Nandkishore Vishnu Thombare and Others v. the State of Maharashtra and Another
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench (neutral citation 2025:BHC-AUG:5368), Criminal Writ Petition No. 41 of 2025 (decided 21.02.2025, Y.G. Khobragade, J.), Nandkishore Thombare & others v. State of Maharashtra & Anr. Territorial jurisdiction of Magistrate at stage of taking cognizance and issuing process under S.204 Cr.P.C.; no mandatory S.202 Cr.P.C. inference of want of jurisdiction merely because accused stated to reside elsewhere; addresses of complainant and accused in the complaint govern jurisdiction (Bhamberi, Tq. Ambad, Dist. Jalna within JMFC Ambad limits); quashing petition under Articles 226/227 read with S.482 Cr.P.C. against process in SCC No.571/2023 (Ss.323, 504, 506 r/w 34 IPC, assault/abuse incident of 09.07.2023) dismissed.
What did the court decide?
The Magistrate is required to consider the addresses of the Complainant and the Accused as described in the complaint itself; addresses stated elsewhere cannot by themselves determine territorial jurisdiction.