High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeDismissed

Mathew K. S. v. State of Kerala; Philomina v. State of Kerala

Case / Petition Number:CRL.M.C. No. 8102 of 2023 & CRL.M.C. No. 6910 of 2023
Neutral Citation:2024:KER:59106

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Bechu KuriAn Thomas
Judgment Date
2024-07-30
Court Decision / Holding
This Crl.M.C. is dismissed. The Magistrate shall dispose of the case untrammelled by any observations in this judgment; the trial should proceed on the merits without pre-judgment on guilt.
Final Disposition
Dismissed

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Mathew K. S.
  • Philomina

Respondents

  • State of Kerala represented by the Station House Officer, Kalady Police Station through Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala, Ernakulam District
  • Renjini V R, D/O Rajappan Nair, NAIR Ambalam, Ernakulam Rural, Kerala; presently working as Assistant Vice President, Federal Bank, Aluva

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • M.R. Dhanil
  • • Jishy P.S.
  • • Senitta P. Jojo
  • • Sangeerthana M.

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Leo George
  • • Ashi M.C (PP)
  • • Nima Jacob

Case Synopsis & Summary

The Kerala High Court, in two connected criminal miscellaneous petitions under Section 482 Cr.P.C., dismissed the petitions challenging the FIR and final report in Crime No. 400/2022 of Kalady Police Station arising from CC No. 264/2023 before the Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Perumbavoor. The petitioners, Mathew K. S. (third accused) and Philomina (second accused), contended that the entire prosecution case was false, asserting their innocence and urging quashing of proceedings. The prosecution alleged that the accused, by fraudulent conduct related to a loan in 2009, used the title deeds to mortgage the property and thereby committed offences under IPC Section 420 read with 34. The petitioners relied on the Securitisation Act 2002 to challenge the proceedings. The court noted factual disputes, such as the first accused’s role and the 2009 mortgage, which prevent the court from quashing under 482. It cited Supreme Court guidance from State of Uttar Pradesh v. O.P. Sharma (1996) 7 SCC 705 and decisions like Mahendra K.C. v. State of Karnataka (2022) 2 SCC 129 and Kumar v. Mahesh Kumar Bhada (1997) 2 SCC 397, to emphasize restraint in exercising 482 and not to weigh aruments at this stage. The court reserved trial and dismissed the petitions, indicating the magistrate shall proceed with the case without being swayed by the observations in the judgment.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 482 Cr.P.C.Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002Section 420 r/w 34 IPC

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Interference under Section 482 Cr.P.C should be circumspect and loath to interfere.
  • Power under Section 482 Cr.P.C should be exercised sparingly and cautiously; not to embark upon an enquiry into the reliability or genuineness of the Final Report or the material relied on by the prosecution at this stage.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners’ counsel argued that the prosecution allegations are wholly false and that the second and third accused are innocent. Even if the allegations by the defacto complainant are admitted, no offence can be made out against them. The petitioners contended that at most the first accused’s guilt could be inferred, and therefore the proceedings against the petitioners should be quashed. They urged the High Court to exercise its power under Section 482 Cr.P.C with caution to prevent miscarriage of justice, and emphasized that the matter is to be tried on merits, not resolved at the quashing stage.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents’ counsel contended that the second and third accused were involved—their signatures on a 2007 sale deed and the return of the original title deed used to mortgage the property for a 2009 loan indicate deliberate acts to defraud the bank. They submitted that these issues are questions for trial and that exercising 482 Cr.P.C to quash would undermine the substantive case; thus, the petitions should be dismissed and the matter proceed to trial.

