M HC - Absolutely No Ingredient To Prove 498A For The Offences
M HC - Absolutely No Ingredient To Prove 498A For The Offences
4373 of 2020
DATED: 30.09.2020
CORAM:
CRL.O.P.No.4373 of 2020
and Crl.M.P.Nos.2508 & 2509 of 2020
Arunkumar
S/o.M.Panneerselvam ... Petitioner
Vs.
1. The State Rep by
The Inspector of Police,
All Women Police Station,
Tiruvallur.
(Crime No.13 of 2019)
2. K.Vidhya @ Durga,
D/o.Krishnamurthy ... Respondents
For Respondents
For R1 : Mr.S.Karthikeyan
Additional Public Prosecutor.
For R2 : Mr.P.Kumaresan
For Mr.G.Desigu
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ORDER
thereby taken cognizance for the offences under Sections 498A & 406 of IPC
20.06.2019 and the same was registered in Crime No.13 of 2019 for the
offences under Section 498A, 406 & 506(i) of IPC as against four accused
report for the offences under Sections 498A & 406 of IPC as against the
petitioner alone. The allegations are that the marriage took place between the
silver articles and other house hold articles by her parents. After their marriage,
they lived in the mother-in-law's house only for 10 days and thereafter shifted
their residence to Kerala, since her husband was working at Kerala. Thereafter,
the family members of the petitioner harassed her and also demanded huge
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dowry to live with her husband. In fact, they also hided the petitioner herein
and refused to live with the petitioner herein. On 07.08.2016 the defacto
24.08.2016, the petitioner issued notice for seeking divorce to the second
respondent herein. All the accused persons are threatened her to give consent
for divorce between the petitioner and second respondent. Further alleged that
the gold jewels and also silver articles have been under custody of her in-laws
and demanded huge dowry to re-union between the petitioner and the second
respondent.
2.1. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted
that the entire allegations are completely false and the complaint itself lodged
after period of three years. Admittedly, the second respondent was driven out
from the matrimonial house on 07.08.2016, whereas the complaint lodged only
respondent registered the case and on same day the investigating officer
examined almost all the witnesses shown in the list of witnesses. He further
submitted that in fact the in-laws of the petitioner filed a petition for not to
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order dated 21.06.2019, directed the first respondent to conduct enquiry and
take further action in accordance with law. Further observed that it is made
clear that if the first respondent finds that it is a matrimonial dispute, the first
Court. It clearly shows that this Court by an order dated 21.06.2019 only
directed the first respondent to conduct enquiry. However the FIR has been
registered on 20.06.2019. If at all the FIR registered on that day, definitely the
respondent police would have represented before this Court that already FIR
has been registered. Therefore, the FIR itself pre-dated one and on the date
registration of FIR itself, all the list of witnesses have been examined by the
first respondent.
2.2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would further
24.08.2016, thereby called upon the second respondent that the petitioner no
longer wants to live with the second respondent at Thiruvallur and intended to
file petition for divorce. On receipt of the same, on 27.08.2016, the second
respondent's father along with one Rajakumar and others came to the
petitioner's house and assaulted the parents of the petitioner herein and also
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abused them with filthy language, and threatened them with dire
Inspector of Police, Thiruvallur and the same was registered in Crime No.671
of 2016 for the offences under Sections 294(b), 323 & 506(1) of IPC and it is
2.3. The petitioner filed petition for divorce on the ground of cruelty
the Family Court, Tiruvallur. In fact, the matter was referred before Lok
taken place and the second respondent did not come for any settlement.
Therefore, the matter was again referred back to Court for trial. Thereafter, she
the file of the learned Principal Judge, Family Court, Chennai. The second
divorce petition to the Family Court, Chennai. This Court by an order dated
09.06.2017 transferred the both O.Ps. filed by the petitioner as well as the
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absolutely no whisper about the allegations made in FIR. In fact, the second
against the petitioner on the file of the Additional Mahila Court, Allikulam. It
is also seen that in the restitution of conjugal rights petition, the trial Court
reduced the same to Rs.7,000/- per month. While being so, the second
respondent suppressed the above events between them and only to harass the
Therefore, the entire proceedings are nothing but clear abuse of process of law.
