STATE OF U.P. Vs. MOHD ARSHAD KHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave Granted.

(2.) The State of Uttar Pradesh is in appeal against the judgments and orders passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in petitions for quashing preferred by accused persons in connection with common FIR dtd. 24/5/2025 in Case Crime No. 33 of 2025 registered at Police Station, Nai Ki Mandi, District Agra under Ss. 420, 467, 468, 471 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860[Hereinafter, referred to as 'IPC'] and Ss. 3/25/30 of the Arms Act 1959. Before us in Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl) No.17272 of 2025, is Mohd. Arshad Khan[Impugned Judgment in Criminal Misc Writ Petition No. 12162 of 2025], in Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl) No. 17579 of 2025 is Sanjay @Sanjay Kapoor[Impugned Judgment in Criminal Misc Writ Petition No. 12526 of 2025] and in Criminal Appeal @ SLP (Crl) No.18150 of 2025 is Muhammad Zaid Khan[Impugned Judgment in Criminal Misc Writ Petition No. 12173 of 2025]. They shall be collectively referred to as the accusedrespondents.

(3.) The case arises from an investigation directed by the Senior Superintendent of Police, STF Headquarters, Lucknow, pursuant to an anonymous petition which, during inquiry, culminated in a statutory complaint dtd. 31/7/2024. The complaint alleged that certain persons had procured and used arms licenses by submitting forged documents and false affidavits. Acting on these directions, the STF conducted an inquiry on the basis of documentary records, reports submitted by the Additional District Magistrate (City), Arms Sec. , Agra, statements of complainants and accused persons, and scrutiny of licence files and related documents. The investigation found serious irregularities and in terms of report dtd. 31/1/2025, it was recommended that a criminal case be registered and further investigation be conducted hereinto. The FIR subject matter of these cases, thus came to be registered. Below is an encapsulation of the content of the FIR regarding the three accused-respondents before us.