State of U.P v. Mohd. Azad and others), arising out of Case Crime No

1. Heard learned counsel for the applicants, learned AGA for the State of U.P. and perused the record.

2. The present application has been filed by the applicants for the following main relief(s):- "To quash the impugned charge sheet dated 08.11.2024 and summoning order dated 23.11.2024 (contained in annexure No. 1 & 2) in Case No. 27724/2024 (State of U.P. vs Mohd. Azad and others), arising out of Case Crime No. 277 of 2024, Under Sections 115(2), 351(2), 333 of B.N.S., P.S.-Kaiserganj, District- Bahraich passed by learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bahraich."

3. Brief facts of the case, which are relevant for the purposes of disposal of instant application, are as under : (i) Genesis of the pending criminal proceedings is the FIR lodged on 06.08.2024 by opposite party no. 2/Altaaf Ahmad Khan at Police Station - Kaiserganj, District- Bahraich registered as Case Crime No. 277 of 2024, under Sections 115(2), 351(2), 333 of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023 (in short "B.N.S."), akin to Sections 323, 506, 452 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (now repealed)(in short "IPC"), and Section 67C of Information Technology Act, as amended from time to time, (in short "IT Act") and this FIR was lodged against Mohd. Azad Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad, Ayaj Ahmad and Fayaz Ahmad, all sons of Siraj Ahmad. (ii) The relevant contents of the FIR are extracted herein- under :- पभवरर ननररकक महहदय, शरमवनन थवनवधयक / नकल तहररर ससवव मम, " थवनव- बहरवइच । नवषय- कक सरगगज जनपद- नवरद नवपकरगणण कस ममकदमव ललखकर नकयस जवनस उनचत कवयरववहर एवग पवथर कक नवबवललग पमतर कस समरकव नकयस जवनस कस समबनध मम पवथरनव पत शरमवन जर, ननवसदन हक नक पवथर अलतवफ अहमद खवग पमत ममशतवख खवग ननववसर गगडवरव "थवनव- बहरवइच कव ननववसर हक नवपकरगण अयवज अहमद, ररयवज अहमद व फयवज अहमद पमतगण कक सरगगज जनपद- आजवद अहमद, आईपरसर व 363, 376, गगडवरव थवनव- पपवर मम नदनवगक -28.03.2024 0 सग 0-109/2024 लसरवज अहमद ननववसरगण- कक सरगगज भर पवथर कस गवगव कस हक, कह नवपकरगण पवथर कक नवबवललग लडकक अकशव अलतवफ कह बननयत हरवमकवरर बहकव फम सलवकर भगव कस अनतगरत लस गयस थस लजसकस समबनध मम पवथर नस अ धवरव पकसह एकट कव ममकदमव थवनस पर , तथव लजसनस आरहपग पत भर पकसह नयवयवलय बहरवइच ललखववयव थव , उपरहक ममकदमम कस ननजर महहममद आजवद ममकदमम कक पर आ चमकव हक तथव समनववई कस ददरवन जसल चलव गयव थव, जसल मम रहनस कस ददरवन मह आजवद कस घरववलण कस दवरव ममकदमस मम समलह कस ललए पवथर कह डरव , नवपकरगण ररयवज धमकवकर मवरपरट कक गई लजसकव ममकदमव नवरद अ 0 सग0- लसरवज अहमद, अहमद, अयवज अहमद कस कस अनतगरत धवरव 323, 504, 506 आईपरसर कव एक ममकदमव थवनव कक सरगगज मम ललखवयव गयव, इधर कम छ नदनण पपवर जब सस मह आजवद जसल सस छप टकर घर आयव हक तब सस उसनस इनसटवगवम पर अपनर फजर आईडर नफरहज खवन कस नवम सस बनवकर पवथर कक कमशश 02 पसज पर नवबवललग पमतर अकशव अलतवफ कस इनसटवगवम आईडर पर धमकक भरस तथव बहकवनस फम सलवनस व अशलरल मकससज भसज रहव हक, तथव पवथर कक पमतर कह मवनलसक रप सस पतवनडत कर रहव हक, और धमकक दस रहव हक नक वह पवथर कह भर नकसर ममकदमम मम फग सव दसगव। कल नदनवगक- 04.08.2024 कह समय कररब 7-8:00 बजस जब पवथर अपनस पमरवनस घर कस बवहर बडव थव तब नवपकरगण मह आजवद अहमद, ररयवज अहमद, अयवज अहमद व फयवज अहमद पमतगण लसरवज अहमद नस नमलकर पवथर कह पकड ललयव, तथव पवथर कह धमकक नदयस नक ममकदमम मम समलह कर लह नहह तह इस बवर तममहवरर लडकक कह ऐसव गवयब करमगस, नक न लजनदव नमलसगर न ममदवर जब पवथर नस नवरहध नकयव तह उपरहक नवपकरगण पवथर कह मवरनस कस ललए ददडव ललयस तब पवथर घर मम घमस गयव तब परछस सस नवपकरगण पवथर कस घर मम घमसकर मवरस परटस पवथर कस शहर करनस पर आस पवस कस लहग इकटव हह गयस तब नवपकरगण पवथर कह जवन सस मवरनस कक धमकक दसतस हहए भवग गयस। पवथर अपनस पवथरनव पत कस सवथ नवपकर मह आजवद कस दवरव भसजस गयस मकससजसस कक नपगट आउट पनत सगलग कर रहव हक, नयवयनहत मम नवपकरगणण कस नवरद ममकदमव ललखकर उनचत कवयरववहर नकयव जवनव आवशयक हक। अतश शरमवन जर सस पवथरनव हक नक नवपकरगणह कस नवरद ममकदमव ललखकर उनचत कवयरववहर करतस हहए पवथर व पवथर कक पमतर कक जवन मवल कक समरकव