SACHIN Vs. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Applicants have filed the present application for allowing them to compound the offense registered against them vide Crime No. 15/2014, at Police Station, Wadvani, district Beed, for the offense under Sections 354-B, 295-A, 34 of IPC, 3(1)(xi) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (hereinafter referred to as SC & ST Act) and under Sections 3 and 7 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 and, consequently, for quashing further investigation in the said crime. Original complainant is applicant No. 4 in the present application. Heard learned Counsel appearing for the applicants. Learned Counsel submitted that with the intervention of elders, the matter between the present applicant Nos. 1 to 3 and present applicant No. 4 i.e. the original complainant has been settled and that applicant No. 4 does not now want to pursue the matter further. Learned Counsel further submitted that applicant No. 4, in her statement recorded under Section 164 of Cr.P.C. By the learned Judicial Magistrate, First Class, has stated that she does not want to continue with the criminal proceedings. Learned Counsel further submitted that applicant No. 4 has denied the occurrence of any incident, as is revealing from the FIR lodged in the matter. Learned Counsel submitted that because of some misunderstanding the alleged complaint was filed. However, thereafter, everything has now been set right and no dispute remains. Learned Counsel further submitted that compounding of the offense and quashing of the FIR is necessary for maintaining social harmony in the village. Learned Counsel placed his reliance on the judgment of this Court in the matter of Dhananjay Gopalrao Bahergaonkar v. State of Maharashtra and another, 2010 3 BCR(Cri) 270) .

(2.) Learned A.P.P. Has prayed for passing of an appropriate order. We have consciously considered the submissions made on behalf of the applicants. We have carefully perused the FIR dated 18.3.2014 registered at Police Station, Wadvani on the report lodged by the present applicant No. 4.

(3.) The FIR lodged by applicant No. 4 reveals following allegations against applicant Nos. 1 to 3: