High Court
Case Details
Neutral Citation No. - 2024:AHC:121630 Court No. - 74 Case :- APPLICATION U/S 482 No. - 9006 of 2024 Applicant :- Ramesh Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another Counsel for Applicant :- Ashutosh Kumar Srivastava,Rakesh Kumar Srivastava Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Saurabh Shyam Shamshery,J. 1. Applicant before this Court is related to complainant as her uncle. It is case of complainant that due to financial crunch, applicant has approach her to help him either by giving some money or by purchasing his land. It is further case of complainant that an agreement was entered upon for sale which has been registered and is on record also that a certain part of land of applicant was agreed to sell to complainant for a consideration of Rs. 4,20,000/-. It is further case that Rs. 4,00,000/- were paid to applicant also. 2. At this stage, only dispute is in regard to mode of payment. It is further case of complainant that neither money was returned nor sale deed was executed rather applicant and others came at her house and threatened. 3. In aforesaid circumstances, complainant has lodged a criminal complaint wherein her statement was recorded u/s 200 Cr.P.C. and statement of witnesses were recorded u/s 202 Cr.P.C. and impugned order was passed u/s 204 Cr.P.C. wherein applicant was summoned to face trial for offence u/s 406 IPC. For reference, impugned summoning order, statements recorded u/s 200 and 202 Cr.P.C. are quoted below -: “आददेश ददनननांक 09.11.2022 पतनवलली पदेश हहई। पतनवलली आददेश हदेततु दनयत हहै। पररिवनददनली कदे दवदनन अधधिवकन कक दवगत दतधथि परि सतुनन जन चतुकन हहै , तथिन पतनवलली परि उपलब्धि प्रपतक व सनक्ष्य कन अवलककन दकयन गयन। पररिवनददनली दनरिन अपनदे पररिवनद पत मम कथिन दकयन गयन हहै दक पररिवनददनली ससथित ममौहलन बनली इसरिनईल पनांचवटली कनलकनली मनांगरिमौलली रिकड करिवन व थिननन जदेवरि धजलन गमौतमबतुद्धनगरि ककी ममूल दनवनसली हहै। पररिवनददनली अपनदे घरि परि थिली दक प्रनथिर्थीयन कदे चनचन रिमदेश प्रनथिर्थीयन कदे घरि आयदे औरि प्रनथिर्थीयन सदे बकलदे दक मतुझदे 5 लनख रूपयदे ककी आवश्यकतन हहै। मतुझदे 5 लनख रूपयदे ददे दक यन दफिरि मतुझदे मदेरिली जमलीन कन इकनरिनरिननमन करिकदे 5 लनख रूपयदे ददलन दक प्रनथिर्थीयन नदे मनन दकयन दक उसकदे पनस नहहीं तक रूपयदे हहै औरि नन हली मदे है दकसली सदे ददलन सकतली हह हूँ। प्रनधथिरयन सदे ज्यनदन हली दमन्नतदे करिनदे लगन दमन्नतम करिनदे परि प्रनथिर्थीयन नदे ससथित भमूदम गनम चलीखल खनतन सनांख्यन 1392 गनतन सनांख्यन 3980 रिखनवन 0.7988 मम सदे बचन हहआ शदेष रिकवन 0158 हदे० भमूदम कन मतुबधलग धिनरिनदश 4,50,000 रूपयदे बतमौरि ब्यननन 4,20,000 रुपयदे व बकनयन धिनरिनदश 30,000 / रूपयदे मम ददनननांक 30/04/2019 कक इकरिनरिननमन बहैननमन सब रिधजसटटनरि कनयनरलय दशकनरिपतुरि धजलन बतुलन्दशहरि मम रिधजसटडर करिन धलयन। धजसमम दनयत ददनननांक 20.04.2020 ककी गयली हहै। प्रनथिर्थीयन दनयत ददननक 20/04/2020 सदे पमूवर दवपकली सदे इकरिनरिननमनकक त भमूदम कन बहैननमन करिनदे कदे धलए कहन तक दवपकली प्रनथिर्थीयन सदे बकलन दक ठलीक हहै मतुझदे 7 मनह कन समय औरि ददे दक महै आपकक रुपयदे वनदपस अदन करि दमू नांगन यन दफिरि बहैननमन करि दमू नांगन प्रनथिर्थीयन नदे 7 मनह बनद दवपकली कक रूपयदे कदे धलए फिकन दकयन तक दवपकली बकलन ठलीक हहै महै 2 ददन बनद आपकदे घरि आऊहूँ गन बनत करि लमगदे। दवपकली 10 ददन तक भली प्रनथिर्थीयन