कक जववस। महवन कक पव हहगर। हसतवकर अलतवफ अहमद खवग, पवथर अलतवफ कक सरगगज लजलव- गगडवरव थवनव- अहमद खवग पमत ममशतवक खवग ननववसर- नदनवगक 06/8/2024 बहरवइच । मह0 नग0-9125931000 । नहटश ममकदमम कक लसकवयमर व तहररर कक नकल हस0 कव0 अररमसनद पतवप मदयवर दवरव शबद व शबद अकरशश कमपयटटरकक त नकयव गयव टसककनकल कवरण सस कम छ तमनटयवग हह सकतर. हक।" (iii) From the contents of the FIR, what emerges is as under :- (a) On 28.03.2024, the daughter of opposite party no. 2, a minor aged about fourteen years, was enticed away by the co-accused named in the FIR and therefore, an FIR was lodged, registered as Case Crime No. 109 of 2024, under Sections 363, 376 and Sections 3/4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. (b) In Case Crime No. 109 of 2024, the charge- sheet has been filed. (c) As the opposite party no. 2 was being compelled and was also assasulted for entering into compromise in relation to Case Crime No. 109 of 2024, an FIR, registered as Case Crime No. 182 of 2024, under Sections 323, 504, 506 IPC at Police Station - Kaiserganj, District- Bahraich, was lodged by opposite party no. 2. (d) After being released on bail, co-accused Mohd. Azad Ahmad sent messages including obscene messaged to the victim, daughter of opposite party no. 2, on Instagram by making a forged ID in the name of Firoz Khan. (e) On the aforesaid, on being opposed, on 04.08.2024 at about 7-8 am, accused named in the FIR namely Mohd. Azad Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad, Ayaj Ahmad and Fayaz Ahmad, all sons of Siraj Ahmad, threatened opposite party no. 2 as also assaulted him, and on account of said assault the opposite party no. 2 sustained injuries. (iv) The injury report on record annexed as Annexure No. 6 to the present application indicates the injuries sustained by opposite party no. 2, which are as under : - "Examined-Altaf Ahmad Khan, son of Mustak Ahmad Khan, aged about 45 years/male, resident of Gandara, Police Station-Kaiserganj, District-Bahraich on 06.08.2024 at 05:54 p.m. B/B: Gopichand Yadav, UPHG, 160. M/I:- Old scar mark present (Lt.) side face. Injuries:- 1- Contused swelling 4x3cm present (Lt.) side abdomen. 2-C/o pain in the chest. 3- C/o pain in abdomen. Opinion:- Injury are simple in nature, caused by blunt and hard object, duration about 3 days old. LTI attested sd/- Illegible" (v) The parcha related to injuries of the opposite party no. 2 on the paper-book annexed as Annexure No. 5 to the present application also indicates that opposite party no. 2 sustained injuries in the incident indicated in the FIR, lodged on 06.08.2024, registered as Case Crime No. 277 of 2024, which is extracted herein-under :- ननववसरगडवरव थवनवकक सरगगज लजलवबहरवइच उम 21 " अवलहकन मसनडकल ररपहटर मजरब अलतवफ अहमद खवग पमत ममशतवक वषर कव खव मसनडकल पररकण नदनवक 6.8.2024 समय 5.54 pm बहमरवह हह०गव० गहपरचनद यवदव थवनव कक सरगगज जनपद बहरवइच CHC कक सरगगज मस डवकटर एन० कस ० लसगह नचनकतसवलधकवरर सवममनदक सववसथ कस नद जनपद बहरवइच दवरव नकयव गयव हक। मजहब कह कम ल 03 चहटस आनव बतवयर गयर हक सभर चहटस सवधवरण पकक नत कक आलवकम नद कक बतवयर गयर हक। जह 3 नदन पमरवनर हहनव अगनकत नकयव गयव हक। नन०अ० मजलब हसतवकर अगसजर अपठनरय नचनकतसवलधकवरर CHC कक सरगगज जनपद बहरवइच । बवद अवलहकन मसनडकल ररपहटर सलघ सरडर नकयव गयव।" (vi) The statement of the independent eye-witness namely Shakil Ahmad S/o Niyaz Ahmad on record annexed as Annexure No. 7 to the present application indicates that he supported the story of the prosecution as narrated in the FIR. This statement on record indicates that Instagaram message was sent by Mohd. Azad Ahmad S/o Siraj Ahmad and when the said act was communicated to the family members of the co-accused, the accused named in the FIR namely Mohd. Azad Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad, Ayaj Ahmad and Fayaz Ahmad, all sons of Siraj Ahmad on 28.03.2024, assaulted the opposite party no. 2.

