Nitin Singh v. State of U.P. Thru. Its Prin. Secy. Home Deptt. Lko

Court No. - 13 Case :- APPLICATION U/S 482 No. - 7300 of 2024 Applicant :- Nitin Singh Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. Thru. Its Prin. Secy. Home Deptt. Lko Counsel for Applicant :- Shamshad Ahmad Khan Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Saurabh Lavania,J.

¶1Heard learned counsel for the applicant as well as learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record.

¶2By means of the present application, the order dated 20.07.2024 passed by Additional District Judge, Court No.9, Lucknow in Case Crime No.0267 of 2023 has been challenged.

¶3By the impugned order, the application seeking discharge preferred, after seeking bail from this Court, by the applicant has been rejected. The order dated

20.07.2024 for ready reference is extracted hereinunder:-"1-

पततवललपपशहहई।पततवललवतसतपउनममचनपतररनतपतआदपशहपततननयतहह।

पततवललकतपररशललननकयत। 2-

उकउनममचनपतररनतपतकपसमबनधममउनममचनकपनबनदतपरअनभयतककप

नवदतनअधधवकततरतनवदतनसहतयकधजलतशतसककयअधधवकत(फफजदतरल) कम

सतनतगयत। 3-

अनभयतकनननतनधससहदतरतपतररनतपतवतसतपउनममचनपसतत करतपहहएयह

आधतरधलयतगयतहहनकअनभयतक/

आवपदककपधखलतफभतरतलयदसडससनहततकक

धतरत306

कपतहतकमईमतमलतनहहबनततहह।अनभयतक/

आवपदककपनवरदलगतए

गएआरमपपपरलतरहसपननरतधतरहहकययनकअनभयतक/

आवपदकनपकमईअपरतधनहह

नकयतहह।ऐसतकमईसतकयनहहहहधजससपयहपततचलपनकअनभयतक/

आवपदककप

नवरदकतयरवतहलकपधलएपयतरपआधतरहह।बयतनयएवसनशकतयतकपअवलमकनसपयह

पततचलततहहनककमईभलसपषरपसपदमषलठहरतनपवतलतसतकयउपलबधनहहहह,

इसधलएअनभयतक/

आवपदककमसभलआरमपयसपमतकनकयतजतनतचतनहए।

नशकयतकततरदतरतदजरकरतईगईपरमसपचनतररपमररनवलमबसपदजरकरतयलगयलहह,

उसकपअनतसतरघरनत12/12/2023

कमहहईरल,

जबनकपरमसपचनतररपमररकधरत

घरनतकपपतसचनदनबतद17/12/2023

कमदजरकरतयलगयलहह।नवलमबकतकमई

उनचतसपषलकरणभलनहलनदयतगयतहह।नशकतयतकततरतरतउसकपपररवतरदतरत

एफआईआरदजनकरनपकपधलएपसदहलतखरपयपककअवहधमतसगककगईरल,

कययनकआवपदकगरलबपररवतरसपहह,

उसनपइसपपपरतकरनपसपअसमररततजततयल,

इसधलएनशकतयतकततरनझपठपऔरततचछकरनयकपआधतरपरआकपनपतपरम

सपचनतररपमररदजरकरतदल।जतसचअधधकतरलदतरतधतरत306

आईपलसलकपतहतनबनत

नकसलठमसएवसनवशवसनलयसतकयकपआरमपपतदतयरनकयतगयतहह।आवपदककप

धखलतफआरमपपतबहहतहलयतसनतकतरलकपसपदतयरनकयतगयतहह, इसधलए

आईपलसलककधतरत306

कपतहतकमईअपरतधनहहबनततहह।आवपदकपपरलतरहसप

