharatDevdanSalvi
Age27years,Occ:Business,
res.atSaritaSangamApartment,
Kasarwadi,Pune.

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INTHEHIGHCOURTOFJUDICATUREATBOMBAY
CRIMINALAPPELLATEJURISDICTION

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2.Smt.TeressaDevdanSalvi,
Age48years,Occ:Household,
R/at.SaritaSangamApartment,
Kasarwadi,Pune

3.MaryAjayKumawat
Age29years,Occ:Doctor,
res.atMan,Hinjewadi,
Pune

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4.ShriAjayGovindKumawat
Age34years,Occ:Doctor,
res.atMan,Hindewadi,
Pune.
5.ShriAnnasahebShankarJadhav
Age47years,Occ:Agriculturist,
Res.atNewasa,Ahmednagar
6.ShriMadhukarMotiramSalvi,
Age52years,
Res.atNewasa,Ahmednagar
7.Sou.ParidhanMadhukarSalvi,
Age52years,Occ:Household,
Res.atNewasa,Ahmednagar

..Petitioners
(Org.Accused)

v/s.

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1.TheStateofMaharashtra
throughSeniorPoliceInspector,
BhosariPoliceStation,
Bhosari,Pune.

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2.MissLuisaPetarasJadhav,
Ageadult,Occ:Household,
res.ofNyayNagar,GalliNo.8,
GharNo.444,GarkhedaParisar,
Aurangabad

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902_wp_1252_2015

..Respondents

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Ms.KshitijaG.SarangiforthePetitioner.
Mr.S.S.Shinde, PP a/w. Mrs. S.V.Sonawane, APP for the
Respondent/State.
Mr.SatyavratJoshifortheRespondentNo.2.

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CORAM:RANJITMORE&
SMT.ANUJAPRABHUDESSAI,JJ.
DateofReservingtheorder:17thJuly,2015
DateofPronouncement:20thJanuary,2016

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JUDGMENT(PerAnujaPrabhudessai,J.):
Rule. Rulemadereturnableforthwithwiththeconsentof

theparties.

2.

Thisisapetitionfiledunderarticle226oftheconstitution

r/wsection482oftheCodeofCriminalProcedureforquashingthe
C.R.No.46of2015registeredwithBhosariPoliceStation,Pune,forthe
offencespunishableundersections376and417r/w.34oftheIPC.

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3.

The brief facts necessary to decide this petition are as

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under:

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TheRespondentNo.2whowastomarrythePetitionerNo.1
hadlodgedtheFIRdated15.2.2015allegingthaton9.12.2014,the
PetitionerNo.1hadsexualintercoursewithheragainstherwilland
without her consent. The Respondent No.2 further alleged that

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subsequentlythePetitionerNo.1andhisfamilymemberscalledoffthe

marriageandtherebycheatedher.

4.

Ms.KshitijaSarangi,thelearnedcounselforthePetitionershas

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submittedthattheFIRdoesnotdiscloseoffenceundersection375or
415IPC.Shehassubmittedthatthemarriagewascalledoffinviewof
the lack of compatibility between the Petitioner No.1 and the

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RespondentNo.2.ShehasfurthersubmittedthatthePetitionerNos.2
to7beingthefamilymembersofthePetitionerNo.1werepresentat

the time of finalising the marriage and they are not involved in
commissionofanyoffenceasalleged. The learned counsel for the
PetitionershassubmittedthattheallegationsintheFIRdonotdisclose
any offence and continuation of the proceedings will be abuse of
processoflaw.

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5.

Mr.Shinde,thelearnedAPPhassubmittedthatthematerial

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onrecordprimafacieshowstheinvolvementofthePetitionerNo.1.

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He fairly concedes that the material on record does not show the
involvementofthePetitionerNos.2to7incommissionoftheoffence
undersection376or417oftheIPC.