4. It would be apt to indicate that the evidence/testimony of an injured witness has greater evidentiary value and unless compelling reasons exist, their statements are not to be discarded lightly as observed by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case(s) of State of M.P. vs. Mansingh (2003) 10 SCC 414; Abdul Sayeed vs. State of M.P. (2010) 10 SCC 259; State of U.P. vs. Naresh; (2011) 4 SCC 324 and Laxman Singh vs. State of Bihar (Now Jharkhand) (2021) 9 SCC 191 and in the instant case, the opposite party no. 2, an injured, supported the story narrated in the FIR.

5. Upon due consideration of the aforesaid including the statement(s) of the injured/informant (opposite party no. 2) and independent witness and also the injuries sustained, indicated above, this Court is of the view that at this stage of proceedings, it can't be said that no offence is made out against the applicants.

6. Having observed aforesaid, this Court finds no force in this application. It is accordingly rejected. Costs made easy. Order Date :- 12.2.2025 Mohit Singh/- MOHIT SINGH High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench

1. Heard learned counsel for the applicants, learned AGA for the State of U.P. and perused the record.

2. The present application has been filed by the applicants for the following main relief(s):- "To quash the impugned charge sheet dated 08.11.2024 and summoning order dated 23.11.2024 (contained in annexure No. 1 & 2) in Case No. 27724/2024 (State of U.P. vs Mohd. Azad and others), arising out of Case Crime No. 277 of 2024, Under Sections 115(2), 351(2), 333 of B.N.S., P.S.-Kaiserganj, District- Bahraich passed by learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bahraich."