ननदरषहहऔरनशकतयतकततरदतरतउसप,

झपठतफससतयतगयतहह।आवपदककतकमई

आपरतधधकइनतहतसनहहहह।अततआवपदक/

अनभयतकदतरतउसपसभलआरमपयमतक वकयवoजानवoककoयाचनाoककoगयम। 4-oउनमकचनoपाथरनाoपतo काoवनसतारणoवकयवoजानवoसवoपलवरo इसoसमबनधoमoे दणड पवकयाoसनवहताoकव oसुसनगत,oपावधानोoकाoअवलककनoआवशयकoह।ह oदणडoपवकया सनवहताoककoधाराo209oकव oअनतगरतoमिजसटटव oदाराoपतावलमoसतoनयायालयoकव oसुपुदर वकयवoजानवoकाoआदवशoपाररतoवकयवoजानवoकव oपशवातकoअवभयकु oसतoनयायालयoकव oसमक रउपिसथतoहकताoहoह तथाoधाराo226oसम०आर०पम०सम०oकव oअनतगतoअवभयकजनoकव मामलवoकाoकथनoआरमभoहकताoहoह तथाoअवभयकजनoअवभयकoकव oववरदoलगायवoगयवु आरकपoकाoवणरनoकरगव ाoतथाoयहoभमoसपषoकरगव ाoवकoवहoअवभयकoकव oदकषoककoवकसु साकयoसवoसावबतoकरनवoककoपसथापनाoकरताoह।ह oमामलाoसतoनयायालयoकव oसमक आनवoकव oपशचातकoनयायाधमशoकव oसमकoदकoववकलपoहकतवoह-म

¶5oपथमततo धाराo 227 oदणडoपवकयाo सनवहताo कव o अनतगरतoअवभयकo कव o ववरदु कायरवाहमoकरनवoकव oिलएoपयारपoसाकयoनoहकनवoककoदशाoमoे अवभयकु oककoउनमकवचतoकर वदयाoजाताoहoह तथाoधाराo228oदणडoपवकयाoसनवहताoकव oअनतगरतoअवभयकु oकव oववरद सतoनयायालयoदाराoववचारणमयoअपराधoकाररतoवकयवoजानवoकव oसमबनधoमेoउपधारणा करनवoकव oिलएoपयारपoसाकयoहकनवoपरoआरकपoववरवचतoवकयाoजाएगा।

6.oदणडoपवकयाoसनवहताoककoधाराo227oयहoपावधानoकरतमoहoह वक-o 227 उनमकचन ‌-oयवदoमामलवoकव oअवभलवखoऔरoउसकव oसाथoदमoगयम दसताववजोoपरoववचारoकरoलवनवoपर,oऔरoइसoवनवमतoअवभयकु oऔर अनवभयकजनoकव oवनववदनoककoसुनवाईoकरoलवनवoकव oपशचातकoनयायाधमशoयह समझताoहoह वकoअवभयकु oकव oववरदoकायरवाहमoकरनवoकव oिलएoपयारप आधारoनहळoहoह तकoवहoअवभयकु oककoउनमकवचतoकरoदवगाoऔरoऐसा करकव oअपनवoकारणोoककoलवखबदoकरगव ा।

7.oदणडoपवकयाoसनवहताoककoधाराo228oयहoपावधानoकरतमoहoह वक-

¶228आरकप ववरवचत वकया जाना (1)oयवदoपलव?कoरपoसवoववचार,oऔर सुनवाईoकव oपशचातकoनयायाधमशoककoयहoरायoहहoवकoऐसमoउपधारणाoकरनव काoआधारoहoह वकoअवभयकु oनवoऐसाoअपराधoवकयाoह,ह oजक-

(क) oअननयततo सवशनoनयायालयoदाराo ववचारणमयoनहळo हहo तकo वह, अवभयकु oकव oववरदoआरकपoववरवचतoकरoसकताoहहoऔरoआदवशoदारा, मामलवo काo ववचारणoकरनवo कव o िलएoमुखयoनयावयकoमिजसटटव oकक रअनतररतoकरoसकताoहoह (याoककईoअनयoपथमoवगoनयावयकoमिजसटटव ऐसमoतारमखoककoजकoवहoठमकoसमझव,oअवभयकु ,oककoयथािसथवत,oमुखय नयावयकoमिजसटवटoयाoपथमoवगरoनयावयकoमिजसटवटoकव oसमकoहािजरट ट हकनवoकाoवनदरशoदoव सकव गा,oऔरoतबoऐसाoमिजसटटव )oउसoमामलवoका ववचारणoपुिलसoररपकटरoपरoसनिसथतoवारणटoमामलोoकव oववचारणoकव oिलए पवकयाoकव oअनुसारoकरगव ा।

