NARENDRA LAAXMANBHAI TESHVI & Ors. v. STATE OF GUJARAT & Ors.

CORAM : MR.JUSTICE A.M.KAPADIA Date of decision: 20/07/2002 ORAL JUDGEMENT

1.(cid:9)By means of filing this petition under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as "the Code'), petitioners have prayed to quash and set aside the FIR being CR No.III-73/2002 registered at Kavat Police Station, Taluka Chhotaudepur, District Vadodara. The petitioners have further prayed to quash all the proceedings initiated pursuant to the said FIR and also prayed to release the gur and the truck bearing registration No. MP-09-KA-6361 belonging to the petitioner No.1 forthwith and unconditionally, on the grounds stated in the petition.

2.(cid:9)It is stated in the petition that FIR being CR No.III-73 of 2002 came to be lodged against petitioner Nos.1 and 2 with the Kavat Police station. As per the said FIR, a truck bearing registration No. MP-09-KA-6361 which was going towards Silvassa was stopped and searched near Nasvadi Road, at Kavat on 23.4.2002 by the police authorities. On search they found 260 bags of rotten gur, being 13,000 Kgs. The driver and cleaner of the truck, that is, petitioner Nos.1 and 2, were called upon to produce the pass or permit authorizing their possession of the rotten gur but they failed to produce the same. It is also alleged against them that the sample of gur was collected, which was sent for chemical analysis. Therefore, it is alleged against petitioner Nos.1 and 2 that they have been found with the rotten gur as defined under Section 2 (39) A of the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act'), which is punishable under section 70A of the Act.

3.(cid:9)It is the say of the petitioners that the gur in question was despatched by one M/s. Alok Dal Udhyog, having its place of business at Krishi Upaj Mandi, Ashta 466 116, District Sehore, M.P. in favour of petitioner No.3 having their place of business at Silvassa, Dadra Nagar Haveli (U.T.). The gur in question was entrusted to M/s. Janta Transport Company for transportation from M.P. to Dadra Nagar Haveli. A copy of the invoice issued by M/s. Alok Dal Udhyog in favour of petitioner No.3 is annexed as Annexure B to the petition. The petitioners have also produced a copy of the consignment note issued by M/s. Janta Transport Company at Annexure C wherein the recipient of muddamal Jaggery has been described as M/s. Silvassa Traders, having their place of business at Bazar Road, Narali, Dadra Nagar Haveli, that is, petitioner No.3 herein. It is the case of the petitioners that the above documents were in the truck and were shown by petitioner Nos.1 and 2 to the police authorities. Petitioner Nos.1 and 2 have also explained that the muddamal gur is being transported through the State of Gujarat and it is destined for Union Territory, Dadar Nagar Haveli. The petitioners further state that the petitioners are holding valid licenses issued under the relevant laws applicable in the Union territory, Dadra Nagar Haveli, entitling them to business in all kinds of jaggery. Copies of various license issued in favour of petitioner No.3 are annexed at Annexure D. It is further case of the petitioners that the above facts were pointed out to the police authorities but ignoring the above facts, the FIR came to be lodged for the reasons best known to the police authorities against petitioner Nos.1 and 2. So, according to the say of the petitioners, they have not committed any offence within the territory of Gujarat State as the said gur was to be despatched outside Gujarat State at Dadra Nagar Haveli. The truck was only passing through the territory of Gujarat State. Therefore, the petitioners have prayed for the reliefs to which reference is made in the earlier paragraphs of this judgment.

4.(cid:9)I have heard Mr.Sanjanwala, learned advocate for the petitioners, Mr ND Gohil, learned APP for the respondents and perused the averments made in the memo of the petition, grounds set out therein and the documents annexed therewith. I have also gone through the relevant provisions of Gujarat Through Transport Rules, 1966, Amended Bombay Prohibition Act, 1978 and various unreported judgments delivered in similar cases by this Court, copies whereof have been supplied by Mr. Sanjanwala, learned advocate for the petitioners during the course of his submissions.

5.(cid:9)Having considered the submissions advanced by the learned advocates appearing for the parties, it can be said that in similar cases which are enlisted below, this court has quashed criminal complaints and further proceedings: (1) Special Criminal Application Nos.4 and 5 of 1986 (decided on 28.1.1986). (2) Criminal Misc. Application Nos.774 and 775 of 1985 (decided on 1.7.1985). (3) Misc. Criminal Application No. 4763/1998 (decided on 27.11.1998). (4) Misc. Criminal Application Nos. 2785/94, 2786/91, 2787/91 and 2788/91 (decided on 25.8.1993). (5) Misc. Criminal Application Nos.3041/95 and 3044/95. (6) Cri. Misc. Application No. 482/95 (decided on

10.2.1995) (7) Misc. Cri. Application No.750/96 (decided on

13.9.1995). (8) Misc. Cri. Application No.4392/99 (decided on

25.8.1999). (9) Cri. Misc. Application No.4493/99 (decided on

25.8.1999). (10) Cri. Misc. Application No. 7606/99 (decided on

17.12.1999). (11) Cri. Misc. Application No. 7673/99 (decided on

21.12.1999).

6.(cid:9)There is no manner of doubt that the truck in question which was intercepted at Kavat by respondent No.2 was loaded with 260 bags of rotten gur which was to be unloaded at Dadra Nagar Haveli. Moreover, as per various documents, which are invoices produced alongwith the petition, the fact remains that the goods were to be unloaded at Dadra Nagar Haveli. Therefore, it is obvious that the said truck was passing through the territory of Gujarat State. So far as the offence under Section 70A of the Act is concerned, if the rotten gur were to be manufactured or sold in Gujarat State then and then only the offence can be said to have been committed within the territory of Gujarat State. Therefore, I am of the opinion that the prayer made in this petition deserves to be granted and thereby the offence registered vide CR No. III-73 of 2000 registered with respondent No.2 police station is required to be quashed and set aside by allowing this petition.

7.(cid:9)For the forgoing reasons, the petition succeed and accordingly it is allowed. The FIR being CR No.III-73/2002 registered with Kavat Police station is hereby quashed and further proceedings pursuant to the said FIR is also quashed. Rule is made absolute. Direct service is permitted.

8.(cid:9)While directing quashing of the FIR being CR.III-73/2002 and the proceedings pursuant to the said FIR, so far as the muddamal is concerned, following order is passed; (1)(cid:9)The muddamal gur seized from the truck bearing registration No.MP-09-KA-6361 in pursuance of the FIR being CR III-73/2002 be released to petitioner No.3 on its giving undertaking to the satisfaction of the Magistrate concerned that the accused shall not store or use or consume the said gur within the territory of Gujarat Staet and the same shall be taken to its destination out of the limit of Gujarat State. (2)(cid:9)The petitioenrs shall carry the goods in question under the police escort to be given by the police authority at the cost of petitioner No.3. (3)(cid:9)The truck bearing registration No. MP-09-KA-6361 shall be released in favour of petitioner No.1 after proper verification. (cid:9) (cid:9)(A.M. Kapadia, J.) (cid:9) (cid:9)--- (karan) (cid:9) (cid:9) (cid:9)