Mr.SatyavratJoshi,thelearnedcounselfortheRespondentNo.2

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6.

hassubmittedthatthePetitionerNo.1hadsexualintercoursewiththe

RespondentNo.2underafalsepromiseofmarriage. Hehasfurther
submittedthatbycallingoffthemarriage,thePetitionerNo.1andhis

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familymembershavecheatedtheRespondentNo.2.

7.

We have perused the records and considered the submissions

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advanced by the learned counsel for the Petitioners, the learned


counsel for the Respondent No.2 and the learned APP for the

RespondentNo.1State.

8.

The legal principles in regard to quashing of first information

report had been considered by the Hon'ble Apex Court in State of


Haryana&Ors.V/s.Bhajanlal&Ors.1992SUPP(1)SCC335and
several other subsequent decisions. Recently in Rishipal Singh Vs.
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StateofU.P.&Anr (2014) 7 SCC 215theApexCourtwhileconsidering

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thescopeandambitofsection482oftheCr.P.C.hasheldthat

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A bare perusal of Section 482 Cr.P.C. makes it crystal clear


that the object of exercise of power under this section is to
prevent abuse of process of Court and to secure ends of justice.
There are no hard and fast rules that can be laid down for the

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exercise of the extraordinary jurisdiction, but exercising the


same is an exception, but not a rule of law. It is no doubt true
that there can be no straight jacket formula nor defined

parameters to enable a Court to invoke or exercise its inherent


powers. It will always depend upon the facts and circumstances

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of each case. The Courts have to be very circumspect while


exercising jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C.

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9.

The ApexCourt afterconsideringthepreviouspronouncements

hasreiteratedthe guidelines with regard to exercise of jurisdiction by the Courts

under Section 482Cr.P.C.

What emerges from the above judgments is that when a


prosecution at the initial stage is asked to be quashed, the tests
to be applied by the Court is as to whether the uncontroverted
allegations as made in the complaint prima facie establish the
case. The Courts have to see whether the continuation of the
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complaint amounts to abuse of process of law and whether

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continuation of the criminal proceeding results in miscarriage

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of justice or when the Court comes to a conclusion that


quashing these proceedings would otherwise serve the ends of

justice, then the Court can exercise the power under Section
482 Cr.P.C. While exercising the power under the provision, the

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Courts have to only look at the uncontroverted allegation in the


complaint whether prima facie discloses an offence or not, but
it should not convert itself to that of a trial Court and dwell into

the disputed questions of fact.

Thepresentcaseneedstobeexaminedinthebackdropofthe

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10.

abovementionedprinciples. Aplainreadingofthe FIR revealsthat


the Respondent No.2 was to marry the Petitioner No.1, who is

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otherwise related to her. Their engagement ceremony was held on


12.9.2014 in presence of their respective family members including

the Petitioner Nos.3 and 4, the sister and brotherinlaw and the
Petitioner Nos.5, 6 and 7, the maternal uncles and aunt of the
PetitionerNo.1.

11.

The Respondent No.2 had alleged that on 2.12.2014 she had

visited her cousin at Pune. On 9.12.2014she visitedthe Petitioner


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No.2, her would be motherinlaw, at Pune. The Petitioner No.2

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persuadedhertowaittillthePetitionerNo.1returnedhomefromthe

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workplace. ThePetitionerNo.1camehomeatabout9.00p.m.and
sinceitwaslate,thePetitionerNo.2advisedtheRespondentNo.2to
stayover. TheRespondentNo.2hasallegedthatonthesamenight
whenshewasgoingtotheroomofhermotherinlawtosleep,the

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PetitionerNo.1tookhertohisroomandhadsexualintercoursewith
heragainstherwishanddespiteherresistancebyassuringherthat

theywouldbemarryingsoon.ShehasstatedthatthePetitionerNo.1
threatened to call off the marriage if she disclosed the incident to

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anyone.

12.