8.oउपरककoधाराओनoकव oअनतगरतoअपनमoशवकoककoपयकगoकरनवoसवoपलवरoनयायालयoकक यहoआवशयकoहकगाo वकo वहoमामलवo कव o समसतoअवभलवखoतथाo दसताववजोo का अवलककनoकरoव औरoअवभयकु oतथाoअवभयकजनoकव oतक?oककoसुनव।न

9.oयवदo मामलवo कव o समसतoअवभलवखoतथाo दसताववजोoकाoअवलककनoकरनवoतथा पककारोoकव oतक?oककoसुननoव कव oपशवातकoयवदoनयायाधमशoदाराo 227oदणडoपवकयान सनवहताoकव oअनतगरतoउनमकचनoकाoमामलाoपायाoजाताoहoह तकoऐसमoदशाoमoे अवभयकु oकक उनमकवचतoवकयवo जानवo कव o वववशषo कारणोo काo अनकनoआवशयकoहहo तथाo मात उपधारणाओनoकव oआधारoपरoउनमकचनoसमभवoनहळoह।ह oदसल रमoदशाoमoे यवदoअवभयकजन ककoओरoसवoपसतुतoमामलवoकव oसमसतoअवभलवखोoवoदसताववजोoकव oअवलककनoतथा अवभयकजनoवoअवभयकु oकव oदाराoपसतुतoतक?oनककoसुननoव कव oउपरानतoयवदoनयायाधमश र ेकव oदाराo228oदणडoपवकयाoसनवहताoकव oअनतगतoआरकपoववरवचतoवकयवoजानवoकव oपकoम ेरायoबनायमoजातमoहह,oतकoऐसमoदशाoमoमातoसमुवचतoउपधारणाओनoकाoहकनाoहमoआरकप ववरचनoहवतुoपयारपoहकगाoतथाoनयायाधमशoहवतुoआरकपoववरचनoकव oकारणोoकाoउलवख आवशयकoनहळoह।ह

10.oतवमलनाडु राजय बनाम सुरशव राजन 2014 (84) ए.सम.सम. 656 (एस.सम.)oकव मामलवoमेoमा०oउचचतमoनयायालयoदाराoयहoअवधाररतoवकयाoगयाoवकoउनमकचन र रपाथनाoपतoपरoववचारoकरतवoसमयoनयायालयoककoइसoउपधारणाoकव oसाथoकायoकरना हoह वकoअवभयकजनoककoओरoसवoअवभलवखoपरoपसतुतoसामगमoसहमoह।ह

11.oमाननमय उचचतम नयायालय दारा वबहार राजय बनाम रमवश िसनह (मनल/एस.सम. / 0139/1977)oकव oमामलवoमेoयहoमतoपवतपावदतoवकयाoगयाoहoह वकoमामलवoकव oआरिमभक सतरoपरoअवभयकु oकव oववरदoअवभयकजनoदाराoिजसoसाकयoकव oआधारoपरoमामला सावबतoकरनवoककoपसथापनाoककoजाoरहमoहह,oउसककoसतयता,oसचाईoतथाoपभावoका सतकर तापलवरकoमल यानकनoआवशयकoनहळoहoह तथाoइसवoसतरoपरoअवभयकoकव oसनभाववतु बचावoपरoभमoधयानoवदयाoजानाoआपव कतoनहळoह।ह

