High Court · 2025

Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 23.04.2025CORAM:THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYANCrl.O.P.No.12223 of 2025 and Crl.M.P.No.8165 of 2025Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss... PetitionerVs.1.The State byThe Inspector of Police,Neyveli Township Police Station,Cuddalore District.2.Gopalakrishnan ..RespondentsPRAYER: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to call for the records in Crime No.273 of 2023 pending on the file of the Inspector of Police, Neyveli Town Police Station, Cuddalore District and quash the same. For Petitioner: Mr.K.BaluFor R1 : Mr.A.Gopinath Government Advocate (crl.side)Page 1 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025O R D E RThis Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash the FIR in Crime No.273 of 2023 on the file of the first respondent, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 143 and 341 of IPC.2.The case of the prosecution is that on 28.07.2023, at about 1.30 pm, under the leadership of the petitioner, nearly 2000 individuals gathered near the Arch of Neyveli Town, protesting against the Central government, State Government and NLC Management for damaging the paddy in Kathalai Village. The protest caused a hindrance to traffic. Subsequently, the protesters, including the petitioner, were detained at KNT Mahal. Based on this, the first respondent registered a complaint in Crime No.273 of 2023, against the petitioner for the offences punishable under Sections 143 and 341 of IPC.3.The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Without any base, the Page 2 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025respondent police registered a case in Crime No.273 of 2023 on the file of the first respondent for the offences under Sections 143 and 341 of IPC, as against the petitioner. Hence, he prayed to quash the same.4.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) would submit that the investigation is completed and about to file the final report.5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) for the first respondent and perused materials placed on record.6.It is to be noted that while exercising the power under Section 482/ Section 528, the Court should be slow, at the same time, if the Court finds that from the entire materials collected by the prosecution taken as a whole, would not constitute any offence, in such situation, directing the parties to undergo ordeal of trial will be a futile exercise and it will infringe the right of the persons and in this regard, the Apex Court in State of Haryana and others Vs. Bhajan Lal and Others reported in 1992 Supp (1) Supreme Court Cases 335, has been held as follows : Page 3 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025“........(a) where the allegations made in the First Information Report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused;(b) where the allegations in the First Information Report and other materials, if any, accompanying the F.I.R. do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers under Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within the purview of Section 155(2) of the Code;(c) where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR or ~complaint and the evidence collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case against the accused;(d) where the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only a non-cognizable offence, no investigation is permitted by a police officer without an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under Section 155(2) of the Code;(e) where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding Page 4 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025against the accused;(f) where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific provision in the Code or the concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved party;(g) where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge.”7. It is also relevant to note the definition of Unlawful Assembly:“Unlawful Assembly:An assembly of five or more persons is designated an “unlawful assembly”, if the common object of the persons composing that assembly is :(i) to overawe by criminal force, or show of criminal force, the Central or any State Government or Parliament or the Legislature of any State, or any public servant in the exercise of the lawful power of such public servant; or Page 5 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025(ii) to resist the execution of any law, or of any legal process; or(iii) to commit any mischief or criminal trespass, or other offence; or(iv) by means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to any person to take or obtain possession of any property, or to deprive any person of the enjoyment of a right of way, or of the use of water or other incorporeal right of which he is in possession or enjoyment, or to enforce any right or supposed right; or(v) by means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to compel any person to do what he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do what he is legally entitled to do.”8.Only when the assembly fit into any of the above circumstances, it could be construed as unlawful. The accused had not shown any criminal force to commit any mischief, crime or any offence or by way of criminal force or tried to take possession of the property or right to use of incorporeal right which is in possession of enjoyment of others or rights. Page 6 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 20259.Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands allowed and the FIR registered by the first respondent in Crime No.273 of 2023 for the offences under Sections 143 and 341 IPC is hereby quashed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.23.04.2025Neutral citation: Yes/NoSpeaking/non-speaking ordershkG.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.shkTo1. The Inspector of Police,Neyveli Township Police Station,Page 7 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025Cuddalore District.2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.Crl.O.P.No.12223 of 2025 and Crl.M.P.No.8165 of 202523.04.2025Page 8 of 8

Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 23.04.2025CORAM:THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYANCrl.O.P.No.12223 of 2025 and Crl.M.P.No.8165 of 2025Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss... PetitionerVs.1.The State byThe Inspector of Police,Neyveli Township Police Station,Cuddalore District.2.Gopalakrishnan ..RespondentsPRAYER: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to call for the records in Crime No.273 of 2023 pending on the file of the Inspector of Police, Neyveli Town Police Station, Cuddalore District and quash the same. For Petitioner: Mr.K.BaluFor R1 : Mr.A.Gopinath Government Advocate (crl.side)Page 1 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025O R D E RThis Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash the FIR in Crime No.273 of 2023 on the file of the first respondent, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 143 and 341 of IPC.2.The case of the prosecution is that on 28.07.2023, at about 1.30 pm, under the leadership of the petitioner, nearly 2000 individuals gathered near the Arch of Neyveli Town, protesting against the Central government, State Government and NLC Management for damaging the paddy in Kathalai Village. The protest caused a hindrance to traffic. Subsequently, the protesters, including the petitioner, were detained at KNT Mahal. Based on this, the first respondent registered a complaint in Crime No.273 of 2023, against the petitioner for the offences punishable under Sections 143 and 341 of IPC.3.The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Without any base, the Page 2 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025respondent police registered a case in Crime No.273 of 2023 on the file of the first respondent for the offences under Sections 143 and 341 of IPC, as against the petitioner. Hence, he prayed to quash the same.4.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) would submit that the investigation is completed and about to file the final report.5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) for the first respondent and perused materials placed on record.6.It is to be noted that while exercising the power under Section 482/ Section 528, the Court should be slow, at the same time, if the Court finds that from the entire materials collected by the prosecution taken as a whole, would not constitute any offence, in such situation, directing the parties to undergo ordeal of trial will be a futile exercise and it will infringe the right of the persons and in this regard, the Apex Court in State of Haryana and others Vs. Bhajan Lal and Others reported in 1992 Supp (1) Supreme Court Cases 335, has been held as follows : Page 3 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025“........(a) where the allegations made in the First Information Report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused;(b) where the allegations in the First Information Report and other materials, if any, accompanying the F.I.R. do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers under Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within the purview of Section 155(2) of the Code;(c) where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR or ~complaint and the evidence collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case against the accused;(d) where the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only a non-cognizable offence, no investigation is permitted by a police officer without an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under Section 155(2) of the Code;(e) where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding Page 4 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025against the accused;(f) where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific provision in the Code or the concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved party;(g) where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge.”7. It is also relevant to note the definition of Unlawful Assembly:“Unlawful Assembly:An assembly of five or more persons is designated an “unlawful assembly”, if the common object of the persons composing that assembly is :(i) to overawe by criminal force, or show of criminal force, the Central or any State Government or Parliament or the Legislature of any State, or any public servant in the exercise of the lawful power of such public servant; or Page 5 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025(ii) to resist the execution of any law, or of any legal process; or(iii) to commit any mischief or criminal trespass, or other offence; or(iv) by means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to any person to take or obtain possession of any property, or to deprive any person of the enjoyment of a right of way, or of the use of water or other incorporeal right of which he is in possession or enjoyment, or to enforce any right or supposed right; or(v) by means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to compel any person to do what he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do what he is legally entitled to do.”8.Only when the assembly fit into any of the above circumstances, it could be construed as unlawful. The accused had not shown any criminal force to commit any mischief, crime or any offence or by way of criminal force or tried to take possession of the property or right to use of incorporeal right which is in possession of enjoyment of others or rights. Page 6 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 20259.Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands allowed and the FIR registered by the first respondent in Crime No.273 of 2023 for the offences under Sections 143 and 341 IPC is hereby quashed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.23.04.2025Neutral citation: Yes/NoSpeaking/non-speaking ordershkG.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.shkTo1. The Inspector of Police,Neyveli Township Police Station,Page 7 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No. 12223 of 2025Cuddalore District.2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.Crl.O.P.No.12223 of 2025 and Crl.M.P.No.8165 of 202523.04.2025Page 8 of 8