The Respondent No.2 has further alleged that since the

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Petitionersavoidedfinalisingtheweddingdate,shewenttohiswork
placeon24.01.2015andquestionedhimaboutthesame.Therewas

analtercationbetweenherandthePetitionerNo.1overthesaidissue.
On 10.02.2015, the uncle of the Petitioner No.1 called her and her
parentstoChisbanvillagetofixtheweddingdate.However,instead
offixingtheweddingdate,theycalledoffthemarriageinviewofthe
incidentof24.1.2015.TheRespondentNo.2claimedthatpetitioners
havecheatedherandherfamilybycallingoffthemarriagewithout

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anyreason.Basedontheseallegationstheaforestatedcrimehasbeen

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registered against above Petitioners for offences punishable under

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sections376and417oftheIPC.

It may be mentioned that to constitute an offence of 'rape' as

definedundersection375oftheIndianPenalCode,theactmustbe

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coveredbyany ofthesixclausesofsection375oftheIndianPenal
Code.Inordertoconstituterapeunderthefirstandsecondclauseof

Section 375,whichare relevantforthepurposeofthiscase,sexual


intercourse hastobeagainstthewillandwithouttheconsentofthe

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woman. In State Of U.P vs Chhotey Lal (2011) 2 SCC 550 the Apex
Courthasheldthat:

The expressions `against her will' and `without her

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consent' may overlap sometimes but surely the two


expressionsinclauseFirstandclauseSecondlyhavedifferent
connotation and dimension. The expression `against her
will'wouldordinarilymeanthattheintercoursewasdone
by a man with a woman despite her resistance and
opposition.Ontheotherhand,theexpression`withouther
consent'wouldcomprehendanactofreasonaccompanied
bydeliberation.

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InStateofH.P

.v. InStateofH.P

.v.MangoRam3,a3

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JudgeBenchofthisCourtwhiledealingwiththeaspectof

230oftheReportasunder:

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`consent'forthepurposesofSection375IPCheldatpage

"Submissionofthebodyunderthefearofterrorcannotbe
construedasaconsentedsexualact.Consentforthepurpose

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ofSection 375requires voluntary participation not only


aftertheexerciseofintelligencebasedontheknowledgeof

the significance and moral quality of the act but after


havingfullyexercisedthechoicebetweenresistanceassent.

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Whethertherewasconsentornot,istobeascertainedonly
onacarefulstudyofallrelevantcircumstances."and,the

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expression`withoutherconsent'wouldcomprehendanact

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ofreasonaccompaniedbydeliberation.

TheavermentsintheFIRneedtobeexaminedinthebackdropof

theabove legalposition. TheRespondentno.2wasengagedtothe


petitioner no.1. A plain reading of the FIR reveals on the relevant
night,whentheRespondentno.2hadvisitedthePetitionerNo.1athis
residenceatPune,thepetitionerno.1hadtriedtogetintimatewith
her. Whensheresistedandtoldhimthatitwasnotappropriate,the

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petitionerno.1toldherthattheywouldsoonbegettingmarried.She

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hasallegedthatdespiteherresistance,thepetitionerno.1hadforcible

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sexualintercoursewithheragainstherwill.Shehasstatedthatwhen
shecried,thepetitionerno.1threatenedtocalloffthemarriageifshe
disclosedtheincidenttoanyone.

The allegations in the FIR prima facie indicate that the

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15.

respondentno.2hadnotconsentedtoandwasnotwillingtoenterinto

aphysicalrelationship,despitewhichthepetitionerno.1hadforcible
sexualintercoursewiththeRespondentno.2againstherwishes.The

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medicalevidenceisalsoprimafaciesuggestiveofsexualintercourse.
Theallegationsprimefacieconstitutes'rape'underClause1and2of
sec.375. The question whether it was a case of passive submission

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underpsychologicalpressureorwhetheritwasaresultoftacitconsent
arethequestionswhichwillhavetobefinallydecidedonanalysisof

evidence. Suffice it to state that quashing the FIR in respect of the


offence under Section 376 against the petitioner no.1 at this stage
wouldamounttorejectingtheaccusationmadebytherespondentno.2
without giving her any opportunity to prove the said allegations.
Hence,theprosecutionfortheoffencepunishableunderSection376of
IPCcannotbequashedquathepetitionerno.1.

