Madras High Court
P.Rajkumar vs The Inspector Of Police on 30 January, 2025
Crl.R.C.(MD) No.22 of 2025
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
Dated: 30.01.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN
Crl.RC(MD). No.22 of 2025
and
Crl.M.P.(MD).No.145 of 2025
P.Rajkumar ... Petitioner
Vs.
The Inspector of Police,
Vigilance and Anti Corruption,
Dindigul Detachment,
Dindigul District.
Crime No.7 of 2010 ... Respondent
PRAYER: Criminal Revision Petition has been filed under Section 397
r/w 401 of Cr.P.C., to call for the entire records pertaining to the order
passed by the Assistant Sessions Judge Cum learned Chief Judicial
Magistrate, Dindigul in Docket Order dated 16.12.2024 in Spl.C.No.24
of 2014 and set aside the same.
For Petitioner : Mr.V.Kathirvelu
Senior Counsel
for Mr.S.Balaji
For Respondent : Mr.R.Meenakshi Sundaram
Additional Public Prosecutor
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Crl.R.C.(MD) No.22 of 2025
ORDER
The petitioner is the accused in Spl.S.C.No.24 of 2014 on the file of the Assistant Sessions Judge Cum learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dindigul,filed this revision to set aside the order passed by the Assistant Sessions Judge Cum learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dindigul in Docket Order dated 16.12.2024 in Spl.C.No.24 of 2014.
2.The prosecution case is that he had received the bribe amount of Rs.15,000/- and the respondent police completed the investigation and filed the final report before the concerned Special Court and the same was taken on file Spl.S.C.No.24 of 2014 and the learned trial Judge framed the following charge:
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Crl.R.C.(MD) No.22 of 2025
Nehf;fj;jpy; ifa+l;L Nfl;ljhf ck;kPJ Coy;
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3.After completion of the trial and the completion of the argument, 4/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/11/2025 02:26:06 pm ) Crl.R.C.(MD) No.22 of 2025 the prosecution came up with a petition to alter the charge under Section 216 of Cr.P.C., and the same was objected by the petitioner. The learned trial judge without considering the objection, allowed the application filed by the prosecution to alter the charges in Docket Order dated 16.12.2024 in Spl.C.No.24 of 2014. Hence, the present petition has been filed to set aside the said order.
4.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the charge is totally inconsistent with the charge framed originally and the said alteration caused prejudice to him. Apart from that, the learned trial Judge has not provided adequate opportunity to the petitioner for further cross examination as per law. Therefore, he seeks for setting aside the Docket order on the basis of the above said infirmity.
5.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent Police would submit that as per the provision of Criminal Procedure Code, there is a power to alter the charge and the same was correctly entertained by the learned trial Judge. So far as the cross examination of the witnesses is concerned, the petitioner has not opted 5/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/11/2025 02:26:06 pm ) Crl.R.C.(MD) No.22 of 2025 the said option and hence, the learned trial Judge posted the case for further proceedings. In the said circumstances, he seeks for dismissal of this revision.
6.This Court considered the rival submission made by the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent Police and also perused the materials available on record.
7.This Court finds that the learned trial Judge correctly exercised his power under Section 216 of Cr.P.C., and allowed the petition to alter charge and this Court finds no legal infirmity in allowing the petition filed by the prosecution to alter the charge and the same is in accordance with law. However, the order of the learned trial Judge in not allowing the accused to cross-examine the witness on the newly framed charges is not correct. As per Section 216 of Cr.P.C., once the charge is altered, it is the duty of the learned trial judge to conduct the trial as per the procedure stated in Section 217 of Cr.P.C. The learned trial Judge has not complied 6/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/11/2025 02:26:06 pm ) Crl.R.C.(MD) No.22 of 2025 the said procedure as per Section 217 of Cr.P.C. Therefore, there was a denial of fair opportunity to the accused.
8.Accordingly, this revision petition is partly allowed on the following terms:
8.1. The impugned Docket Order dated 16.12.2024 in Spl.C.No.24 of 2014 to alter the charges is hereby confirmed.
8.2.The petitioner is directed to furnish the list of material witnesses before the trial Court within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order to cross examine the said material witnesses.
8.3.Thereafter, the learned trial Judge is directed to summon the said witnesses on the next working day and the petitioner is hereby directed to cross examine all the witnesses on the same day.
Consequently, the connected criminal miscellaneous petition is also closed.
30.01.2025 NCC : Yes/No 7/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/11/2025 02:26:06 pm ) Crl.R.C.(MD) No.22 of 2025 Index : Yes/No Internet: Yes/No vsg 8/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/11/2025 02:26:06 pm ) Crl.R.C.(MD) No.22 of 2025 To
1.The Assistant Sessions Judge Cum learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dindigul.
2.The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti Corruption, Dindigul Detachment, Dindigul District.
3. The Section Officer, Criminal Section(Records), Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
9/10https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/11/2025 02:26:06 pm ) Crl.R.C.(MD) No.22 of 2025 K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN, J.
vsg Crl.RC(MD). No.22 of 2025 30.01.2025 10/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/11/2025 02:26:06 pm )