Swapan Mahato v. the State of Jharkhand
Case brief
What is this about?
Jharkhand High Court (Anil Kumar Choudhary, J., 01.10.2024) dismissed Cr.M.P. Nos. 459 and 490 of 2019 under Section 482 Cr.P.C. seeking quashing of G.R. Case No.1062/2013 / Jamtara P.S. Case No.375/2013 (out of P.C.R. Case No.622/2013) and cognizance order dated 27.05.2016 (CJM, Jamtara) for offences under Sections 120B/420/34 IPC and Sections 4, 5 & 6 of the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Scheme (Banning) Act. Key points: charge sheet submitted after police found allegations true; charge-sheet copy suppressed by petitioner; compromise was not with informant/victim; false-allegation plea is a trial defence; no mini trial permissible under S.482 (Akhil Sharda, 2022 LiveLaw SC 594); genuine prosecution cannot be stifled (Monica Kumar, (2008) 8 SCC 781); money-dealing dispute argued to be civil in nature; no quantum awarded.
What did the court decide?
Not a fit case for quashing: keeping in view the serious nature of allegations against the petitioner, the Court declined to quash the G.R. case and the cognizance order.