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It is pertinent to note that the Petitioner Nos. 2 to 7 are the

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16.

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familymembersofthePetitionerNo.1.Therearenoallegationsinthe
FIR that these Petitioners hadeither aidedor abetted the Petitioner
No.1incommissionofoffenceundersection376oftheIPC.Theonly
allegation against these Petitioners is that they had called off the

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marriagebetweenthePetitionerNo.1andtheRespondentNo.2and
hadtherebycheatedtheRespondentNo.2. Itisinthelightofthese

allegationstheoffenceundersection417r/w.34oftheIPChasbeen

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registeredagainstthePetitionerNo.1andhisfamilymembers.

17.

Cheatingisdefinedunder Section415oftheIPCwhichreads

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asunder:

18.

Whoever, by deceiving any person, fraudulently or


dishonestly induces the person so deceived to deliver
any property to any person, or to consent that any
person shall retain any property, or intentionally
induces the person so deceived to do or omit to do
anythingwhichhewouldnotdooromitifhewerenot
so deceived, and which act or omission causes or is
likelytocausedamageorharmtothatpersoninbody,
mind,reputationorproperty,issaidtocheat.

The Honourable Supreme Court in G.V.Rao v. L.H.V.Prasad

(2000)page693hasheldasunder:

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Asmentionedabove,Section415hastwoparts.While
in the first part, the person must "dishonestly" or
"fraudulently" induce the complainant to deliver any
property; in the second part, the person should
intentionallyinducethecomplainanttodooromittodo
a thing. That is to say, in the first part, inducement
mustbedishonestorfraudulent.Inthesecondpart,the
inducement shouldbeintentional.Asobservedbythis
Court in Jaswantrai Manilal Akhaney vs. State of
Bombay, AIR 1956 SC 575 = 1956 Crl.L.J. 1611 =
1956 SCR 483, a guilty intention is an essential
ingredientoftheoffenceofcheating.Inorder,therefore,
to secure conviction of a person for the offence of
cheating,"mensrea"onthepartofthatperson,mustbe
established.ItwasalsoobservedinMahadeoPrasadvs.
StateofWestBengal,AIR1954SC724=1954Cr.L.J.
1806,thatinordertoconstitutetheoffenceofcheating,
the intention to deceive should be in existence at the
timewhentheinducementwasoffered.Thus,sofaras
secondpartof Section415 isconcerned,"property",at
nostage,isinvolved.Hereitisthedoingofanactor
omissiontodoanactbythecomplainant,asaresultof
intentional inducement by the accused, which is
material.Suchinducementshouldresultinthedoingof
anactoromissiontodoanactasaresultofwhichthe
personconcernedshouldhavesufferedorwaslikelyto
suffer damage or harm in body, mind, reputation or
property

19.

Intheinstantcase,theallegationsinthecomplaintarethatthe

petitioner no.1 had sexual intercourse with the respondent no.2


againstherwishes,bystatingthattheywouldbemarryingsoonand
laterthepetitionerno.1andhisfamilyviz.petitionernos.2to7called
offthemarriageandtherebycheatedtherespondentno.2. TheFIR

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reveals that the imputationsofcheatingare made onlybecause the

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Petitionershadcalledoffthemarriage.

