ASHIKKUMAR Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Criminal Revision Application has been filed before this Court by the three applicants viz. applicant No.1 Ashokkumar Jain, applicant No.2 Dr. Ram Tarneja and applicant No.3 T.P. Pithawala, under S.401 read with S.482 of the Cr.P.C., invoking the inherent powers of this Court to quash the order passed by the Chief Judicial magistrate, Yeotmal, dated 30th April, 1986, in Criminal Case No.804/1986, directing the issue of summons to the five accused persons including the three applicants for the offences under Ss.500, 501 and 502 of the I.P.C., on a complaint lodged before the Magistrate on 30-4-1986 by the non-applicant-complaint Jawaharlal s/o Amolakchand Darda who was twice a Cabinet Minister and is at present a member of the Legislative Council in the State of Maharashtra.

(2.) The facts briefly stated are as follows: The Benett Coleman and Company Limited, Bombay, owns a chain of newspapers and periodicals having all India wide circulation in different languages viz. English, Hindi and Marathi, including the daily Hindi 'Navbharat Times'. The applicant No.1 (Original accused No.1) Ashokkumar Jain is the Chairman of the Board of Directors, having substantial share holding in the said Company. Applicant No.2 Dr. Ram Tarneja (Original accused No.2), is the General Manager of the said Company and the applicant No.3 T.P. Pithawala (Original accused No.5), is the printer and publisher of the daily 'Navbharat Times' published in Hindi language from Bombay, Delhi and Jaipur.

(3.)