कदे घरि रूपयदे वनदपस ददेनदे न आयन तक प्रनथिर्थीयन व प्रनथिर्थीयन कन पदत दवपकली कदे घरि मनह ददसम्बरि सन 2021 मम गयदे औरि दवपकली सदे रूपयदे / बहैननमन करिनदे कदे धलए कहन तक दवपकली बकलन ठलीक हहै मम आपकदे रूपयदे आपकदे घरि हली ददे आउहूँगन। प्रनथिर्थीयन व प्रनथिर्थीयन कन पदत वनदपस घरि आ गयदे। ददनननांक 05/01/2022 कक समय करिलीब दकपहरि 12.00 बजदे दवपकली अपनदे सनथि ददों अजनत व्यदकयदों कक लदेकरि प्रनथिर्थीयन कदे अन्दरि घरि मम घतुस आयदे औरि प्रनथिर्थीयन सदे बकलदे दक ततुमनदे तक हमनरिदे घऱ मम आकरि सभली कदे सनमनदे रूपयक कन तकनदन करि कदे हमनरिली बदेइज्जतली करि दली प्रनथिर्थीयन बकलली ठलीक हहै। हमनरिदे रूपयदे वनदपस करि दक यन दफिरि इकरिनरिननमनकक त भमूदम कन बहैननमन करि दक प्रनथिर्थीयन कदे इतनन कहनदे परि उक लकग प्रनथिर्थीयन परि आग बबमूलन हक गयदे औरि प्रनथिर्थीयन सदे बकलदे दक नहहीं तक रूपयदे दमगदे औरि न हली बहैननमन करूहूँ गन। प्रनथिर्थीयन सदे गनलली गलमौच करि मनरिपलीट करिनदे लगदे प्रनथिर्थीयन नदे शकरि मचनयन शकरि शरिनबदे ककी आवनज सतुनकरि प्रवलीन कतु मनरि पतुत शली जयपनल धसनांह दनवनसली ममौहलन मनडलपतुररियन थिननन जदेवरि धजलन गमौतमबतुद्धनगरि व रिनकदे श पतुत शली उदयवलीरि धसनांह दनवनसली रिनमनदेरि परिगनन व तहसलील जदेवरि धजलन गमौतमबतुद्धनगरि ममौकदे परि आ गयदे धजन्हदे ददेख उक लकग प्रनधथिरयन कक जनन सदे मनरिनदे ककी धिमककी ददेतदे हहयदे यह कहकरि चलदे गयदे दक नहहीं तक रूपयदे वनदपस करिमगदे औरि नन हली इकरिनरिननमनकक त भमूदम कन बहैननमन करिमगदे। प्रनधथिरयन नदे उक घटनन ककी बनबत थिननन प्रभनरिली महकदय जदेवरि कक दशकनयत प्रनथिरनन पत प्रदेदषत दकयन परिन्ततु उक प्रनथिरनन पत परि आज तक ककई कनयरवनहली न ककी गयली। पररिवनददनली दनरिन अपनदे कथिन कदे समथिरन मम ममौधखक सनक्ष्य मम सवयनां कक धिनरिन 200 सली०आरि०पली०सली० एवनां धिनरिन 202 सली०आरि०पली०सली० कदे अन्तगरत पली०डब्लमू०-1 रिनकदे श कतु मनरि व पली०डब्लमू०-2 प्रवलीण तनलनन कक परिलीदकत करिनयन गयन हहै। पररिवनददनली ककी ओरि सदे दसतनवदेजली सनक्ष्य कदे रूप मम शपथि पत व आधिनरि कनडर ककी छनयनप्रदत प्रसततुत ककी गयली हहै। पररिवनददनली नदे अपनदे बयनन अन्तगरत धिनरिन 200 सली०आरि०पली०सली० मम सशपथि कथिन दकयन हहै मदेरिन ननम कतु न्तली हहै। ममनदे अपनदे खननदनन कदे एक चनचन सदे जमलीन कन एक इकरिनरिननमन दकयन थिन। उन्हकनदे कहन थिन दक ततुम उसदे पहैसदे ददे दक मम ततुम्हम लमौटन दमू हूँगन नहहीं तक जमलीन ददे दमू हूँगन। पहलदे मम चहैक सदे पहैसदे ददे रिहली थिली , परिन्ततु उनकदे कहनदे परि नकद मम 4,20,000/- रूपयदे ददे ददयदे समय पमूरिन हकनदे परि जब पहैसदे वनपस नहहीं दमलदे तक ममनदे पहैसदे मननांगदे। ददनननांक 05.01.2022 कक रिमदेश (चनचन) व उनकन बदेटन उसकदे घरि आए औरि कहन दक हम ततुझदे अब पहैसदे नहहीं ददेगम औरि न जमलीन ददेगम। तमूनदे हमनरिली बदेज्जतली करिली हहै। शकरि परि ममौहलदे कदे प्रवलीन व रिनककश भली आ गए। पतुधलस नदे हमनरिली ककई मदद नहहीं करिली। मतुझदे न्यनय ककी आशन हहै। इसली तथ्य कन समथिरन पररिवनददनली ककी ओरि सदे परिलीदकत सनकली पली०डब्ल्यमू -1 रिनकदे श कतु मनरि व पली०डब्ल्यमू-2 प्रवलीण तनलनन दनरिन अपनदे बयनन अन्तगरत धिनरिन 202 सली०आरि०पली०सली० मम दकयन गयन हहै। अन्य दकसली प्रकनरि ककी ककई कदत आख्यन उपलब्धि नहहीं हहै। पररिवनददनली ककी ओरि सदे प्रसततुत ममौधखक सनक्ष्य व अदभलदेधखय सनक्ष्यदों सदे प्रथिम दृष्टयन घटनन कन समथिरन दमलतन हहै। अततः मनमलदे मम तथ्यदों एवनां पररिससथिदतयदों कक दृदष्टगत रिखतदे हहए दवपकली रिमदेश पतुत वरिफि धसनांह कक अन्तगरत धिनरिन 406 कदे अपरिनधि हदेततु तलब करिनदे कन प्रथिम दृष्टयन मनमलन बनतन प्रतलीत हकतन हहै। बयनन अन्तगरत धिनरिन 200 Cr.P.C. पररिवनददनली