20. In HridayaRanjanPrasadVermavs.StateofBihar(2000)4
SCC168theApexCourthasheldthat:

indeterminingthequestionithastobekeptinmindthatthe

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distinctionbetweenmerebreachofcontractandtheoffenceof
cheatingisafineone.Itdependsupontheintentionofthe

accusedatthetimetoinducementwhichmaybejudgedbyhis
subsequentconductbutforthissubsequentconductisnotthe

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soletest.Merebreachofcontractcannotgiverisetocriminal
prosecution for cheating unless fraudulent or dishonest

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intentionisshownrightatthebeginningofthetransaction,
that is the time when the offence is said to have been
committed.Thereforeitistheintentionwhichisthegistofthe
offence.Toholdapersonguiltyofcheatingitisnecessaryto
show that he had fraudulent or dishonest intention at the
timeofmakingthepromise.

21.

In the instant case, the FIR reveals that the marriage of the

PetitionerNo.1andtheRespondentNo.2wasfinalisedbytheirparents
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andotherfamilymembersandtheirengagementceremonywasheld

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on12.9.2014.TheFIRdoesnotindicatethatthePetitionerNo.1from

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the very inception did not have intention to marry the respondent
no.2.TheFIRdoesnotindicatethatthePetitionerNo.1hadobtained
theconsentoftheRespondentNo.2andhadinducedherintoentering
into a physical relationship by making a false promise of marriage

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withouthavingintentionorinclinationtomarryher.Thefactthatthe
PetitionerNo.1subsequentlyrefusedtomarryherwouldnotleadtoan

inference that from the very inception the Petitioner No.1 did not

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intendtomarryingher.

22.

TherecordsrevealthatthemarriageofthePetitionerNo.1and

the Respondent no.2 was called off after the incident of 24.1.2015

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whentheRespondentNo.2hadvisitedtheworkplaceofthePetitioner
No.1andquarreledwithhimovernonfinalizingofthedateofthe

marriage. A mere breach of promise of marriage or calling off the


marriageduetononcompatibilityorforanysuchreasonwouldnot
perseconstituteanoffenceundersection415oftheIPC,particularly
whentheFIRdoesnotstatethatthePetitionerNo.1andhisfamily
membershaddeceivedtheRespondentNo.2orintentionallyinduced
hertodoanysuchactwhichwaslikelytocausedamageorharmto

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The allegations made in the FIR therefore, do not attract the

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therespondentno.2.

ingredientofsection415oftheIPCandconsequentlydonotconstitute
offencepunishableundersection417oftheIPC.Thisbeingthecase,
thepetitionerscannotbeprosecutedfortheoffencepunishableunder

Atthisstage,wewouldliketostatethatuponregistrationofC.R.

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section417r/w.34oftheIPC.

No.46of2015thePetitionerNos.3and4beingthesisterandbrother

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inlawofthePetitionerNo.1hadfiledanapplicationforanticipatory
bail.Thesaidapplicationwasdismissedonthegroundthatnooffence
wasregisteredagainstthem. Sufficeistosaythattheregistrationof

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offence is not a sine qua non for entertaining an application for


anticipatorybail. Theonlyrequirementisareasonableapprehension

ofarrestinanonbailableoffence.

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Be that as it may, upon dismissal of the said application for

anticipatorybail,thesetwopetitionerswerearrestedon7.6.2015.They
had filed an application for regular bail on 9.6.2015 being Bail
Application No.1917 of 2015 before the learned Additional Sessions
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Judge,Pune.Byorderdated17thJune,2015,thisCourthaddirected

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thelearnedSessionsJudgetodisposeofthesaidapplicationasearlyas

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possibleandpossiblyon19.6.2015itself.Saidorderwasnotcomplied
with. ConsideringthefactthattheFIRdidnotdiscloseanyoffence
againstthesetwoPetitioners,whoareDoctorbyprofession,thisCourt

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byorderdated24thJune,2015orderedtoreleasethemonbail.