12.oइसमoपकारoसवoमाननमयoउचचतमoनयायालयoदाराoअवनल कपलर बनाम रमवश चनद (मनु/एस.सम./0746/2012) कव o मामलवo मेo यहoमतoपवतपावदतoवकयाo गयाo हoह वक ववचारणoकव o आरिमभकoसतरoपरoअवभयकु o कव o ववरदo आरकपoववरचनoकव o समय, नयायालयoककoसाकयoदवखनाoआवशयकoनहळoहह,oपरनतुoअवभयकु oकव oदाराoअपराध काररतoवकयवoजानवoगमभमरoसनदवहoकाoहकनाoआवशयकoह।ह

13.oदणडoपवकयाoसनवहताoकव oसुसनगतoपावधानोoतथाoउकoवविधoवयवसथाओनoकक धयानoमेoरखतवoहहएoउनमकचनoकव oवबनदoु परoआदवशoपाररतoकरतवoसमयoदणडoपवकया सनवहताoककoधाराo227oवo228oककoएकoसाथoपढ़ाoजानाoआवशयकoहहoतथाoउनमकचन पाथरनाoपतoपरoआदवशoपाररतoकरतवoसमयoअवभयकजनoककoओरoसवoपसतुतoअखिणडत साकयoकव oसहमoहकनवoककoउपधारणाoककoजायवगम,oअवभयकजनoकव oदाराoपसतुतoसाकयoकक सतयताoवoपभावoकाoगुण-दकषoकव oआधारoपरoमल यानकनoनहळoवकयाoजाoसकता।oयहान तकoवकoअवभयकजनoदाराoपसतुतoसाकयoकव oगणु -दकषoपरoववचारoवकयवoवबनाoअवभयकु दाराoअपराधoकाररतoवकयवoजानवoकाoगमभमरoसनदवहoहकनवoपरoभमoआरकपoववरवचतoवकया जाoसकताoह.ह oपरनतुoमातoसनदवहoकाoहकनाoपयारपoनहळoहहoवरनकoगमभमरoसनदवहoकाoहकना आवशयकoहoह जकo वकo अवभलवखोo कव o पररशमलनoतथाo मामलवo कव o समगo तथयoएवन पररिसथवतयोoककoधयानoमेoरखतवoहहएoवविधनुसारoनयावयकoमिसतषकoकाoपयकगoकर तयoवकयवoजायेगवoतथाoयहoभमoदवखाoजायवगाoवकoकयाoअवभयकु गणoकव oववरदoववचारण हवतुoपथमoदषयाoककईoमामलाoबनताoभमoहहoअथवाoनहळ।

14.oहसतनगतoपकरणoमेoअवभयकु oवनवतनoिसनहoककoओरoसवoअपनवoउनमकचनoपाथरना पतoमेoमखु यoरपoसवoजकoआधारoदवशरतoवकयवoहoह वकoअवभयकु /आववदकoकव oववरद दािखलoवकयाoगयाoआरकप,oपतoवनराधारoहoह तथाoझलठवoएवनoतुचछoसाकयोoपरoआधाररत ह,ह oयहoआरकपoपतoकव वलoअवभयकु o/oआववदकoककoपरशव ानoकरनवoकव oउदवशयoसवoदािखल वकयाoगयाoह।ह oवशकायतकतारoतथाoउसकव oपररवारवालोoनवoएफ०आई०आर०oनoदजर करानवoकव oिलएoअवभयकु oसवo15oलाखoर०oककoमानगoककoथम,oइतयावदoसभमoआधार तथयातमकoपकृ वतoकव oह।ह oतथयातमकoवबनदओु oन ककoसहमoअथवाoगलतoतभमoठहराया जाoसकताoहoह जबoउभयoपकोoककoअपनाoसाकयoपसतुतoवकयवoजानवoकाoअवसरoतथा ववपकoसवoपवतoपरमकाoकाoअवसरoपदानoवकयाoजाoचकु ाoह।ह oइसoपारवन भकoसतरoपर वबनाoवकसमoसाकयoककoअनवकतoवकयवoककईoअिनतमoवनषकषरoनहमoवदयाoजाoसकता। इसकव oअवतररकoयहoवबनदoभमoमहतवपलणरoहoह वकoववदानoमिजसटटव oदाराoहसतगतoपकणु मेoअवभयकजनoपपतोoकाoसघनताoसवoपररशमलनoकरनवoकव oपशचातoसन?ानoिलयाoजा चकु ाoह।ह oततसमयoपतावलमoपरoउपलबधoसमसतoअवभयकजनoएवनoपपतोoसवoइतरoककई भमoऐसाoसाकयoपतावलमoपरoउपलबधoनहमoहoह िजससवoवकoअवभयकजनoपपतोoएवन कथानककoपरoइसoपारवन भकoसतरoपरoवकसमoपकारoकाoककईoपशनoवाचकoवचनहoलगाया जाoसकव ।oपतावलमoपरoउपलबधoवववभनoअवभयकजनoपपतoयथाoबयानoअनतगरतoधारा- र161oसमआर०पम०सम०,oपथमoसलचनाoररपकटoइतयावदoसवoसपषoहoह वकoअवभयकु गणoकव पवतoआरकपoववरवचतoवकयवoजानवoहतव ुoपयारपoसाकयoपतावलमoपरoउपलबधoह।ह कव सoडायरम,o161oकव oबयानोoएवनoसमसतनoपपतोoकव oपररशमलनoसवoयहoसपषoहoह वक अवभयकु गणoकव oपवतoपारवन भकoसतरoपरoआरकपoववरवचतoकरनवoलायकoपयारपoसाकय पतावलमoपरoउपलबधoह।ह