नदे बयनन अनांतगरत धिनरिन- 200 Cr.P.C मम सशपथि बयनन ददयन दक " मदेरिन ननम कतु नां तली हहै। महैनदे अपनदे खननदनन कदे एक चनचन सदे जमलीन कन एक Agreement दकयन थिन। उन्हकनदे कहन थिन दक ततुम मतुझदे पहैसदे ददे दक महै ततुम्हदे लमौटन दमू हूँगन नहहीं तक जमलीन ददे हूँगन। पहलदे महै Cheque सदे पहैसदे ददे रिहली थिली परिनांततु उनकदे कहनदे परि नकद मम रू० दमू 4,20,000/- रूपयदे ददे ददए। समय पमूरिन हकनदे परि जब पहैसदे वनपस नहहीं दमलदे तक महैनदे पहैसदे मननांगदे। ददनननांक- 05.01.2022 कक रिमदेश (चनचन), व उनकन बदेटन मदेरिदे घरि आए औरि कहन दक हम ततुझदे अब पहैसदे नहहीं दमगदे औरि न जमलीन दमगदे। तमूनदे हमनरिली बदेज्जतली करिली हहै। शकरि सतुननदे परि ममौहलदे कदे प्रवलीण व रिनकदे श भली आ गए। पतुधलस नदे हमनरिली ककई मदद नहहीं करिली। मतुझदे न्यनय ककी आशन हहै।" बयनन अनांतगरत धिनरिन 202 सली.आरि.पली.सली. ननम व पतन सनकली रिनकदे श कतु मनरि पतुत उदयवलीरि धसनांह , उम्र 28 वषर , पदेशन- वकनलत, दनवनसली गनम रिनमनदेव , थिननन जदेवरि , धजलन गमौतमबतुद्ध नगरि नदे सशपथि बयनन दकयन दक- घटनन ददनननांक 05.01.2022 दकपहरि करिलीब 12.00 बजदे ककी हहै। मदेरिदे फिकन परि कतु न्तली भनभली कन फिकन आयन दक घरि परि रिमदेश व उनकन लडकन छकटमू व अन्य एक अजनत व्यदक आए हहै। तथिन गनलली गलमौच व अपशब्दक कन प्रयकग करि रिहदे हहै। महै जब ममौकदे परि पहह हूँचन तक उक लकग अपशब्ददों कन प्रयकग करितदे हहए कह रिहदे थिदे दक न हली तक हम ततुझदे जमलीन दमगदे न हली पहैसन वनदपस करिमगदे। क्यकदक तमूनदे हमनरिदे गनहूँव मम आकरि हमनरिली बदेइज्जतली ककी हहै। अब ज्यनदन चनलनककी ददखनई तक जनन सदे मनरि दमगदे। महैनदे जब दवरिकधि दकयन तक भदवष्य मदे म जनन सदे मनरिनदे ककी धिमककी ददेकरि फिरिनरि हक गयदे। ब्यनन U/s 202 Cr.P.C. ननम व पतन सनकली प्रवलीण तनलनन पतुत जयपनल धसनांह तनलनन , उम्र 30 वषर, पदेशन- मजदमूरिली, R/० गनम बहैनन, धजलन अललीगढ़ नदे सशपथि बयनन दकयन दकतः मदेरिली भनभली कतु न्तली कन ददनननांक 05.01.2022 कक दकपहरि लगभग 12 बजदे फिकन आयन थिन। दक ततुम ततुरिन्त घरि परि आ जनओ। मम घरि परि गयन तक वहनहूँ परि रिमदेश पतुत वरिफि धसनांह व उनकन लड़कन छकटमू व एक व्यदक अजनत वहनहूँ परि ममौजमूद थिदे। जक दक मदेरिली भनभली सदे गनलली गलमौच व अपशब्द कन प्रयकग करि रिहदे थिदे। वह कह रिहदे थिदे दक अब हम ततुम्हम न तक जमलीन ददेगम न ततुम्हनरिदे पहैसदे वनदपस करिदेगम। ततुमनदे हमनरिदे गनहूँव मम आकरि अपनदे रूपयदे मननांग करि सभली कदे सनमनदे हमनरिली बदेइज्जतली ककी हहै। औरि जनतदे हहए यह कह गयदे दक यदद कननमूनली कनयरवनहली ककी तक जनन सदे मनरि ददेगम। ममनदे उक लकगदों कक समझननदे ककी ककदशश ककी। उक लकग मतुझदे भली गनलली गलमौच करि जनन सदे मनरिनदे ककी धिमककी ददे गयदे।”
Legal Reasoning
7. The certain set of circumstances would give rise to civil as well as criminal proceedings and both can go simultaneously. Only condition is that in order to initiate criminal proceedings and to pass an order u/s 204 Cr.P.C., as the case may be, there must be sufficient grounds to proceed as well as that basic ingredients of Section 406 IPC are prima facie made out. 8. In present case, as referred above, applicant has sought help from complainant and for that she agreed to purchase certain part of land of applicant for consideration and, therefore, an agreement to sale was executed. The contents thereof has not been seriously disputed by learned counsel for applicant except mode of payment. Therefore, at least Rs. 4,00,000/- were paid to applicant which has not disputed since there is no challenge to agreement to sale at behest of applicant. 