It is pertinent to note that though the offence was registered

under section 376 and 417 IPC, the FIR does not spell out any
allegationsofrapeagainstthepetitionerNos.3and4.TheInvestigating

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Officerhasstatedinheraffidavitthaton4.04.2015shehadreceivedan
applicationfromtheRespondentno.2allegingthatthepetitionersno.3
and4hadthreatenedherandthatsheapprehendsthreattoherlife.It

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may be mentioned that no crime has been registered against these


petitionersforthreateningtheRespondentno.2.Thesepetitionerswere

implicatedinthecrimeonlyontheallegationthattheyhadinfluenced
the petitioner no.1 in calling off the marriage and had thereby
committedanoffenceofcheatingpunishableundersection417ofthe
IPC. Based on these allegations, these petitioners were arrested on
8.06.2015.

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27.

It is pertinent to note that the offence under section 417 is

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bailableandispunishablewithimprisonmentforoneyear,orfineor

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both,despitewhichthesetwopetitionerswerearrestedandremanded
tocustodyfromtimetotime. Needlesstostatethatthepowerof
arrestaswellasthepowertoremandcannotbeexercisedinacasual

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manner.

In JoginderKumarv.StateofU.P.&Ors.(1994)4SCC260,

theApexCourthasemphasizedthat:

Noarrestcanbemadebecauseitislawfulforthepoliceofficer

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todoso.Theexistenceofthepowerstoarrestisonething.The
justificationfortheexerciseofitisquiteanother. Thepolice
officermustbeabletojustifythearrestapartfromhispowerto

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doso. Arrestanddetentioninpolicelockup ofapersoncan


causeincalculableharmtothereputationandselfesteemofa
person.Noarrestcanbemadeinaroutinemanneroronamere
allegationofcommissionofanoffencemadeagainstaperson.
It would be prudent for a police officer in the interest of
protectionoftheconstitutionalrightsofacitizenandperhapsin
his own interest that no arrest should be made without a
reasonable satisfactionreached after someinvestigationasthe

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genuineness and bona fides of a complaint and a reasonable

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beliefbothastotheperson'scomplicityandevensoastothe

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needtoeffect arrest. Denyingapersonhislibertyisaserious


matter.

29.

InthecaseofArneshKumarv.StateofBihar&Anr.(2014)8

Cr.P.C.hasheldasunder:

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SCC273,theApexCourtafterconsideringthescopeofSection41of

7.1. Fromaplainreadingoftheaforesaidprovision,it

is evident that a person accused of offence punishable


withimprisonmentforatermwhichmaybelessthan

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sevenyearsorwhichmayextendtosevenyearswithor
withoutfine,cannotbearrestedbythepoliceofficeronly
onitssatisfactionthatsuchpersonhadcommittedthe

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offence punishable as aforesaid. Police officer before


arrest,insuchcaseshastobefurthersatisfiedthatsuch
arrest is necessary to prevent such person from
committing any further offence; or for proper
investigationofthecase;ortopreventtheaccusedfrom
causing the evidence of the offence to disappear; or
tampering with such evidence in any manner; or to
preventsuchpersonfrommakinganyinducement,threat
or promise to a witness so as to dissuade him from
disclosingsuchfactstotheCourtorthepoliceofficer;or

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unlesssuchaccusedpersonisarrested,hispresenceinthe

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courtwheneverrequiredcannotbeensured.Thesearethe
conclusions,whichonemayreachbasedonfacts.Law

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mandatesthepoliceofficertostatethefactsandrecord

the reasons in writing which led him to come to a


conclusion covered by any of the provisions aforesaid,
whilemakingsucharrest.Lawfurtherrequiresthepolice
officerstorecordthereasonsinwritingfornotmaking

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thearrest.Inpithandcore,thepoliceofficebeforearrest
mustputaquestiontohimself,whyarrest?Isitreally
required?Whatpurposeitwillserve?Whatobjectitwill

achieve?Itisonlyafterthesequestionsareaddressedand
one or the other conditions as enumerated above is
satisfied, the power of arrest needs to be exercised. In

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fine, before arrest first the police officers should have


reason to believe on the basis of information and
material that the accused has committed the offence.

