High Court · 2025

1. Heard Mr. Syed Faiz Hasnain, the learned counsel for applicant, the learned A.G.A. for State-opposite party-1 and Mr. Vivek Kumar Pal, Advocate, who has put in appearance on behalf of first informant/opposite party-2 by filing his Vakalatnama in Court today, which is taken on record.

2. Supplementary affidavit filed by the learned counsel for applicant in Court today, is taken on record.

3. Perused the record.

4. Applicant- Saurabh Tomar, who is a named as well as charge sheeted accused and has now been summoned by Court below, has approached this Court by means of present application under Section 528 BNSS with the following prayer:- "It is, therefore, most respectfully prayed that graciously this Hon'ble court may be pleased to allow this application and quash the entire proceedings of Session Trial no. 83 of 2025 (State Versus Saurabh Tomar) under section 69 of B.N.S. Police Station Pallavpuram, District Meerut arising out of case crime no. 258 of 2024, pending in the court of learned Sessions Judge, Meerut, together with charge sheet dated 02.12.2024, cognizance order dated 04.01.2025 passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court no.3, Meerut, as well as quashing the order dated 26.03.2025 and 30.04.2025 passed by learned Sessions Judge. It is further prayed that this Hon'ble Court may graciously be pleased to stay the further proceedings of Session Trial no.154 of 2025 (State 83 Versus Saurabh Tomar) under section 69 of B.N.S. Police Station Pallavpuram, District Meerut arising out of case crime no. 258 of 2024, pending in the court Meerut, dated of learned Sessions Judge, with together charge 02.12.2024, cognizance sheet order dated 04.01.2025 passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court no.3, Meerut as well as quashing the order dated 26.03.2025 and 30.04.2025 passed by learned Sessions Judge Meerut otherwise the applicant shall suffer irreparable loss and injury. And/or may be pleased to pass any such other and further order which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the present case."

5. At the very outset, the learned A.G.A. has raised a preliminary objection by submitting that applicant has rushed to this Court by filing the present application under Section 528 BNSS without availing the statutory alternative remedy under Section 227 Cr.P.C./250 BNSS. Court below can deal with the grounds raised in support of this application threadbare at the first instance as it has the advantage of original record. Learned A.G.A. further submits that Court below can easily return findings on the issues as to whether as per the papers accompanying the charge sheet/police report submitted by the Investigating Officer in terms of Section 173(2) Cr.P.C., any offence is made out against applicant or not, whether there is any evidence against applicant and whether the prosecution of applicant can be sustained on account of grave suspicion. On the above premise, the learned A.G.A. submits that no interference is warranted by this Court in present application.

6. It is further submitted by the learned A.G.A. that statements of witnesses examined under Section 161 Cr.P.C., some of whom have also been nominated as prosecution witnesses in the charge sheet/police report dated 02.12.2024 submitted by the Investigating Officer under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. have not been brought on record. Furthermore, there is no categorical averment in the affidavit filed in support of present application regarding the other material collected by Investigating Officer and relied upon by him to submit the charge sheet/police report. Furthermore, the said material has also not been brought on record. Referring to the judgment of Supreme Court in Kaptan Singh Vs. State of U.P., (2021) 9 SCC 35, the learned A.G.A. submits that the Apex Court in aforementioned judgement has itself observed in the absence of material collected by the Investigating Officer, leading to the submission of charge sheet, the veracity of the charge-sheet/police report submitted against an accused or the proceedings pending against an accused can not be examined by this Court. Learned A.G.A. thus contends that no interference is warranted by this Court in present application. As such, the present application is misconceived and is, therefore, liable to be dismissed.

7. When confronted with above, the learned counsel for applicant proceeded to address the Court on the merits of this application. However, after some arguments, he fairly gave up the prayer made by means of present application. He submits that interest of justice shall be served, in case, liberty is granted to applicant to approach the Court below by moving a discharge application in terms of Section 227 Cr.P.C./250 BNSS.

8. Learned A.G.A. representing State-opposite party-1 has no objection to the prayer made by the learned counsel for applicants.

9. Having heard the learned counsel for applicant, the learned A.G.A. for State-opposite party-1 and upon perusal of record, this Court finds that no useful purpose shall be served in keeping this application pending.

10. Accordingly, this application is disposed of finally with liberty to applicant to approach Court below by moving a discharge application in terms of Section 227 Cr.P.C./250 BNSS seeking his discharge in aforementioned criminal case along with a certified copy of this order within a period of two weeks from today. In case, such a discharge application is filed by applicant within aforesaid period, Court below shall decide the same by a reasoned and speaking order and in the light of the direction contained in the judgment of Supreme Court in Sanjay Kumar Rai Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Another (2022) 15 SCC 720 within a period of two months thereafter provided there is no other legal impediment.