2.4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted
that no witness has been spoken about the role played by the petitioner and
there is no specific allegations are made out from the entire material produced
by the first respondent herein as against the petitioner to attract the offence
respondent for the belated complaint. Admittedly she left the matrimonial
home on 07.08.2016 and lodged the present complaint only on 20.06.2019 that
too suppressing the entire facts with regard to filing of divorce petition and
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Therefore, it is nothing but clear abuse of process of law and only with an
intention to wreck vengeance as against the petitioner, this false complaint has
i) (2009) 10 SCC 604 - Bhaskar Lal Sharma and anr Vs. Monica
ii) (2009) 14 SCC 466 - Shakson Belthissor Vs. State of Kerala and
anr
iii) (2014) 13 SCC 567 - Swapnil and ors Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh
iv) (2017) 9 SCC 413 - Varala Bharath Kumar Vs. State of Telangana
and anr.
v) (2018) 13 SCC 747 - Kartik chandra Majee and ors Vs. State of
Jarkhand and anr.
Therefore, he sought for quashment of the entire proceedings.
proceedings pending between the petitioner and the second respondent are not
impediment for her to lodge this complaint for the offences committed by the
offence and cause of action arose even immediately after the marriage between
the petitioner and the second respondent. The family members of the petitioner
harassed the second respondent by demanding huge dowry. Till the lodgement
of the complaint, there was harassment by the petitioner and his family
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members demanding huge dowry from the second respondent and her family
members.
about the overt-act of the petitioner in respect of harassment and also demand
of huge dowry. The observation Mahazar witnesses have spoken about the
overtact and also independent witnesses viz., the neighbours have also spoken
about the overtact of the petitioner herein to attract the offence under Sections
498A and 406 of IPC. He further submitted that during the marriage, her
husband was working as software engineer in Kerala and therefore the second
respondent stayed along with the petitioner at Kerala. During the month of
March, 2016, when they came to Chennai, the petitioner left the second
respondent in her parents house stating that he would take her back after
shifting the residence at Kerala. Thereafter, when the parents of the second
respondent had taken her to the house of the petitioner at Thiruvallur, the
second respondent was not even permitted to enter into the house, and the
parents of the petitioner abused them with filthy language and also threatened
them only after receiving the huge dowry, they will allow the second
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respondent to live with her husband. The petitioner and her family members
continuously harassed the second respondent to the core and demanded huge
sum of dowry.
steps to impleade the parents of the petitioner in the present proceedings. The
considered by this Court under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. Further the evidences
and materials cannot be appreciated by this Court that too under the quash
petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. He also relied upon the judgments
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case in Crime No.13 of 2019 for the offences punishable under Section
498(A), 406 and 506(i) of IPC, as against the four accused persons, in which
the petitioner is arrayed as A1. On the date of registration of FIR, the first
have been examined on the next day viz., 21.06.2019. Thereafter the first
respondent filed final report only as against the petitioner, after filing alteration
filed final report. The same has been taken cognizance by the trial Court in
overtact as against the petitioner for the offences under Sections 498(A) and
406 of IPC. The offence under Section 498A of IPC is a continuous offence
dowry. He further submitted that the jewels and silver articles, which were
presented in her marriage also under the custody of the petitioner and his
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family members. Therefore the offence under Section 406 of IPC is also clearly
attracted as against the petitioner and all the points raised by the petitioner
herein are mixed questions of fact and it cannot be considered here. Therefore,
No.13 of 2019 for the offences punishable under Sections 498(A), 406, 506(1)
of IPC as against four accused persons in which the petitioner is arrayed as A1.
19.10.2019 thereby deleting the accused A2 to A3 and filed the charge sheet as
against the petitioner alone for the offences under Sections 498(A) and 406 of
IPC.
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on 20.06.2015 and after their marriage they stayed at Kerala, since the
petitioner was employed at Kerala. Thereafter, the second respondent left the
matrimonial home 07.08.2016 for the reason that the petitioner and his family
members harassed the second respondent and also demanded huge dowry.