9. In order to appreciate whether basic ingredients of Section 405/406 IPC i.e. Criminal Breach of Trust are made out or not, contents of it are quoted below -: “405. Criminal Breach of Trust Whoever, being in any manner entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property, dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use that property, or dishonestly uses or disposes of that property in violation of any direction of law prescribing the mode in which such trust is to be discharged, or of any legal contract, express or implied, which he has made touching the discharge of such trust, or wilfully suffers any other person so to do, commits "criminal breach of trust". [Explanation 1].A person, being an employer [of an establishment whether exempted under section 17 of the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (19 of 1952) or not] who deducts the employees contribution from the wages payable to the employee for credit to a Provident Fund or Family Pension Fund established by any law for the time being in force, shall be deemed to have been entrusted with the amount of the contribution so deducted by him and if he makes default in the payment of such contribution to the said Fund in violation of the said law, shall be deemed to have dishonestly used the amount of the said contribution in violation of a direction of law as aforesaid.] [Explanation 2.A person, being an employer, who deducts the employees contribution from the wages payable to the employee for credit to the Employees State Insurance Fund held and administered by the Employees State Insurance Corporation established under the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), shall be deemed to have been entrusted with the amount of the contribution so deducted by him and if he makes default in the payment of such contribution to the said Fund in violation of the said Act, shall be deemed to have dishonestly used the amount of the said contribution in violation of a direction of law as aforesaid.] Illustrations (a) A, being executor to the will of a deceased person, dishonestly disobeys the law which directs him to divide the effects according to the will, and appropriates them to his own use. A has committed criminal breach of trust. (b) A is a warehouse-keeper. Z going on a journey, entrusts his furniture to A, under a contract that it shall be returned on payment of a stipulated sum for warehouse room. A dishonestly sells the goods. A has committed criminal breach of trust. (c) A, residing in Calcutta, is agent for Z, residing at Delhi. There is an express or implied contract between A and Z, that all sums remitted by Z to A shall be invested by A, according to Z's direction. Z remits a lakh of rupees to A, with directions to A to invest the same in Company's paper. A dishonestly disobeys the directions and employs the money in his own business. A has committed criminal breach of trust. (d) But if A, in the last illustration, not dishonestly but in good faith, believing that it will be more for Z's advantage to hold shares in the Bank of