Allowed

Aslam Sardar Malik Shaikh v. the State of Maharashtra and Anr.

Bombay HC17 Dec 2021APEAL/946/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court acquitted the appellant from the substantive charges under the Atrocities Act, ruling that a property dispute between neighbours does not trigger the Act unless caste-based abuse is proven. The court also ordered an inquiry into the investigation officer's misconduct for citing a deceased person as an accused.

What did the court decide?

Appellant directed to be released on bail on executing P.R. Bond of Rs. 20,000/- with sureties.

Aslam Sardar Malik Shaikh Vs the State of Maharashtra and Anr. — Caste Atrocities | Bombay HC (2021)

¶1

1/5 APPEAL-946-2021-SR.30 17.12.2021

¶2

Rane

¶3

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

¶4

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

¶5

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 946/2021

¶6

ASLAM SARDAR MALIK SHAIKH

¶7

} APPELLANT

¶8

V/S.

¶9

THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR. } RESPONDENTS

¶10

¶11

Mr. Ritesh Thobde, Advocate for the appellant.

¶12

Smt. S.V. Sonawane, APP for State-respondent no.1.

¶13

Mr. Vaibhav V. Ugle, a/w. Mr. Vikas Somawanshi and Mr. Roshan Chavan, Advocate appointed for respondent no.2.

¶14

Investigating Offcer, Police Constable No.2137, Mr. Irfan Shaikh present.

¶15

Coram : Sandeep K. Shinde, J.

¶16

Friday, 17^th December, 2021.

¶17

P.C. :

¶18

Heard Mr. Thobde, learned Counsel for the

¶19

appellant, Smt. Sonawane, learned APP for State and Mr.

¶20

Ugle, Advocate (appointed) for the complainant.

¶21

2/5 APPEAL-946-2021-SR.30 17.12.2021

¶22

Rane

¶23

On the complaint fled by the respondent no.2, Crime No.465/2021 has been registered against the applicant and unknown persons under Sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 352, 323, 504 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3(1)(r)(s) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

¶24

(“Atrocities Act” for short).

¶25

Applicant is Revenue Offcer, “Talathi”. At the material time, when the offence was registered, he was posted at Kolhapur. Soonafter the registration of crime, he came to be arrested on 13^th October, 2021. The chargesheet in the crime has been fled.

¶26

Mr. Thobde, learned Counsel for the appellant, on instructions, submitted that in the chargesheet, appellant’s brother-Shaikh Yusuf Sardar, has been cited as accused no.2. In fact, appellant’s brother died on 23^rd June, 2019. Mr. Thobde, has placed on record, Death Certifcate of his brother. It is taken on record and marked “X-” for identifcation. This fact, clearly shows, the casual approach of the Investigating Offcer. It also amounts to abuse of

¶27

process of law at the hands of, the Deputy Superintendent

¶28

3/5 APPEAL-946-2021-SR.30 17.12.2021

¶29

Rane

¶30

of Police, Mr. Hire, Investigating Offcer. This fact simply cannot be overlooked and therefore I deem it appropriate to request Superintendent of Police, Solapur (Rural) to enquire into gross irregularity, committed by the Investigating Offcerr in accordance with law.

¶31

Here, in this case, appellant and the complainant, are neighbours. Dispute arose between them on account of construction being raised by them. It appears, the complainant constructed a wall, to which the appellant had objected to. It was the cause which led to complaint/FIR. Since, the dispute is regarding the construction of a wall, it would not disclose an offence under the Atrocities Act, unless shown that, victim was abused, intimidated, harassed only for the reason that, he/she belongs to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. Mr. Thobde, has rightly placed reliance on the judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Hitesh Verma V/s. State of Uttarakhand, 2020 (10) SCC 710 . In the cited case, there was dispute about the possession of the land and it was pending before the Civil Court. In consideration of these facts, the Hon’ble Apex

¶32

Court has observed in para-16 as under :

¶33

4/5 APPEAL-946-2021-SR.30 17.12.2021

¶34

Rane

¶35

“There is a dispute about the possession of the land which is the subject matter of civil dispute between the parties as per Respondent 2 herself. Due to dispute, the appellant and others were not permitting Respondent 2 to cultivate the land for the last six months. Since the matter is regarding possession of property pending before the civil court, any dispute arising on account of possession of the said property would not disclose an offence under the Act unless the victim is abused, intimidated or harassed only for the reason that she belongs to a Schedule Caste or Scheduled Tribe.”

¶36

The ratio laid down in the cited case, squarely

¶37

applies to the facts of the case in hand.

¶38

Thus, for the reasons stated above and in view of

¶39

the fact that, investigation is over, the appellant is directed to be released on bail on executing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rs. Twenty Thousand only) with one or more sureties in the like sum.

¶40

The appellant shall not tamper with the evidence or attempt to infuence or contact the complainant, witnesses or any person concerned with the case.

¶41

The Superintendent of Police, Solapur shall take a note of gross irregularity, much less, illegality committed by the Offcer, investigating Crime No.465/2021 registered with Barshi City Police Station, Barshi and take appropriate action in accordance with law.

¶42

5/5 APPEAL-946-2021-SR.30 17.12.2021

¶43

Rane

¶44