Cited Precedents (4)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
State of Uttar Pradesh v. O.P. Sharma1996 7 SCC 705PositiveCited for principle that courts should be circumspect and loath to interfere under Section 482 Cr.P.C., especially where factual disputes exist; sifting through materials to determine guilt is not the purpose of 482.
Mahendra K.C. v. State of Karnataka and Ors.(2022) 2 SCC 129PositiveCited to underscore caution that High Courts should not assess the reliability or genuineness of the Final Report at the 482 stage; not to substitute for trial.
Kumar v. Mahesh Kumar Bhada(1997) 2 SCC 397PositiveCited for the principle that 482 Cr.P.C. power should be exercised sparingly and to avoid evaluating truth or veracity of the prosecution case at the stage of 482.
A. M. Mohan v. The State, represented by SHO and Another(2024 INSC 233)Mentioned OnlyRecent decision referenced as relevant context but not expressly relied upon to arrive at the judgment’s conclusion.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

``` 2024:KER:59106 ``` **==> picture [57 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** # **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BECHU KURIAN THOMAS ``` ``` TUESDAY, THE 30[TH] DAY OF JULY 2024 / 8TH SRAVANA, 1946 CRL.MC NO. 8102 OF 2023 ``` ``` CRIME NO.400/2022 OF KALADY POLICE STATION, ERNAKULAM AGAINST THE ORDER IN CC NO.264 OF 2023 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS - IV, PERUMBAVOOR ``` ## **`PETITIONER/3RD ACCUSED:`** ``` MATHEW K. S. AGED 61 YEARS S/O. K.M. SEBASTIAN, KODIYAN HOUSE, CHENDAMANGALAM P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, KERALA, PIN – 683512. BY ADVS. M.R.DHANIL JISHY P.S. SENITTA P. JOJO ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, KALADY POLICE STATION THROUGH ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, KERALA, PIN – 682031.`** - **`2 RENJINI V R`** ``` D/O. RAJAPPAN NAIR, NAIR AMBALAM, ERNAKULAM RURAL, KERALA. PRESENTLY WORKING AS THE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL BANK, ALUVA, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, KERALA, PIN – 683101. ``` ``` BY ADV SRI.LEO GEORGE SRI. ASHI M.C (PP) ``` ``` THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 30.07.2024, ALONG WITH Crl.MC.6910/2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` CRL.M.C.No.8102 of 2023 & CRL.M.C.No.6910 of 2023 2 ``` 2024:KER:59106 ``` **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BECHU KURIAN THOMAS TUESDAY, THE 30[TH] DAY OF JULY 2024 / 8TH SRAVANA, 1946 CRL.MC NO. 6910 OF 2023 ``` ``` CRIME NO.400/2022 OF Kalady Police Station, Ernakulam AGAINST THE ORDER IN CC NO.264 OF 2023 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS - IV, PERUMBAVOOR PETITIONER/2ND ACCUSED: ``` ## **`PHILOMINA`** ``` AGED 65 YEARS ``` ``` W/O ANTONY VJ (LATE), VELLATTUKUDY HOUSE, KIZHAKKUMPURAM, VADAKKUMBAGAM KARA MANJAPRA VILLAGE, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683581. ``` ``` BY ADVS. M.R.DHANIL JISHY P.S. ``` ``` SENITTA P. JOJO SANGEERTHANA M. ``` ## **`RESPONDENT/STATE AND DEFACTO COMPLAINANT:`** - **`1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, KALADY POLICE STATION THROUGH ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682031.`** - **`2 RENJINI V R D/O. RAJAPPAN NAIR, NAIR AMBALAM, ERNAKULAM RURAL, KERALA. PRESENTLY WORKING AS THE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL BANK, ALUVA, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, KERALA, PIN – 683101.`** CRL.M.C.No.8102 of 2023 & CRL.M.C.No.6910 of 2023 3 **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2024:KER:59106 ``` ## **`BY ADV`** ``` SRI LEO GEORGE SRI NIMA JACOB ``` ``` THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 30.07.2024, ALONG WITH CRL.MC.8102/2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` CRL.M.C.No.8102 of 2023 & CRL.M.C.No.6910 of 2023 4 ``` 2024:KER:59106 ``` **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ## **BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, J.** --------------------------------------------------- CRL.M.C.No.6910 of 2023 & CRL.M.C.No.8102 of 2023 ---------------------------------------------------Dated this the 30th day of July, 2024 ## **ORDER** Petitioner in Crl.M.C No.6910 of 2023 is the second accused while the petitioner in Crl.M.C No.8102 of 2023 is the third accused in CC No.264/2023 on the files of Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-IV, Perumbavoor arising out of Crime No.400/2022 of Kalady Police Station. Petitioners challenge the FIR and the Final Report filed in the above case in this petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. 