15.oधाराo227oद०न प०सन०oकव oसतरoपरoकव सoडायरमoककoबारमककoसवoसममकाoकरकव अवभयकु oककoउनमकवचतoकरनाoनयायकवचतoनहळoहह,oजहसाoवकoकमल िसनह बनाम रशव म र ेिसनह 1991 वक०ला०जनल 1114oमoमाननमयoनयायालयoकव oदाराoमतoवयकoवकया गयाoह।ह

16.

धतरत227

तरतधतरत228

कपअधलनआरमपलगतनपकपधलएमहतवपपणरपरखयह

हहनकयनदपततवललपरउपलबध,

सतमगलअखसणडतरहजतएतमदमषधसनदहम

जतयपगल।आपरतधधकमनतससरनतकपअभतवकततथयदफरतननवचतरणसदपखतजतयपगत,

जहसतनक

हरभजनधससहबनतमरतजय, 1985

नक०लत०जनरल1912

मममतवयक

नकयतगयतहह।

17.

यनदपररससरनतजनयसतकयसपअपरतधसपकतररतहमनपकतगसभलरससदपहहमततहह,

तमअनभयतककपनवरदआरमपलगतयतजतयपगत,

जहसतनक

अशमकधतरलवतलबनतम

रतजसरतनरतजय1984,

नक०लत०जनरल(एन०ओ०सल०) 179 रतजसरतन मममत

वयकनकयतगयतहह।

18.

यनदपरमदषयतमतमलतबनततहहतबभलआरमपलगतयतजतयपगत,

चतहपअनभयतक

कतसफतईकतसतकयससभतवलहम,

जहसतनक

पसजतबरतजयबनतमसतधलरनमतल, 1984

नक०लतजनरल(एन०ओ०सल०) 92

मममतवयकनकयतहह।

19.

पलनवनदरधससहपनतबलनवनदरधससह2009 (65) ए.सल.सल. 399 (

सतपलमकमरर)

तरतसरपरएन.सल.रल.

ऑफनदललपनतनशवचरनबसल(2020) 2 एस.सल.सल. 290

कपमतमलममममतननलयनयतयतलयदतरतयहअनभननधतररतनकयतगयतहहनक-Charge can be framed also on the basis of strong suspicion. Marshalling And Appreciation of evidence is not in the domain of the court at that point of time.

20.

अतएवसमपपणरतथययएवसपररससरनतययकमदनषगतरखतपहहएअनभयतकनननतन

धससहकमधतरत306

भत०दस०सस०कपअपरतधसपउनममनचतनकयपजतनपकतकमई

औनचतयनहलहह।

21.

