V.V. Anil Kumar @ Thampi; Ajeesh; George Roshan; Sudheesh Babu v. The State of Kerala; Pradeesh; Muneer; Babu @ Parameswaran C.R

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V WEDNESDAY, THE 24TH DAY OF JULY 2019 / 2ND SRAVANA, 1941 Crl.MC.No.4830 of 2019** **CC 1319/2017 of JMFC, KALAMASSERY (TEMPORARY)** **CRIME NO.63/2017 OF KALAMASSERY POLICE STATION, ERNAKULAM** ## **PETITIONERS/ACCUSED 1,2,3 & 4:** |**1**|**V.V.ANIL KUMAR@THAMPI,**| |---|---| ||**AGED 40 YEARS**| ||**S/O.VISVANATHAN, VALIYAVEETTIL HOUSE,**| ||**KARUVELIPPADI,RAMESHWARAM THALUK,**| ||**KOCHI THALUK, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT.**| |**2**|**AJEESH, AGED 29 YEARS,**| ||**S/O. ELYAS, VELAMVELI HOUSE, MANAPPURAM P.O.,**| ||**POOCHAKKAL, CHERTHALA, ALAPPUZHA.**| |**3**|**GEORGE ROSHAN, AGED 25 YEARS,**| ||**S/O. RAJESH, POOTHANADU HOUSE, VYPIN,**| ||**ELAKKULAM VILLAGE, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT.**| |**4**|**SUDHEESH BABU, AGED 23 YEARS,**| ||**S/O. BABU, MATTUMMAL THAZHATHU HOUSE,**| ||**THEVARA, ELAKKULAM VILLAGE,**| ||**ERNAKULAM DISTRICT.**| ||**BY ADV. SRI.AMEER.K.M.**| ## **RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT & STATE:** - **1 THE STATE OF KERALA THROUGH THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, KALAMASSERY POLICE STATION, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM 682 031.** - **2 PRADEESH, AGED 33 YEARS, S/O. MATHEW, KOLLAMKUZHIL HOUSE, KONNATHADY VILLAGE, UDUMBACHOLA TALUK, IDUKKI DISTRICT-685 563.** Crl.MC.No.4830 of 2019 2 **3 MUNEER, AGED 40 YEARS, S/O. KASIM, KIDANGAPPILLY PARAMBU HOUSE, WEST VELIYATHUNADU, ADUVATHURUTHU, VILYATHUNADU P.O., KARUMALOOR VILLAGE, PARAVUR TALUK, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT-683 511 4 BABU @ PARAMESWARAN C.R, AGED 55 YEARS, S/O. RADHAKRISHNAN, MALIL HOUSE, NELSON MANDELA ROAD, UDAYOGAMANDAL P.O., ELOOR EAST, ALUVA 683 501, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.M.G.VIJAYAN** ## **SRI. AJITH MURALI PUBLIC PROSECUTOR** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 24.07.2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** Crl.MC.No.4830 of 2019 3 ## **ORDER** Invoking the powers of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (“the Code” for short), the petitioners have approached this Court seeking to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against them by the 2[nd] respondent herein, which is now pending on the files of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Kalamassery as C.C. No.1319 of 2017. In the above proceeding, the petitioners face indictment for offences punishable under Sections 294(b), 341, 323 r/w Section 34 of the IPC. 2. From the prosecution records, it is discernible that the allegation is that on 08.01.2017 at about 6.00 pm, the petitioners herein, in furtherance of their common intention, wrongfully restrained the party respondents and attacked them causing injuries. 3. Heard Sri.Ameer.K.M, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Sri.M.G.Vijayan, the learned counsel appearing for the party respondents and the learned Public Prosecutor. 4. Sri.M.G.Vijayan, the learned counsel appearing for the party respondents, submitted that after much deliberations, the victims have resolved their disputes and differences with the petitioners and they have now decided that the continuance of criminal proceedings is an unwanted exercise. He refers to the affidavit filed by the 2[nd] respondent before this Court and asserts that he Crl.MC.No.4830 of 2019 4 has no objection in bringing the prosecution proceedings to a premature termination. He also points out that the injured witnesses, who have been arrayed as respondents 3 and 4, have also filed separate affidavits recording that they have no objection in quashing the criminal proceedings. 5. Sri. Ameer K.M, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, urged that in view of the compromise arrived at between the victims and the offenders, the possibility of conviction is bleak and the continuation of the criminal proceedings will only inure to put both the parties to oppression and prejudice. Both sides submit that the wrong is basically private in nature and no public interest is involved. 6. The learned Public Prosecutor, on instructions, submitted that the investigating officer has reported that the petitioners are not involved in any other crimes. It is further submitted that the State has no serious objection in quashing the proceedings in view of the settlement arrived at between the parties. 7. I have considered the submissions advanced and have gone through the records. 8. The factors that are to be borne while exercising powers conferred on this Court by Section 482 of the Code in the context of considering a prayer for quashing criminal proceedings on the basis of resolution of disputes between Crl.MC.No.4830 of 2019 5 the offender and the victim have been laid down by the Apex Court in **Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and Anr** . [(2012) 10 SCC 303]; **Jitendra Raghuvanshi and Others v. Babita Raghuvanshi and Another** [(2013) 4 SCC 58]; **Narinder Singh and Others v. State of Punjab and Another** [(2014) 6 SCC 466]; **Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and Others v. State of Gujarat and Another** [(2017) 9 SCC 641] and **State of Madhya Pradesh v. Laxmi Narayan and others** , [(2019) 4 SCALE 200]. It was held that the inherent jurisdiction vested in the High Court, as recognized and preserved by Section 482 of the Cr.P.C, is primarily to prevent abuse of the process of court or to secure the ends of justice. The guiding light behind the exercise of inherent power is to do real, complete and substantial justice. It was also held that while examining the prayer for quashing of a non compoundable offence, on the basis of settlement of the dispute between the wrongful doer and the victim, this Court must necessarily consider whether the possibility of conviction is remote and oblique and further as to whether the continuation of the criminal proceedings would lead to oppression and prejudice. The courts were reminded that the antecedents of the accused, possible lack of bona fides, his past conduct, including his earlier abscondance, and as to how he had managed to enter into a compromise with the victim are some of the factors which are to reckoned while exercising this extraordinary power. The Apex Court had also cautioned that this Court, when called upon to exercise the power Crl.MC.No.4830 of 2019 6 under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C to bring the criminal case to an end on the basis of settlement, must steer clear of intervention in heinous or serious offences, including those involving mental depravity, as indeed economic offences affecting the financial and economic well being of the State, such as murder, attempt to murder, extortion, forgery, rape, dacoity, financial or economic frauds, cases under Arms Act, etc. Those offences were held as having a tendency to have a serious impact upon the society and continuation of trial thereof is essential due to overriding element of public interest. It was also held that the mere fact that the police have incorporated a grave offence in the FIR or the final report would not be a deterrent if the records reveal that the ingredients of the offence are not made out 9. In the light of the above principles, I have perused the prosecution records. The injuries allegedly inflicted by the petitioners cannot be said to be grave and serious having ingredients of extreme mental depravity. I have also noted the submission of the learned Public Prosecutor that the statement of the victims have been recorded by the investigating officer and that they have asserted that it is not in their best interest that the prosecution proceedings continue. Having considered the case in hand on the tourchstone of the aforementioned parameters, I am of the view that quashing of proceedings on account of compromise would bring about peace. In a case such as the instant one, even if the prosecution is allowed to continue, it would not serve any Crl.MC.No.4830 of 2019 7 purpose as the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak. It can only result in putting the victim and the accused to unwanted oppression and prejudice. Settlement will augur well for the interest of the community and will enable the parties to live in peace and harmony. In the result, this petition is allowed. Annexure-A1 final report and all further proceedings pursuant thereto against the petitioners now pending as C.C. No.1319 of 2017 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Kalamassery, are quashed. ## **SD/-** ## **RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V.,** ## **JUDGE** IAP //TRUE COPY// P.A. TO JUDGE Crl.MC.No.4830 of 2019 8 ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:** **ANNEXURE A1** **THE COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT IN CRIME NO. 63/2017 IN C.C. NO. 1319/2017** **ANNEXURE A2 THE F.I.R. FILED BY THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KALAMASSERY.** **ANNEXURE A3 THE AFFIDAVIT DATED 1.7.2019 SWORN IN BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.** **ANNEXURE A4 THE AFFIDAVITS DATED 1.7.2019 SWORN IN BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT.** **ANNEXURE A5 THE AFFIDAVITS DATED 1.7.2019 SWORN IN BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT.** ## **RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS:** NIL