11. It goes without saying that till the disposal of discharge application as directed above, Court below shall not proceed further against applicant. Order Date :- 13.5.2025 Imtiyaz IMTIYAZ AHMAD High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

1. Heard Mr. Syed Faiz Hasnain, the learned counsel for applicant, the learned A.G.A. for State-opposite party-1 and Mr. Vivek Kumar Pal, Advocate, who has put in appearance on behalf of first informant/opposite party-2 by filing his Vakalatnama in Court today, which is taken on record.

2. Supplementary affidavit filed by the learned counsel for applicant in Court today, is taken on record.

3. Perused the record.

4. Applicant- Saurabh Tomar, who is a named as well as charge sheeted accused and has now been summoned by Court below, has approached this Court by means of present application under Section 528 BNSS with the following prayer:- "It is, therefore, most respectfully prayed that graciously this Hon'ble court may be pleased to allow this application and quash the entire proceedings of Session Trial no. 83 of 2025 (State Versus Saurabh Tomar) under section 69 of B.N.S. Police Station Pallavpuram, District Meerut arising out of case crime no. 258 of 2024, pending in the court of learned Sessions Judge, Meerut, together with charge sheet dated 02.12.2024, cognizance order dated 04.01.2025 passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court no.3, Meerut, as well as quashing the order dated 26.03.2025 and 30.04.2025 passed by learned Sessions Judge. It is further prayed that this Hon'ble Court may graciously be pleased to stay the further proceedings of Session Trial no.154 of 2025 (State 83 Versus Saurabh Tomar) under section 69 of B.N.S. Police Station Pallavpuram, District Meerut arising out of case crime no. 258 of 2024, pending in the court Meerut, dated of learned Sessions Judge, with together charge 02.12.2024, cognizance sheet order dated 04.01.2025 passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court no.3, Meerut as well as quashing the order dated 26.03.2025 and 30.04.2025 passed by learned Sessions Judge Meerut otherwise the applicant shall suffer irreparable loss and injury. And/or may be pleased to pass any such other and further order which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the present case."

5. At the very outset, the learned A.G.A. has raised a preliminary objection by submitting that applicant has rushed to this Court by filing the present application under Section 528 BNSS without availing the statutory alternative remedy under Section 227 Cr.P.C./250 BNSS. Court below can deal with the grounds raised in support of this application threadbare at the first instance as it has the advantage of original record. Learned A.G.A. further submits that Court below can easily return findings on the issues as to whether as per the papers accompanying the charge sheet/police report submitted by the Investigating Officer in terms of Section 173(2) Cr.P.C., any offence is made out against applicant or not, whether there is any evidence against applicant and whether the prosecution of applicant can be sustained on account of grave suspicion. On the above premise, the learned A.G.A. submits that no interference is warranted by this Court in present application.

6. It is further submitted by the learned A.G.A. that statements of witnesses examined under Section 161 Cr.P.C., some of whom have also been nominated as prosecution witnesses in the charge sheet/police report dated 02.12.2024 submitted by the Investigating Officer under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. have not been brought on record. Furthermore, there is no categorical averment in the affidavit filed in support of present application regarding the other material collected by Investigating Officer and relied upon by him to submit the charge sheet/police report. Furthermore, the said material has also not been brought on record. Referring to the judgment of Supreme Court in Kaptan Singh Vs. State of U.P., (2021) 9 SCC 35, the learned A.G.A. submits that the Apex Court in aforementioned judgement has itself observed in the absence of material collected by the Investigating Officer, leading to the submission of charge sheet, the veracity of the charge-sheet/police report submitted against an accused or the proceedings pending against an accused can not be examined by this Court. Learned A.G.A. thus contends that no interference is warranted by this Court in present application. As such, the present application is misconceived and is, therefore, liable to be dismissed.

7. When confronted with above, the learned counsel for applicant proceeded to address the Court on the merits of this application. However, after some arguments, he fairly gave up the prayer made by means of present application. He submits that interest of justice shall be served, in case, liberty is granted to applicant to approach the Court below by moving a discharge application in terms of Section 227 Cr.P.C./250 BNSS.

8. Learned A.G.A. representing State-opposite party-1 has no objection to the prayer made by the learned counsel for applicants.

9. Having heard the learned counsel for applicant, the learned A.G.A. for State-opposite party-1 and upon perusal of record, this Court finds that no useful purpose shall be served in keeping this application pending.

10. Accordingly, this application is disposed of finally with liberty to applicant to approach Court below by moving a discharge application in terms of Section 227 Cr.P.C./250 BNSS seeking his discharge in aforementioned criminal case along with a certified copy of this order within a period of two weeks from today. In case, such a discharge application is filed by applicant within aforesaid period, Court below shall decide the same by a reasoned and speaking order and in the light of the direction contained in the judgment of Supreme Court in Sanjay Kumar Rai Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Another (2022) 15 SCC 720 within a period of two months thereafter provided there is no other legal impediment.

11. It goes without saying that till the disposal of discharge application as directed above, Court below shall not proceed further against applicant. Order Date :- 13.5.2025 Imtiyaz IMTIYAZ AHMAD High Court of Judicature at Allahabad