2. The prosecution alleges that the accused had availed a loan in the year 2009, fraudulently and dishonestly portraying the first accused to be the owner of a property, which was, in 2007 itself, sold to the third accused, much prior to the application for loan. Subsequently, when default occurred in repayment, proceedings under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002. CRL.M.C.No.8102 of 2023 & CRL.M.C.No.6910 of 2023 5 **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2024:KER:59106 ``` were initiated. It was thereafter realized that the third accused had purchased the property and later returned the original of the prior title deed of 2006 to the first and second accused who utilized that document for creating the mortgage for in 2009 availing the loan and the accused there by committed the offence under Section 420 r/w section 34 of the IPC. 3. Sri. M.R. Dhanil, the learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the prosecution allegations are totally false and the second and third accused are totally innocent. According to the learned counsel, even if the entire allegations of the defacto complainant are admitted, still no offence can be made out against the second and third accused. The learned counsel, submitted that the uncontroverted allegations can, at the most, point only to the guilt of the first accused and therefore since the petitioners are innocent, the proceedings against them ought to be quashed. 4. Sri. Leo George, the learned counsel for the second respondent on the other hand contended that the involvement of the second and third accused is evident from the signature in the sale deed of 2007 and the return of the original of the prior title deed of the first accused and used for creating the mortgage. It is CRL.M.C.No.8102 of 2023 & CRL.M.C.No.6910 of 2023 6 **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2024:KER:59106 ``` contended that all those acts were done with the intention of defrauding the bank. According to the learned counsel, the contentions raised by the petitioners are matters for trial and therefore jurisdiction under Section 482 ought not to be involved. 5. Concededly, the first accused is no more. The prosecution allegations indicate the creation of a mortgage by the first and second accused in 2009 utilizing a prior sale deed of 2006, knowing that the said property was sold to the third accused in 2007. The allegations indicate factual disputes which cannot be considered in a proceeding under Section 482 Cr.P.C. Apparently there are no allegations of malafides against the defacto complainant. 6. In the decision in **State of Uttar Pradesh v. O.P. Sharma (1996) 7 SCC 705** the Supreme Court had observed that the courts should be circumspect and loath to interfere under Section 482 Cr.P.C. especially when factual disputes arise. Sifting through the materials to arrive at a conclusion regarding the guilt of an accused is not the purport and scope of Section 482 of Cr.PC. 7. Further, in the decision in **Mahendra K.C. v. State of Karnataka and Ors., (2022) 2 SCC 129,** and in **Rashmi** CRL.M.C.No.8102 of 2023 & CRL.M.C.No.6910 of 2023 7 **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2024:KER:59106 ``` **Kumar v. Mahesh Kumar Bhada (1997) 2 SCC 397,** it has been observed that the power under Section 482 Cr.P.C should be exercised sparingly and cautiously and only when the court is of the opinion that gross miscarriage of justice will occasion if it is not invoked. The Supreme Court has also cautioned that the High Courts should not embark upon an enquiry on the reliability or genuineness of the allegations in the Final Report and a finding on the veracity of the material relied on by the prosecution is not a consideration at the stage of exercising the power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. The recent decision in **A. M. Mohan v. The State, represented by SHO and Another (2024 INSC 233)** is also relevant in this context. 7. In view of the above circumstances, I find no merit in these petitions. Needless to mention, the learned Magistrate shall dispose of the case, untrammelled by any of the observations made in this judgment. This Crl.M.C. is dismissed. ## **Sd/BECHU KURIAN THOMAS JUDGE** HKH/30.07.2024 CRL.M.C.No.8102 of 2023 & CRL.M.C.No.6910 of 2023 8 ``` 2024:KER:59106 ``` **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 6910/2023`** ## **`PETITIONER ANNEXURES`** ``` ANNEXURE A1 ``` ``` ANNEXURE A2 ``` ``` TRUE COPY OF THE F.I.R NO. 400/2022 OF KALADY POLICE STATION, DATED 13/04/2022 TRUE COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT DATED 25/04/2022 OF KALADY POLICE STATION ``` CRL.M.C.No.8102 of 2023 & CRL.M.C.No.6910 of 2023 9 **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2024:KER:59106 ``` ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 8102/2023`** ## **`PETITIONER ANNEXURES`** ``` ANNEXURE 1TRUE COPY OF THE F.I.R NO. 400/2022 OF KALADY POLICE STATION, DATED 13/04/2022 ANNEXURE 2TRUE COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT DATED 25/04/2023 OF KALADY POLICE STATION ```