High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeAcquittal of the revision petitioner; convictio...

Sayed Muhammed alias Thaha v. Isaac and others (State of Kerala)

Case / Petition Number:Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • V.K. Mohanan
Judgment Date
2011-02-21
Court Decision / Holding
The revision petition was allowed. The conviction and sentence were set aside, and the revision petitioner was acquitted of all charges. A subsequent petition permitted the compounding of the offence under Section 420 IPC and the court recorded the composition, with remarks citing the Supreme Court’s discretionary power to allow compounding under relevant circumstances.
Final Disposition
Acquittal of the revision petitioner; conviction and sentence set aside; subsequent compounding of the offence under CrPC recorded.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Sayyid Muhammed alias Thaha

Respondents

  • Isaac, Puthenparambil House, Valanjavattom Muri, Kadapra Village
  • State of Kerala
  • Philip Chacko, Kuzhikparambil Veedu, Valanjavattom Muri, Kadapra Village, Muvattupuzha Taluk

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • C.T. Joseph
  • • Joe Pollayil
  • • Roshin Ipe Joseph

Counsels for Respondents

  • • P.R. Venketesh
  • • Public Prosecutor
  • • N. Saju Thomas

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a Kerala High Court Criminal Revision Petition (Crl.R.P. No. 2027 of 2005) arising from C.C. No. 605 of 1995 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Tiruvalla, where the second accused (revision petitioner) Sayed Muhammed alias Thaha was convicted under Section 420 read with Section 34 IPC and sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment with a fine. The appellate courts upheld the conviction and sentence. The revision petition contends that the dispute has been settled out of court and seeks compounding and acquittal under Section 320(8) CrPC. On 21 February 2011, the High Court allowed the revision petition and acquitted the petitioner, setting aside the conviction and sentence in the trial and appellate orders. In a subsequent M.A. filed in 2011, the court permitted the parties to compound under Section 420 IPC (out of court settlement) and ultimately allowed compounding under Section 320(2) CrPC for NI Act proceedings (Section 138). The matter reflects court discretion in permitting compounding in light of settlement, citing Supreme Court precedent (Damodar S. Prabhu v. Sayed Babalal H., JT 2010(4) SC 457). The overall tenor is to resolve protracted litigation and restore liberty to the accused where appropriate under statutory compounding provisions.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 420 IPC read with Section 34 IPCSection 34 IPCSection 320(8) CrPCSection 320(2) CrPCSection 138 NI ActSection 147 NI Act

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The applicant/petitioner argued for compounding of the offence under Section 320(2) CrPC on account of a settlement between the parties, asserting no ongoing dispute and seeking acquittal under Section 320(8) CrPC after the out-of-court settlement. He relied on Supreme Court guidance allowing compounding in similar circumstances to end litigation and secure liberty for the accused.

Contentions of Respondents

Respondents supported the settlement through a joint petition indicating the dispute had been settled out of court and requested the court to record the composition, thereby enabling acquittal under the applicable CrPC provisions when warranted.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Damodar S. Prabhu v. Sayed Babalal H.JT 2010(4) SC 457PositiveCited to justify the court’s discretion to permit compounding of the offence and to record a settlement, ultimately enabling acquittal under CrPC Section 320(8) in light of the Supreme Court precedent.

Diagnostic Tool

Beta

Does this judgment govern your specific facts?

Don't risk relying on a distinguishable precedent. Enter your facts or proposition below. We will test it against Sayed Muhammed alias Thaha v. Isaac and others (State of Kerala) and instantly map out authorities that support, challenge, or govern your position.

Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** **PRESENT :** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.K.MOHANAN MONDAY, THE 21ST FEBRUARY 2011 / 2ND PHALGUNA 1932** **Crl.Rev.Pet.No. 2027 of 2005()** **( CRA.50/2000 of ADDL. SESSIONS COURT (ADHOC), PATHANAMTHITTA CC.605/1995 of JUDL.MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS COURT, THIRUVALLA)** **....................** ## **REVN. PETITIONER/APPELLANT/SECOND ACCUSED:** **----------------------------------------------------------------------------** **SAYED MUHAMMED ALIAS THAHA, THAZHATHU PUTHEN VEEDU, PEZHUCHAPPALLIL MURI, MUVATTUPUZHA TALUK.** **BY ADVS. SRI.C.T.JOSEPH SRI.JOE POLLAYIL SRI.ROSHIN IPE JOSEPH** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS 1 & 2 AND APLNT.NO.2/COMPLAINANT AND ACCUSEWD NO.1** **---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------** **1. ISSAC, PUTHENPARAMBIL HOUSE, VALANJAVATTOM MURI, KADAPRA VILLAGE.** ## **2. STATE OF KERALA,** **REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA.** ## **3. PHILIP CHACKO,** **KUZHIKAPARAMBIL VEEDU, VALANJAVATTOM MURI, KADAPRA VILLAGE, MUVATTUPUZHA TALUK.** **R1 BY ADV. SRI.P.R.VENKETESH R2 BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI.V.TEK CHAND R3 BY ADV. SRI.N.SAJU THOMAS** **THIS CRIMINAL REVISION PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 21/02/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: VK** ## **V.K.MOHANAN, J.** **---------------------------------------Crl.R.P.No. 2027 of 2005 ----------------------------------------** Dated this the 21[st] day of February, 2011 ## **ORDER** The revision petitioner is the second accused in a prosecution for the offence under Section 420 read with Section 34 of the I.P.C. and the trial court as well as the lower appellate court found that the accused is guilty and accordingly he is convicted and sentenced for the said offence. 2. The allegation against the revision petitioner is that he along with other accused cheated the complainant by giving fake gold ingots and thereby committed the offence punishable under Section 420 I.P.C. The court of Judicial First Class Magistrate, Thiruvalla, by judgment dated 5.2.2000 in C.C.No.605 of 1995 convicted both the accused and sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years under Section 420 read with Section 34 I.P.C. and each of them was directed to pay fine of ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:2:-** Rs.1000/- and in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one month each. Challenging the above conviction and sentence, the accused therein preferred a common appeal and by judgment dated 8.6.2005 in Crl.A.No.50 of 2000, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADHOC) Court-I, Pathanamthitta dismissed the appeal confirming the conviction and sentence ordered by the trial court. It is against the above conviction and sentence recorded by the trial court as well as the appellate court, the second accused preferred this Criminal Revision Petition. 3. Today by a separate order, in Crl.M.A. No.633/2011, this court allowed the contesting parties to compound the offence, especially when this Court is satisfied with the terms and conditions stated in the compounding petition and accordingly, the composition of the said offence is recorded. As the ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:3:-** matter has been settled out of court and the offence has been compounded, the revision petitioner is entitled to get an acquittal, by virtue of Section 320(8) of Cr.P.C. 4. In the result, this Crl.Revision petition is allowed setting aside the conviction and sentence imposed against the revision petitioner as per the judgment dated 5.2.2000 in C.C.No.605 of 1995 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Tiruvalla and the judgment dated 8.6.2005 in Crl.A.No.50 of 2000 of the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADHOC) Court-I, Pathanamthitta and acquitting the revision petitioner of all the charges levelled against him in the above case and he is set at liberty. The Crl.R.P is allowed accordingly. MBS/ **V.K.MOHANAN, JUDGE** ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:4:-** ## **V.K.MOHANAN,J.** **---------------------------------------------------------Crl.M.A.No.633 of 2011 in Crl.R.P.No. 2027 of 2005** **--------------------------------------------------------Dated this the 21[st] day of February,2011** ## **O R D E R** This is an application filed under Section 320(2) of the Cr.P.C. with a prayer to permit the third petitioner herein to compound the offence for which the first petitioner herein/revision petitioner will stand convicted and sentenced. 