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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 22.02.2019
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI
Crl.O.P.(MD)No.2024 of 2016
and
Cr.M.P.(MD)No.1034 of 2016
1.Mathesh
2.Punitha … Petitioners
Vs.
1.State rep. by
The Inspector of Police,
All Women Police Station,
Karur.
(Crime No.9/2015)
2.Nirmaladevi … Respondents
Prayer: Petition filed under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code to call
for the records pertaining to C.C.No.366 of 2015, pending on the file of the
learned Judicial Magistrate No.1, Karur and quash the same, as against this
petitioners.
For Petitioners : Mr.D.Rameshkumar
For Respondents : Ms.M.Ananthadevi
Government Advocate (Crl. Side)
for R.1
Mr.Senthilkumar
for Mr.P.Sureshkumar for R.2
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ORDER
The petitioners before this Court are accused nos.2 3 in C.C.No.366
of 2015 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.1, Karur and they have
filed this petition to quash the proceedings pending as against them in C.C.No.
366 of 2015, which was initiated based on the complaint lodged by the second
respondent as against this petitioners and another for the offence punishable
under Sections 498A, 109 506(i) IPC.
2. According to the second respondent / defacto complainant, the
first accused, one Shanmugam @ Samuvel is her husband and the marriage
between them was solemnised on 18.01.2011 and it was an arranged marriage.
Her husband / the first accused was running a Company by name ‘Joy Coach’ at
Karur. The second accused / first petitioner herein is the Driver cum Assistant
for the first accused. The third accused / second petitioner herein is having
illegal intimacy with the first accused.
3. The case of the defacto complainant is that the second accused
had acted as an agent in between the first and the third accused and also
interfered in the administration of the Company. When the defacto
complainant raised questions, he intimidated that she must adjust with him,
otherwise, he would sever the relationship between her and her husband.
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Moreover, in order to continue his illegal relationship with the third accused,
the first accused had sent the complainant to her parents’ house, as if he is
having more work in the Company administration and it would be appropriate
for the complainant to reside at Chennai. According to the complainant, the
first accused has not even attended any phone calls, but has filed a divorce
application in order to continue his relationship with the third accused. When
the complainant called the third accused over phone, the third accused had
also intimidated that even before the marriage, they are in relationship and if
she objected their relationship, then she has to face the consequences.
Therefore, the defacto complainant has lodged the present complaint before
the Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Karur, on 12.08.2015 and the
same was registered in Crime No.19 of 205. The first respondent police, in
conclusion of the investigation, has also filed the final report as against the
petitioners and the first accused / defacto complainant’s husband for the
offence punishable under Sections 498A, 109 506(i) IPC on 28.09.2015.
Aggrieved over the same, the petitioners are before this Court.
4. Heard Mr.D.Rameshkumar, learned Counsel for the petitioners,
Ms.M.Ananthadevi, learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for the first
respondent police and Mr.Senthilkumar, learned Counsel for Mr.P.Sureshkumar,
learned Counsel on record for the second respondent / defacto complainant.
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5. The charge sheet has been filed as against these petitioners for
the offence punishable under Sections 498A, 109 506(i) IPC. Admittedly, the
petitioners herein are not the relatives of the first accused. For attracting an
offence under Section 498A IPC, the wife should be subjected to cruelty either
by the husband or his relatives. For better appreciation, Section 498A IPC is
extracted thus:
“498-A. Husband or relative of husband of a woman
subjecting her to cruelty – Whoever, being the husband or the
relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to
cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.”Therefore, the charge under Section 498A IPC, as against the
petitioners herein, would not stand in the eye of law.
6. A reading of the complaint would not specifically disclose any
harassment by the petitioners herein. But, there is a averment that the first
petitioner, being the Driver had interfered with the administration of the
Company and when it was questioned by the complainant, he intimidated her.
Similarly, the second petitioner is alleged to have intimacy with the first
accused and on questioning the same, the second petitioner has also
intimidated the complainant. But the date, on which the actual intimidation
was made, is not specifically averred either in the complaint or in the First
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Information Report. To attract an offence under Section 506(i) IPC, the
complainant must have felt the intimidation. In the absence of any date on
which the intimidation was made, coupled with the fact that the complaint
was also filed by the complainant after the filing of the divorce petition in
IDOP.No.178 of 2014 by the husband / first accused, this Court is of the view
that the charge under Section 506(i) IPC also would not stand in the legal eyes.
7. Under the above circumstances, the charges under Sections 498A
506(i) IPC as against the petitioners herein are liable to be set aside. Once the
charges under Sections 498A, 506(i) IPC are set aside, the offence under
Section 109 IPC [Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in
consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment] will
not be attracted and therefore, the same is also liable to be set aside.
8. In such view of the matter, the proceedings pending as against the
petitioners herein before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.1, Karur, in
C.C.No.366 of 2015, stand set aside and this Criminal Original Petition is
accordingly, allowed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is
closed.
Index : Yes/No 22.02.2019
Internet : Yes/No
gk
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B.PUGALENDHI,J.,
gk
To
1.The Judicial Magistrate No.1,
Karur.
2.The Inspector of Police,
All Women Police Station,
Karur.
Crl.O.P.(MD)No.2024 of 2016
22.02.2019
http://www.judis.nic.in