Bengal, disobeys Z's directions, and buys shares in the Bank of Bengal, for Z, instead of buying Company's paper, here, thought Z should suffer loss, and should be entitled to bring a civil action against A, on account of that loss, yet A, not having acted dishonestly, has not committed criminal breach of trust. (e) A, a revenue-officer, is entrusted with public money and is either directed by law, or bound by a contract, express or implied, with the Government, to pay into a certain treasury all the public money which he holds. A dishonestly appropriates the money. A has committed criminal breach of trust. (f) A, a carrier, is entrusted by Z with property to be carried by land or by water. A dishonestly misappropriates the property. A has committed criminal breach of trust. 406. Punishment for Criminal Breach of Trust Whoever commits criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.” 10. Aforesaid details provide that there must be an entrustment of money, which is present in this case and it was an assurance of applicant that he will execute sale deed if the complainant gives him money. Entrustment was not honoured and applicant has failed to execute sale deed as well as he has not returned money, therefore, at this stage, it could not be held that ingredients of Section 406 IPC are absolutely not made out. 11. At this stage, Court has to consider whether there are sufficient grounds to proceed against applicant and as referred above, in present case, grounds exist and trial Court has considered the material on record and assigned reasons to summon applicant that there are sufficient grounds to proceed against applicant. 12. In these circumstances, I do not find it a fit case to exercise inherent powers of this Court, therefore, prayer of this application is hereby rejected, hence, application is, accordingly, rejected. 13. However, in case applicant appears before trial Court and files bail application within a period of 3 weeks from today, the trial Court shall take all endeavour to decide the same in accordance with law taking note of judgment of Supreme Court in Satender Kumar Antil vs. CBI, (2021) 10 SCC 773. Order Date :- 30.7.2024 N. Sinha
Arguments
4. Sri Rakesh Kumar Srivastava, learned counsel for applicant submits that contents of complaint and statements so recorded disclose that dispute is essentially of civil nature and only in order to harass the applicant, this criminal proceeding was initiated. In case of any dispute with agreement, remedy available to complainant was to file a civil suit, however, it was not filed. 5. Learned counsel also submits that ingredients of Section 405/406 IPC i.e. Criminal Breach of Trust are absolutely not made out and there are contradictions in statement of complaint and witnesses. According to statement of witnesses, they came after alleged occurrence took place and it was rightly disbelieved and applicant has not summoned for any other offence except Section 406 IPC. 6. In order to appreciate above submissions, I have carefully perused the impugned summoning order, statement of complainant and statement of witnesses which are already quoted above.