पशनगतमतमलपममदफरतननववपचनतएकतसतकयकपआधतरपरअनभयतकनननतन

धससहकमधतरत306

भत०दस०सस०कपअनतगरतनवचतरणहपततपयतरपसतकयअनभलपखपर

उपलबधहहतदतनतसतरअनभयतकनननतनधससहदतरतपसतत उनममचनपतररनतपत

ननरसतनकयतजतततहह। आदपश

मत०अ०सस०267/23

अनभयतकनननतनधससहकतउनममचनपतररनतपतननरसतनकयत

जतततहह।अनभयतकनननतनधससहकमधतरत306

भत०दस०सस०कपअनतगरतआरमप

नवरचनहपततपयतरपसतकयपततवललपरउपलबधहह।तदतसतर,

अनभयतकनननतनधससह

कमधतरत306

भत०दस०सस०कपअनतगरतआरमपनवरनचतनकयपजतनपहपततपततवलल

नदनतसक06.08.2024

कमपपशहम।अनभयतकउकनतधरकमवयनकगतरपसप

उपससरतआनतसतननसशचतकरम।"

¶4The brief facts of the case are to the effect that as per the allegations levelled in the F.I.R bearing No.0267 lodged on 17.12.2023 under Sections 498-A, 304-B, 3/4 D.P. Act, the marriage of the deceased (Nansu aged about 27 years) and applicant was solemnized on 26.12.2022 at Buddheshwar Temple.

¶5The F.I.R. further indicates that the deceased was subjected to cruelty on account of demand of dowry by the applicant and other family members of the applicant and as per the F.I.R., the applicant caused death to the daughter of the informant namely Ram Kumar S/o Anganu Prasad.

¶6It would be apt to indicate that upon receiving the information of incident from the applicant, the inquest proceedings were carried out on 12.12.2023. The inquest was carried out at the place of incident i.e. house of the applicant. Prior to proceeding with the inquest, the deceased was found hanging from the fan, as appears from the inquest report (Annexure No.7). The inquest report also indicates that at the time of carrying out the inquest, the applicant was not present and as per the opinion of witnesses of inquest, the deceased was hanged from fan after causing death.

¶7After completion of inquest, the body was sent for post-mortem. Post-mortem report (Annexure No.8) indicates that post-mortem was carried out on

13.12.2023 and the cause of death was ante-mortem hanging with oblique ligature mark.

¶8Thereafter, I.O. conducted the investigation and upon conclusion of the investigation submitted the charge sheet under Section 306 I.P.C.

¶9It would be apt to indicate that applicant was arrested and sent to the jail and he was released from jail in terms of the order of this Court dated 19.03.2024 passed in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No.3144 of 2024 (Nitin Vs. State of U.P.), copy of which is annexed as Annexure No.12 at page No.112 to the present application.

