BHAJAN SINGH Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS application Under Section 482 Cr. PC has been filed by Bhajan Singh against the order of the learned Munsif and Judicial Magistrate, Sri Karanpur by which cognizance of an offence Under Section 408 I P.C. was taken against him.

(2.) BRIEFLY stated the facts giving rise to this application are that there was some disputes in relation to the sale of a cow between Dilawar Singh, Tara Singh and Munshi Singh. A report was lodged to the police station about the theft of the cow and in that connection Dilawar Singh is alleged to have been arrested by the police. The case of the complainant Dilawar Singh is that it was the present petitioner Bhajan Singh who was S.H.O. police Station Kesarisinghpur at that time, who had taken him in custody and had also affected the search of his person and during that search apart from other articles he had also taken 'gold Kada' from his hand but he did not record the recovery of this 'Kada' in the arrest memo and later did not return the same to the complainant after his releases on bail despite his application and he thus committed an offence Under Sections 408 and 409 IPC. The complaint was filed on 16 -7 -80 and the learned Magistrate forwarded it to the police for investigation directing that as the police officer was involved, the investigation must be carried out by a person not below the rank of Dy. S.P. The Dy. S.P. after investigation filed the final report. The complainant thereupon filed a protest application. After enquiry Under Sections 200 and 202 Cr. P.C. the learned Magistrate took cognizance of offence Under Section 408 I.P.C. against the present petitioner. The petitioner being aggrieved of this order has come up before this Court praying that the order of taking cognizance against him may be quashed.

(3.) IT has been urged by the learned counsel for the petitioner that a false case has been raised against him by the complainant on account of his displeasure against the petitioner for his arrest in the case Under Section 380 IPC. He further pointed out that the present complaint has been lodged after inordinate delay, that the fact of recovery of 'Kada' from the person of the complainant was not mentioned in the application filed by the complainant for the return of the article after his release on bail iv that case Under Section 380 IPC that as a matter of fact, the present petitioner did not arrest the complainant Dalawar Singh but it was 'Kashi Ram, S I who had arrested him in that case and had prepared the arrest memo and, therefore, there was no occasion for the present petitioner for removing 'gold Kada' from the person of Dalawar Singh. He urged that after a thorough investigation the Dy S.P. has filed the final report and in these circumstances the learned Magistrate was not justified in taking cognizance of the offence Under Section 408 against the petitioner on the tainted evidence of the complainant and his associates.