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Apart from this, the police officer has to be satisfied


furtherthatthearrestisnecessaryforoneorthemore
purposesenvisagedbysubclauses
(a)to(e)ofclause(1)ofSection41ofCr.PC.

30.

UponconsideringthescopeofSection41AofCr.P.C.andwhile

emphasizingtheneedtoensurethatthepoliceofficersdonotarrest
theaccused unnecessarilyandMagistratedonotauthorizedetention
casually and mechanically the Apex Court has given following
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directions:

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11.1. All the State Government to instruct its

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policeofficersnottoautomaticallyarrestwhenthecase
underSection498AofIPCisregistered,buttosatisfy
themselves about the necessity for arrest under the
parameterslaiddownaboveflowingfromSection41
Cr.P.C.

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11.2. Allpoliceofficersbeprovidedwithachecklist
containingspecifiedsubclausesunderSection41(1)(b)
(ii);

11.3.Thepoliceofficershallforwardthechecklistduly
filed and furnish the reasons and materials which

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necessitatedthe arrest,whileforwarding/producing the


accusedbeforetheMagistrateforfurtherdetention;
11.4.TheMagistratewhileauthorisingdetentionofthe

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accused shall peruse the report furnished by the police


officer in terms aforesaid and only after recording its
satisfaction,theMagistratewillauthorisedetention;
11.5. The decision not to arrest an accused, be
forwardedtotheMagistratewithintwoweeksfromthe
date of the institution of the case with a copy to the
MagistratewhichmaybeextendedbytheSuperintendent
ofpoliceofthedistrictforthereasonstoberecordedin
writing;
11.6. Notice of appearance in terms ofSection 41Aof

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Cr.PCbeservedontheaccusedwithintwoweeksfromthe

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dateofinstitutionofthecase,whichmaybeextendedby
toberecordedinwriting;

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theSuperintendentofPoliceoftheDistrictforthereasons

11.7. Failure to comply with the directions aforesaid


shallapartfromrenderingthepoliceofficersconcerned
liablefordepartmentalaction,theyshallalsobeliableto
bepunishedforcontemptofcourttobeinstitutedbefore

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HighCourthavingterritorialjurisdiction.
11.8. Authorisingdetentionwithoutrecordingreasons

asaforesaidbythejudicialMagistrateconcernedshallbe
liable for departmentalactionby theappropriateHigh
Court.

Wehastentoaddthatthedirectionsaforesaidshall

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12.

notonlyapplytothecasesunderSection498AoftheI.P.C.
orSection 4of the Dowry Prohibition Act, the case in
withimprisonment foratermwhichmay belessthan
sevenyearsorwhichmayextendtosevenyears;whether
withorwithoutfine.

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hand, but also such cases where offence is punishable

31.

Revertingtothepresentcase,thoughtheInvestigatingofficerhas

stated in the affidavit that the guidelinesaslaid down by the Apex


CourtinthearrestofAccusedwerefollowedatthetimeofarrest,a
perusalofthecasediaryrevealsthatthedirectionsinArneshKumar
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(supra) have not been followed. The concerned investigating officer

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had arrested the petitioners no.3 and 4 without ascertaining their

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complicity in the offence. Though the offence was bailable, these


petitioners were produced before the Magistrate and remand was
soughtforthepurposeofascertainingthereasonforcallingoffthe
marriage,forverifyingwhethertheotherrelativeswere involved,to

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verifywhetherthesepetitionerswereinvolvedincheatinganyother
person and for arresting the coaccused Annasaheb Jadhav. The

records reveal that the learned magistrate had also mechanically


remandedthemtocustodyfromtimetotimewithoutevenascertaining

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thenatureoftheallegationsagainstthesepetitioners.

32.