¶10After released from the judicial custody, the applicant preferred an application seeking discharge under Section 227 of Cr.P.C. on following grounds:- "A-Because no case under section 306 of I.P.C. is made out against the accused/ applicant and if the same, is unrebutted it would not warrant a conviction. B-Because the charges leveled against the accused/ applicant are totally groundless since the accused/ applicant has not committed an offence. C-Because there is no evidence to show that there are sufficient grounds for proceedings against the accused/ applicant. D-Because from the perusal of the statements as well as the complaint that there is no discernible incriminating material evidence is available therefore the accused/ applicant is liable to be discharged from all the charges. E-Because the first information report lodged by the informant is highly delayed according to him occurrence was took place on 12/12/2023 whereas the first information report has been lodged on 17/12/2023 after five days from the alleged occurrence without proper explanation of the delay. F-Because that the complainant and his family were started illegal demands of Fifteen Lakhs rupees for not lodging the FIR since the applicant belongs from poor family he denied to fulfill the same then complainant has lodged impugned first information report on the basis of false and frivolous averments. G-Because the investigating officer has filed the charge sheet under section 306 I.P.C. without collecting cogent and reliable evidence. H-Because from bare perusal of entire evidence collected by the investigating officer during the investigation no ingredients of section 107 of I.P.C. are fulfill as explained in the case of Mariano Anto Brano and another Vs. Inspector of Police 2022 SCC online SC 1387. I-Because the charge sheet has been filed against the applicant in very mechanical manner no offence under section 306 of 1.P.C. is made out. J-Because the applicant is totally innocent and has been falsely implicated by the complainant. K-Because the investigation is also tainted and no evidence has been collected his shows that the offence under section 306 1.P.C. is constituted. L-Because the applicant is not carrying any criminal history. M-Because in recent judgement of Hon'ble Supreme Court State of Rajasthan Vs. Ashok Kumar Kashyap (2021) 11 SCC 191 placed reliance on its previous judgment in P.Vijayan Vs. State of Kerla (Supra) wherein it is observed and held that at the stage of section 227 the judge has merely to sift the evidence in order to find out whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused. In other words the sufficiency of ground would take within its the nature of the evidence recorded by the police or the documents produced before the court which ex facie disclose that there are suspicious circumstances against the accused so as to frame a charge against him. If the judge comes to a conclusion that there is sufficient ground to proceed, he will frame a charge under section 228 if not he will discharge the accused. N-Because since the charge sheet filed by the police of police station Talkatora, Lucknow against the accused/applicant is baseless and based on false and frivolous evidence although no such type of occurrence has taken place, it has been filed only to harrass the accused/ applicant and therefore the applicant/ accused deserves to to be discharged from all the charges, in the interest of justice."

¶11It would be apt to indicate that in the discharge application the fact that the deceased was wife of the applicant has not been denied, however, in the instant application a new case has been set up by the applicant by stating that the deceased was not married to the applicant.

¶12The trial Court after considering the material evidence available on record rejected the application of the applicant vide order under challenge dated

20.07.2024, quoted above.

¶13In the aforesaid background of the case, the present application has been filed.

¶14Before this Court, the entire material has not been placed on record, which was available before the Trial Court. In other words, charge sheet and other documents/ evidence, which were available before the trial Court, have not been placed on record to ascertain as to whether the offence under Section 306 I.P.C. is made out against the applicant or not and/ or as to whether the trial Court has rightly exercised its power in rejecting the application for seeking discharge under Section 227 of Cr.P.C. vide order dated 20.07.2024.

¶15Considered the aforesaid facts and the submissions advanced by the counsel for the applicant and learned A.G.A., based upon facts aforesaid, and perused the record.

¶16It would be apt to indicate that law related to discharge is well settled. According to the same, the evidence collected during the investigation could be considered while dealing with an application for discharge and at this stage, after examination of the report of the police and the material placed therewith and hearing the parties, if the concerned Court finds that allegations against the accused are groundless/baseless and even does not disclose prima facie case against the accused, the concerned Court may pass an order of discharge of the accused.

¶17Upon due consideration of the aforesaid, this Court is not inclined to interfere in the order dated 20.07.2024, impugned herein. It is for the following reasons:-