2. The allegation against the revision petitioner is that he along with other accused cheated the complainant by giving fake gold ingots and thereby committed the offence punishable under Section 420 I.P.C. The court of Judicial First Class Magistrate, Thiruvalla, by judgment dated 5.2.2000 in C.C.No.605 of 1995 convicted both the accused and sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:5:-** under Section 420 read with Section 34 I.P.C. and each of them was directed to pay fine of Rs.1000/- and in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one month each. Challenging the above conviction and sentence, the accused therein preferred a common appeal and by judgment dated 8.6.2005 in Crl.A.No.50 of 2000, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADHOC) Court-I, Pathanamthitta dismissed the appeal confirming the conviction and sentence ordered by the trial court. It is against the above conviction and sentence recorded by the trial court as well as the appellate court, the second accused preferred the Criminal Revision Petition. In the above joint petition, it is stated that the dispute was settled out of court and the third petitioner/the complainant does not want to proceed any further against the revision petitioner. According to the revision petitioner, as such, there is no dispute ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:6:-** between the contesting parties. I have gone through the joint petition and I am satisfied with the terms and conditions entered therein. As the contesting parties have already settled the dispute, I am of the view that it is only just and proper to permit the parties to compound the offence under Section 420 of I.P.C. for which the revision petitioner will stand convicted and sentenced. Accordingly, permission is granted and the composition of the offence under Section 420 I.P.C. is recorded. **V.K.MOHANAN, Judge.** MBS/ **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** **-:7:-** V.K.MOHANAN, J. **---------------------------------------Crl. M.A.No. 7088 of 2010 in Crl.R.P.No. 2242 of 2010 ----------------------------------------** Dated this the 26[th] day of July, 2010. ## **ORDER** This is a petition filed under Section 147 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (for short 'the **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:8:-** N.I.Act') to compound the offence under Section 138 of the N.I.Act. The dispute is the subject matter of the Crl.R.P. In the petition, it is stated that during the pendency of the cases, the entire matter was settled and the petitioner/first respondent has received the entire amount covered by the cheque in dispute. The petitioner/first respondent does not intend to prosecute the matter any further. 2. I have gone through the compounding petition and I am satisfied with the terms and conditions incorporated therein and the petition is signed by both the revision petitioner and the first respondent/ complainant and countersigned by their respective counsel. As the revision petitioner is an and considering the particular facts and circumstances involved in the case, especially, in the light of the discretion granted to this Court by the Apex Court in the decision reported in **Damodar.S.Prabhu** v. **Sayed** ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:9:-** **Babalal.H.** [JT 2010(4) SC 457], the revision petitioner was permitted to file the compounding petition depositing 1% of the cheque amount, as per order dated 19.7.2010 so as to enable him to move this Court to compound the offence for which he is convicted and sentenced. The revision petitioner has paid a sum of Rs.4000/- being 1% of the cheque amount to the Kerala State Legal Services Authority, vide Receipt No.074 dated 23.7.2010 in terms of the decision of the Supreme Court. As I am satisfied with the terms and the averments contained in the compounding petition, which is signed by the revision petitioner as well as the first respondent and countersigned by their respective counsel, permission is granted to compound the above offence and the composition is recorded. ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:10:-** **V.K.MOHANAN, JUDGE** MBS/ ## **V.K.MOHANAN, J.** **--------------------------------------------Crl.M.A.No.7087 of 2010 in Unnumbered Crl.R.P.No. of 2010 --------------------------------------------Dated this the 26[th] day of July, 2010** ## **O R D E R** This is an application to condone the delay of 1735 days occurred in filing the Crl.R.P. 2. Learned counsel for the revision petitioner ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:11:-** submitted that the petitioner is an Ex-Serviceman and after the impugned judgment, the matter has been settled out of court and a compounding petition has also been filed along with the revision petition and there is no contention on merit. 3. Having regard to the above facts and circumstances, especially when the contesting parties settled the matter, I am of the view that the petitioner can be given an opportunity to settle the matter and to redress his grievance. In the result, the delay of 1735 days in filing the Criminal Revision Petition is condoned and the Registry is directed to number the Crl.R.P. **V.K.Mohanan, Judge.** MBS/ ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:12:-** **V.K.MOHANAN,** ## **J.** -------------------------------------------- **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005 -:13:-** Crl.A.NO. OF 200 ----------------------------------J U D G M E N T DATED: -2- 2010 ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:14:-** **V.K.MOHANAN, J** . O.P.No. ## **Crl.R.P.No.2027 of 2005** ## **-:15:-** ## **JUDGMENT** Dated:.. **V.K.MOHANAN, J** . O.P.No. **JUDGMENT** Dated:..