Shriram Finance Ltd. v. The Superintendent of Police
Case brief
What is this about?
Interim custody of suspected stolen pledged jewels; pawn-broker/lender pledge dispute; competing claims of financier, victim (fourth respondent) and accused; quashing of CBCID summons dated 02.01.2024 refused; jewels ordered to be deposited with Judicial Magistrate for safe custody till trial ends; liberty for civil recovery; S.528 BNSS 2023; Madurai Bench of Madras High Court; Sunder Mohan J; Crime No.24/2018 (CCB) reassigned as Crime No.1/2023 (CBCID).
What did the court decide?
Criminal Original Petition disposed of with observations: the jewels pledged with the petitioner, suspected to be stolen, to be handed over to the concerned Judicial Magistrate for safe custody until conclusion of trial, with the Magistrate to decide entitlement thereafter, and liberty to parties to seek recovery of money before the Civil Court. The prayers to quash the summons and restrain seizure were not granted in the form sought; custody was instead vested in the Judicial Magistrate pending trial.