(i) Prior to instant application, being aggrieved with the impugned charge sheet dated 11/02/2024 as well as cognizance order dated 17.02.2024 the accused/applicant filed an Application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. No. 5026 of 2024 and this Court declined to accede with prayer sought therein as would appear from the final order dated 30.05.2024 quoted hereinunder:- "Heard learned counsel for the applicant as well as learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record. The instant Application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been moved by the applicant with a prayer to quash the impugned Charge Sheet No. 01, dated 11/02/2024 arising out of Case Crime/ F.I.R. No-0267/2023, Under Section-306 I.P.C., Police Station-Talkatora District-Lucknow and cognizance order dated 17/02/2024 passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, VI, Lucknow in case of (State Versus Nitin Singh) as well as further proceedings of Case No. 15568/2024, contained as Annexure No. 1 and 2 to this petition, in the interest of Justice. It is further prayed that this Hon'ble Court may also be pleased to stay the further proceedings of Case No. 15568/2024 arising out of Case Crime/ F.LR. No-0267/2023, Under Section-306 I.P.C., Police Station-Talkatora, District-Lucknow pending before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, VI, Lucknow (State Versus Nitin Singh). Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is a reputed person in the society and he has been falsely implicated in the present case due to rivalry. He further submits that the impugned proceedings pending before the learned trial court are totally arbitrary and illegal and the same have been instituted without considering the material evidence available on record. Thus, he submits that entire criminal proceedings initiated against the applicant may be quashed. Learned counsel for the applicant also prays for permission to appear through counsel before the concerned trial court within a period of three weeks from today and move an application claiming discharge on behalf of the applicant and this Court may direct the trial court to decide the application so moved by the applicant. Learned A.G.A. has disputed the aforesaid contentions made by learned counsel for the applicant but he has not opposed the request made by learned counsel for the applicant to move a discharge application before the trial court through counsel. All the contentions raised by the applicant's counsel relate to disputed questions of fact. The court has also been called upon to adjudge the testimonial worth of prosecution evidence and evaluate the same on the basis of various intricacies of factual details which have been touched upon by learned counsel. The veracity and credibility of material furnished on behalf of the prosecution has been questioned and false implication has been pleaded. In the process of invoking its inherent jurisdiction, this court cannot be persuaded to have a pre trial before the actual trial begins. The submissions made by the learned counsel call for adjudication on pure questions of fact which may be adequately adjudicated upon only by the trial court and while doing so even the submissions made on points of law can also be more appropriately gone into by the trial court in this case. The quashing of the charge sheet and the entire proceedings can also be done only if it does not disclose any offence or if there is any legal bar which prohibits the proceedings on its basis. The Apex Court decisions in the case of R.P. Kapur Vs. State of Punjab AIR 1960 SC 866, State of Haryana Vs. Bhajan Lal 1992 SCC(Cr.) 426, State of Bihar Vs. P.P. Sharma, 1992 SCC (Cri.) 192 and also in Zandu Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. Vs. Mohd. Saraful Haq and another, (Para-10) 2005 SCC (Cri.) 283 make the position of law in this regard clear. In the absence of any of the grounds recognized by the Apex Court which might justify the quashing of charge sheet/summoning order/impugned proceedings, the prayer for quashing the same is refused as I do not see any abuse of the courts process either. The trial court has been vested with sufficient powers to discharge the accused even before the stage to frame the charges comes, if for reasons to be recorded it considers the charge to be groundless.

As requested by learned counsel for the applicant, the permission to appear through counsel before the concerned trial court within a period of three weeks from today and move an application claiming discharge on behalf of whom this application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been moved, is granted. The concerned trial court shall after hearing the counsel decide the application on merits in accordance with law within a period which shall not exceed a period of two months from today. With the above observations, this application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. stands disposed of. "

(ii) The body of the deceased wife of the applicant was found in the house of the applicant, as such in terms of Section(s) 106 and 113-A of the Indian Evidence Act (now repealed) and Section(s) 109 and 117 of the Bhartiya Sakhshya Adhiniyam, 2023 it is the duty of the applicant to rebut the presumption.

(iii) The statements of informant under Section 161 Cr.P.C. (Annexure No.9) indicates that the deceased was subjected to cruelty on account of non-fulfillment of demand of dowry.

(iv) Challenge to the case of prosecution on the basis of demand of Rs.15 lacs by the applicant and factum of marriage can not be considered at this stage in view of the settled proposition of law related to dealing with an application seeking discharge.

¶18For the reasons aforesaid, this Court is not inclined to entertain this application.

¶19Accordingly, the instant application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is hereby rejected. Cost made easy.

¶20It is however made clear that the observations made by this Court in this order are only for the purpose of deciding the present application against the order of discharge, and shall have no bearing on the merits of the case during trial. Order Date :- 21.8.2024 Gurpreet Singh High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench