MAHENDRA SALGAONKAR Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By way of the present Petition, the Petitioner has invoked the inherent jurisdiction of this Court to quash and set aside an order dtd. 17/1/2024 passed by learned Sessions Judge, North Goa, inter alia directing charges to be framed against the Petitioner for ofences punishable under Ss. 370, 370-A(2) of IPC and Ss. 3, 4, 5 and 7 of Immoral Traic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

(2.) he brief chronology of events necessary to appreciate the factual matrix in the background is as follows:

(3.) After registration of the FIR, the police commenced investigation, the statements of the victim girls were recorded, they were produced before SDM, Mapusa to pass order under Sec. 70(3) of Immoral Traic (Prevention) Act, 1956. During the course of further investigation, the statements of SP - Crime and the staf who had accompanied the said raid along with the decoy customer were recorded. Correspondence from the Directorate of Health Services and Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) revealed that the said Spa was not registered with GSPCB and no license was issued to the said Spa by the Directorate of Health Services, Panaji. he investigation was concluded and inal report was iled on 31/12/2014. In all, nine accused were arraigned in the inal report. he Petitioner is the Accused No.1.