3. Brief facts of the case, which are relevant for the purposes of disposal of instant application, are as under : (i) Genesis of the pending criminal proceedings is the FIR lodged on 06.08.2024 by opposite party no. 2/Altaaf Ahmad Khan at Police Station - Kaiserganj, District- Bahraich registered as Case Crime No. 277 of 2024, under Sections 115(2), 351(2), 333 of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023 (in short "B.N.S."), akin to Sections 323, 506, 452 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (now repealed)(in short "IPC"), and Section 67C of Information Technology Act, as amended from time to time, (in short "IT Act") and this FIR was lodged against Mohd. Azad Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad, Ayaj Ahmad and Fayaz Ahmad, all sons of Siraj Ahmad. (ii) The relevant contents of the FIR are extracted herein- under :- पभवरर ननररकक महहदय, शरमवनन थवनवधयक / नकल तहररर ससवव मम, " थवनव- बहरवइच । नवषय- कक सरगगज जनपद- नवरद नवपकरगणण कस ममकदमव ललखकर नकयस जवनस उनचत कवयरववहर एवग पवथर कक नवबवललग पमतर कस समरकव नकयस जवनस कस समबनध मम पवथरनव पत शरमवन जर, ननवसदन हक नक पवथर अलतवफ अहमद खवग पमत ममशतवख खवग ननववसर गगडवरव "थवनव- बहरवइच कव ननववसर हक नवपकरगण अयवज अहमद, ररयवज अहमद व फयवज अहमद पमतगण कक सरगगज जनपद- आजवद अहमद, आईपरसर व 363, 376, गगडवरव थवनव- पपवर मम नदनवगक -28.03.2024 0 सग 0-109/2024 लसरवज अहमद ननववसरगण- कक सरगगज भर पवथर कस गवगव कस हक, कह नवपकरगण पवथर कक नवबवललग लडकक अकशव अलतवफ कह बननयत हरवमकवरर बहकव फम सलवकर भगव कस अनतगरत लस गयस थस लजसकस समबनध मम पवथर नस अ धवरव पकसह एकट कव ममकदमव थवनस पर , तथव लजसनस आरहपग पत भर पकसह नयवयवलय बहरवइच ललखववयव थव , उपरहक ममकदमम कस ननजर महहममद आजवद ममकदमम कक पर आ चमकव हक तथव समनववई कस ददरवन जसल चलव गयव थव, जसल मम रहनस कस ददरवन मह आजवद कस घरववलण कस दवरव ममकदमस मम समलह कस ललए पवथर कह डरव , नवपकरगण ररयवज धमकवकर मवरपरट कक गई लजसकव ममकदमव नवरद अ 0 सग0- लसरवज अहमद, अहमद, अयवज अहमद कस कस अनतगरत धवरव 323, 504, 506 आईपरसर कव एक ममकदमव थवनव कक सरगगज मम ललखवयव गयव, इधर कम छ नदनण पपवर जब सस मह आजवद जसल सस छप टकर घर आयव हक तब सस उसनस इनसटवगवम पर अपनर फजर आईडर नफरहज खवन कस नवम सस बनवकर पवथर कक कमशश 02 पसज पर नवबवललग पमतर अकशव अलतवफ कस इनसटवगवम आईडर पर धमकक भरस तथव बहकवनस फम सलवनस व अशलरल मकससज भसज रहव हक, तथव पवथर कक पमतर कह मवनलसक रप सस पतवनडत कर रहव हक, और धमकक दस रहव हक नक वह पवथर कह भर नकसर ममकदमम मम फग सव दसगव। कल नदनवगक- 04.08.2024 कह समय कररब 7-8:00 बजस जब पवथर अपनस पमरवनस घर कस बवहर बडव थव तब नवपकरगण मह आजवद अहमद, ररयवज अहमद, अयवज अहमद व फयवज अहमद पमतगण लसरवज अहमद नस नमलकर पवथर कह पकड ललयव, तथव पवथर कह धमकक नदयस नक ममकदमम मम समलह कर लह नहह तह इस बवर तममहवरर लडकक कह ऐसव गवयब करमगस, नक न लजनदव नमलसगर न ममदवर जब पवथर नस नवरहध नकयव तह उपरहक नवपकरगण पवथर कह मवरनस कस ललए ददडव ललयस तब पवथर घर मम घमस गयव तब परछस सस नवपकरगण पवथर कस घर मम घमसकर मवरस परटस पवथर कस शहर करनस पर आस पवस कस लहग इकटव हह गयस तब नवपकरगण पवथर कह जवन सस मवरनस कक धमकक दसतस हहए भवग गयस। पवथर अपनस पवथरनव पत कस सवथ नवपकर मह आजवद कस दवरव भसजस गयस मकससजसस कक नपगट आउट पनत सगलग कर रहव हक, नयवयनहत मम नवपकरगणण कस नवरद ममकदमव ललखकर उनचत कवयरववहर नकयव जवनव आवशयक हक। अतश शरमवन जर सस पवथरनव हक नक नवपकरगणह कस नवरद ममकदमव ललखकर उनचत कवयरववहर करतस हहए पवथर व पवथर कक पमतर कक जवन मवल कक समरकव कक जववस। महवन कक पव हहगर। हसतवकर अलतवफ अहमद खवग, पवथर अलतवफ कक सरगगज लजलव- गगडवरव थवनव- अहमद खवग पमत ममशतवक खवग ननववसर- नदनवगक 06/8/2024 बहरवइच । मह0 नग0-9125931000 । नहटश ममकदमम कक लसकवयमर व तहररर कक नकल हस0 कव0 अररमसनद पतवप मदयवर दवरव शबद व शबद अकरशश कमपयटटरकक त नकयव गयव टसककनकल कवरण सस कम छ तमनटयवग हह सकतर. हक।" (iii) From the contents of the FIR, what emerges is as under :- (a) On 28.03.2024, the daughter of opposite party no. 2, a minor aged about fourteen years, was enticed away by the co-accused named in the FIR and therefore, an FIR was lodged, registered as Case Crime No. 109 of 2024, under Sections 363, 376 and Sections 3/4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. (b) In Case Crime No. 109 of 2024, the charge- sheet has been filed. (c) As the opposite party no. 2 was being compelled and was also assasulted for entering into compromise in relation to Case Crime No. 109 of 2024, an FIR, registered as Case Crime No. 182 of 2024, under Sections 323, 504, 506 IPC at Police Station - Kaiserganj, District- Bahraich, was lodged by opposite party no. 2. (d) After being released on bail, co-accused Mohd. Azad Ahmad sent messages including obscene messaged to the victim, daughter of opposite party no. 2, on Instagram by making a forged ID in the name of Firoz Khan. (e) On the aforesaid, on being opposed, on 04.08.2024 at about 7-8 am, accused named in the FIR namely Mohd. Azad Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad, Ayaj Ahmad and Fayaz Ahmad, all sons of Siraj Ahmad, threatened opposite party no. 2 as also assaulted him, and on account of said assault the opposite party no. 2 sustained injuries. (iv) The injury report on record annexed as Annexure No. 6 to the present application indicates the injuries sustained by opposite party no. 2, which are as under : - "Examined-Altaf Ahmad Khan, son of Mustak Ahmad Khan, aged about 45 years/male, resident of Gandara, Police Station-Kaiserganj, District-Bahraich on 06.08.2024 at 05:54 p.m. B/B: Gopichand Yadav, UPHG, 160. M/I:- Old scar mark present (Lt.) side face. Injuries:- 1- Contused swelling 4x3cm present (Lt.) side abdomen. 2-C/o pain in the chest. 3- C/o pain in abdomen. Opinion:- Injury are simple in nature, caused by blunt and hard object, duration about 3 days old. LTI attested sd/- Illegible" (v) The parcha related to injuries of the opposite party no. 2 on the paper-book annexed as Annexure No. 5 to the present application also indicates that opposite party no. 2 sustained injuries in the incident indicated in the FIR, lodged on 06.08.2024, registered as Case Crime No. 277 of 2024, which is extracted herein-under :- ननववसरगडवरव थवनवकक सरगगज लजलवबहरवइच उम 21 " अवलहकन मसनडकल ररपहटर मजरब अलतवफ अहमद खवग पमत ममशतवक वषर कव खव मसनडकल पररकण नदनवक 6.8.2024 समय 5.54 pm बहमरवह हह०गव० गहपरचनद यवदव थवनव कक सरगगज जनपद बहरवइच CHC कक सरगगज मस डवकटर एन० कस ० लसगह नचनकतसवलधकवरर सवममनदक सववसथ कस नद जनपद बहरवइच दवरव नकयव गयव हक। मजहब कह कम ल 03 चहटस आनव बतवयर गयर हक सभर चहटस सवधवरण पकक नत कक आलवकम नद कक बतवयर गयर हक। जह 3 नदन पमरवनर हहनव अगनकत नकयव गयव हक। नन०अ० मजलब हसतवकर अगसजर अपठनरय नचनकतसवलधकवरर CHC कक सरगगज जनपद बहरवइच । बवद अवलहकन मसनडकल ररपहटर सलघ सरडर नकयव गयव।" (vi) The statement of the independent eye-witness namely Shakil Ahmad S/o Niyaz Ahmad on record annexed as Annexure No. 7 to the present application indicates that he supported the story of the prosecution as narrated in the FIR. This statement on record indicates that Instagaram message was sent by Mohd. Azad Ahmad S/o Siraj Ahmad and when the said act was communicated to the family members of the co-accused, the accused named in the FIR namely Mohd. Azad Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad, Ayaj Ahmad and Fayaz Ahmad, all sons of Siraj Ahmad on 28.03.2024, assaulted the opposite party no. 2.

4. It would be apt to indicate that the evidence/testimony of an injured witness has greater evidentiary value and unless compelling reasons exist, their statements are not to be discarded lightly as observed by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case(s) of State of M.P. vs. Mansingh (2003) 10 SCC 414; Abdul Sayeed vs. State of M.P. (2010) 10 SCC 259; State of U.P. vs. Naresh; (2011) 4 SCC 324 and Laxman Singh vs. State of Bihar (Now Jharkhand) (2021) 9 SCC 191 and in the instant case, the opposite party no. 2, an injured, supported the story narrated in the FIR.

5. Upon due consideration of the aforesaid including the statement(s) of the injured/informant (opposite party no. 2) and independent witness and also the injuries sustained, indicated above, this Court is of the view that at this stage of proceedings, it can't be said that no offence is made out against the applicants.

6. Having observed aforesaid, this Court finds no force in this application. It is accordingly rejected. Costs made easy. Order Date :- 12.2.2025 Mohit Singh/- MOHIT SINGH High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench