JASHANDEEP SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The prayer in the present petition under Sec. 482 Cr.P.C. is for quashing FIR No.20 dtd. 18/2/2023 (Annexure P-1) under Ss. 406, 420, 120-B IPC and Sec. 13 of Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act, 2014 (deleted later on) registered at Police Station Navi Baradari, District Police Commissionerate Jalandhar, alongwith all subsequent proceedings arising therefrom including the final report/challan under Sec. 173 Cr.P.C. dtd. 28/8/2023 (Annexure P-2) submitted by the police under Sec. 406, 420, 120-B IPC.

(2.) The allegations in brief as levelled in the FIR are that the accused persons took a sum of Rs.15.00 lacs from the family of the complainant to send their son Harpreet Singh to Canada. Neither was Harpreet Singh sent abroad nor was the money returned. The money was utilised to send Jasmeet Kaur, the sister of the petitioner and daughter of the co-accused to Canada. On the complainant demanding Rs.15.00 lacs back, he was threatened by the accused persons. A police complaint was filed and a compromise was effected. It was decided that Harpreet Singh would solemnize marriage with Jasmeet Kaur and would settle down in Canada. For the said purpose, a further amount of Rs.15.00 lacs was paid by the complainant in cash. The marriage took place on 10/1/2023. Harpreet Singh accompanied Jasmeet Kaur and the present petitioner to drop her to the Air Port at New Delhi. The travelling expenses etc. were borne by the complainant. However, Jasmeet Kaur did not cohabit with Harpreet Singh. The accused demanded a further amount of Rs.20.00 lacs on the pretext of completion of documentation to settle Harpreet in Canada. Ultimately, it transpired that the accused persons did not apply for a Canadian Visa for Harpreet Singh and refused to return Rs.15.00 lacs and further threatened the complainant party. The translated version of the FIR No.20 dtd. 18/2/2023 (Annexure P-1) under Ss. 406, 420, 120-B IPC and Sec. 13 of Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act, 2014 (deleted later on) registered at Police Station Navi Baradari, District Police Commissionerate Jalandhar is attached as Annexure P-1 to the petition. Pursuant to the completion of the investigation, the report under Sec. 173 Cr.P.C. came to be presented under Ss. 406, 420 and 120-B IPC and the copy of the same is attached as Annexure P-2 to the petition.

(3.) The instant petition has been filed seeking quashing of the FIR (Annexure P-1), the report under Sec. 173 Cr.P.C. (Annexure P-2) and all subsequent proceedings arising therefrom.