Thereafter the parents of the second respondent had threatened the petitioner's
father over telephone as such, the petitioner's father lodged complaint before
the Inspector of Police, Town Police Station, Thiruvallur, and on receipt of the
the second respondent stating that the second respondent harassed the
petitioner and also every day there was a threat by the second respondent
through police. Therefore, he did not want to live with the second respondent
and call upon the second respondent that longer wanted to live with her and
intended to file a petition for divorce. On receipt of the same, the second
respondent did not send any reply to the petitioner. In fact on 27.08.2016, the
petitioner's father lodged complaint alleging that the second respondent and
one Rajkumar had come to the petitioner's house and assaulted the parents' and
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also threatened them with dire consequences. Therefore, the petitioner's father
lodged complaint and the same was registered in Crime No.671 of 2016 for the
offences under Sections 294(b), 323, 506(i) of IPC as against the second
Tiruvallur. There was a mediation between the petitioner and the second
respondent and all are went to vain. Further, the second respondent filed a
file of the Principal Judge, Family Court, Chennai. The second respondent also
to the Family Court, Chennai. The petitioner also filed a transfer petition in
to the Family Court, Tiruvallur. This Court considered both the transfer
petitions and by an order dated 09.06.2017 transferred both the petitions filed
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10. The second respondent also filed a complaint under the Domestic
to the second respondent and as against which, the petitioner filed a Civil
filed a petition before this Court for direction directing the first respondent not
further action in accordance with law. This Court further observed that if the
police shall relegate the parties to approach the appropriate family Court. It is
unfortunate to state that the first respondent did not represent anything before
this Court about the registration of FIR as against the petitioner herein in
examined and recorded the statements under Section 161(3) of Cr.P.C., almost
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from all the witnesses on 21.06.2019. The first respondent completed the
investigation and filed final report on 19.10.2019. It would clearly show that in
a single day, the first respondent registered the FIR and also examined all the
list of witnesses.
12. It is also seen from the statements, all are stereo type and in fact
the neighbours have stated that there was no dowry harassment. In fact, the
pendency of the proceeding between the petitioner and the second respondent
are not at all considered by the first respondent and since the second
respondent and her supporting evidences did not even whisper about those
continuous offence. But in this case on hand, there is no explanation for the
and the second respondent. All the matters are now pending for trial before the
respective Courts. The second respondent suppressing all those facts and
without any specific overtact as against the petitioner. The first respondent
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registered the case on the receipt of complaint itself without conducting any
enquriy on 20.06.2019 and on the same day the first respondent recorded the
statement under Section 161(3) of Cr.P.C., from all the witnesses expect two
witness. This Court and the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India repeatedly held
that in the matter related to the family Court offences, the police official has to
made out can register the case. In the case on hand, on the same day,
everything has been done and filed final report. Fortunately, the first
respondent deleted other accused persons viz., the parents and relatives of the
13. In this regard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner
relied upon the judgment reported in (2009) 14 SCC 466 in the case of
Shakson Belthissor Vs. State of Kerala and anr, in which the Hon'ble
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India reported in (2014) 13 SCC 567 in the case of Swapnil and ors Vs. State
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Varala Bharath Kumar Vs. State of Telangana and anr, the Hon'ble Supreme
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"cruelty" has envisage under Section 498A of IPC there must be such a
conduct on the part of the husband or relatives of the husband of woman which
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woman.
16. In the case on hand, there is no such allegations in the FIR as well
under explanation A of 498 of IPC are not at all mentioned in the FIR and also
in the statement of the witnesses. When the absence there of, no offence is
made out under Section 498A of IPC as against the petitioner. Insofar as the
offence under Section 406 of IPC is concerned the allegation made in the FIR
as well as the statements do not satisfy the definition of the criminal breach of
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H.M.O.P.No.504 of 2017 for restitution of conjugal rights, she stated that only
whatsoever between the petitioner and the second respondent and their
Therefore the present impugned proceeding is nothing but after thought and it
is clear abuse of process of law. After filing the divorce petition, restitution of
conjugal rights petition and also the domestic violence complaint, the present
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but only to wreck vengeance as against the petitioner, the complaint has been
(1992) SCC Crl. 426 in the case of Bajanlal v. State of Haryana, wherein the
Hon'ble Supreme Court has listed out the following category of case in which
the criminal proceedings can be quashed using the inherent jurisdiction of the
"102..................
7. Where a criminal proceeding is
manifestly attended with malafide and/or where
the proceedings is maliciously instituted with an
ulterior motive for wrecking vengeance on the
accused and with a view to spite him due to
private and personal grudge."
charges for the offences punishable under Sections 498A and 406 of IPC, as
against the petitioner. The allegations made in the final report as well as the
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materials collected during the investigation, even if they are taken their face
punishable under Sections 498A and 406 of IPC as against the petitioner
petitioner for the offences under Sections 498A and 406 of IPC. Therefore, the
petitioner need not go for ordeal of trial. As such the judgments cited by the
learned counsel for the second respondent are not helpful to the case of the
second respondent.
30.09.2020
Internet : Yes / No
Index : Yes / No
Speaking / Non Speaking order
rts
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To
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G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.
rts
30.09.2020
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