Thepetitionersno.3and4hadfiledthebailapplicationbefore

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thesessionscourton9.6.2015.ThelearnedSessionsJudgehadcalled
for the say of the prosecution on 19.6.2015. By order dated

17.06.2015 the learned Judge was directed to dispose of the


applicationon19.06.2015itself.ThelearnedJudgedidnotdispose
of the application and adjourned the same to 22.6.2015. On
24.06.2015thelearnedcounselforthepetitionersmadeastatement
thaton19.6.2015thecounselforthepetitionersandthelearnedAPP
were present in the court and despite the request to hear the bail

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application,thelearnedJudgewasreluctanttoheartheapplication

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andhadadjournedthehearingto22.06.2015. Itwasfurtherstated

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thatthecounselforthepetitionershadappearedbeforethecourton
22.06.2015andthatshewasinformedthatthebailapplicationwould
be heard in the afternoon session. However, by 12 p.m. she was
informedthatthelearnedJudgehadproceededonleaveonmedical

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groundsandthehearingofthebailapplicationwasfurtheradjourned.
Inviewoftheabovestatement,thiscourtbyorderdated24.6.2015

ordered to release the petitioners on bail. The Principal District

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SessionsJudge,Punewasdirectedtosubmitthereporttothiscourt.

33.

Wehaveperusedthereportandtheexplanationtenderedbythe

learnedJudge,andthesameinourviewisnotsatisfactory.Thebail

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application was filed on 09.06.2015 and was opposed on the same


groundsasstatedintheremandapplication.ThelearnedJudgefailed

to consider that there were no allegations of rape against these


petitionersandtheonlyallegationwereofoffencepunishableunder
Section417IPC. ThelearnedJudgehadadjournedthehearingon
19.6.2015,merelyonthestatementoftheAPPthattheoffencewasof
seriousnature.Despitethedirectiontodisposeofthebailapplication
on 19.06.2015, and despite the offence being bailable offence, the

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failureofthelearnedJudgetodisposeoftheapplicationexpeditiously

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hasalsoresultedinillegaldetentionofthepetitionersincustodyfrom

34.

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7thJune,2015to24thJune,2015.

It is indeed a matterofgreat concern that despite the offence

beingbailable,theInvestigatingagency,theJudicialMagistrateaswell

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as the Sessions Court were responsible for detaining the aforesaid


petitioners in custody from 7.6.2015 to 24.6.2015 in total

contravention of the directions of the Apex Court in Arnesh Kumar


(supra) and in violation of the fundamental rights of the petitioner

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nos.3and4.

35.

Hencewedeemitfittodirectanenquiryagiansttheerrantpolice

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officers,aswellastheconcernedjudicialofficers,inaccordancewith
thedirectionsoftheApexCourtinArneshKumar(para11.7and11.8.

supra). Thepetitionernos.3and4areatlibertytofileappropriate
proceedingsforcompensation,iftheysodesire.

36.

Underthecircumstancesandinviewofdiscussionsupra,wepass

thefollowingorder:
(i)Thepetitionispartlyallowed,withcostsofRs.50,000/
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tobepaidtothepetitionernos.3and4.

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(ii) The C.R.No.46 of 2015 registered at Bhosari Police

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Station,Pune,isquashedquathePetitionerNos.2to7and
quashed qua the petitioner no.1 only in respect of the
offenceundersection417r/w34oftheIPC.

(iii)Theregistryisdirectedtoforwardcopyofthisorderto

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the Commissioner of Police, Pune. The Commissioner of


Police,Punetoenquireintothematterofillegaldetention

andtofixtheresponsibilityandtotakedisciplinaryaction
againsttheerringpoliceofficers.

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(iv) The respondent no.1 shall recover the costs of


Rs.50,000/fromtheerringpoliceofficers.
(viTheinquiryandactiontakenreportbefiledbeforethis

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court within four months from the date of receipt of this


order.
(vi) A copy of this order be forwarded to the Registrar
General,HighCourt,tobeplacedbeforetheHonourableThe
ChiefJustice,BombayHighCourt.

(ANUJAPRABHUDESSAI,J.)

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(RANJITMORE,J.)

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