Allahabad High Court
Afzal And Another vs State Of U.P.And 3 Others on 27 April, 2024
Author: Sanjay Kumar Singh
Bench: Sanjay Kumar Singh
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD Neutral Citation No. - 2024:AHC:74994 Court No. - 79 Case :- APPLICATION U/S 482 No. - 35621 of 2023 Applicant :- Afzal And Another Opposite Party :- State Of U.P.And 3 Others Counsel for Applicant :- Indra Bhan Yadav,Sudhir Kumar Agarwal Counsel for Opposite Party :- Aarushi Khare,G.A. Hon'ble Sanjay Kumar Singh,J.
1. Heard Mr. Indra Bhan Yadav, learned counsel for the applicants, Mr. Deepak Mishra, learned Additional Government Advocate for the State/opposite party no.1, Mr. Sukrampal Tomar, learned counsel for opposite party no.2, Ms. Aarushi Khare, learned counsel appearing for opposite party no. 3/HCLSC and perused the record.
2. This application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by the applicants to quash the charge-sheet dated 11.07.2023 arising out of Case Crime No. 89 of 2023, cognizance order dated 31.07.2023 and proceedings of Special Case No. 1683 of 2023 (State Vs. Afzal and another), under Sections 376, 506 IPC and Section 3/4 POCSO Act, Police Station Mirzapur, District Saharanpur pending in the court of Additional District and Session Judge/Special Judge, POCSO Act, Court No. 13, Saharanpur.
3. As per prosecution case, in brief, the victim herself got the first information report of this case registered on 20.06.2023 at 19:53 hours for the alleged incident which took place between 16.01.2022 and 17.01.2022 against the applicants Wazid and Afzal for the offence under Sections 376, 506 IPC and Sections 3/4 POCSO Act with the allegation inter alia that she is aged about 17 years and is doing domestic work at the residence of Hazi Iqbal @ Bala situated at Greater Kailash, New Delhi. About one and a half year back, Iqbal @ Bala's elder son Mohammad Wazid told her that there was marriage of girl at his residence and she has to come at his village Mirzapur, Saharanpur for domestic work and she will be paid more money. On 16.01.2022, there was marriage of a girl at the residence of Wazid and all his family members were busy in the marriage work. In the morning time, Iqbal's son Wazid took her to a room on the pretext of cleaning work and on seeing her alone in the room, he committed rape on her and told her that if she tells anything about this, then he will kill her. On the next day of marriage, Wazid's younger brother Afzal came to her room and he also committed rape on her and he also threatened her to kill.
4. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that on the false and frivolous allegation, an F.I.R. has been lodged by opposite party no.2 against the applicants. Further submission is that there is delay of one and a half years in lodging the F.I.R. but no plausible explanation of delay has been given. It is next submitted that the age of the victim has been opined as 18 years, which is evident from the medical report submitted by the C.M.O., Saharanpur. The Investigating Officer in a mechanical way submitted charge-sheet and concerned Magistrate has summoned the applicants without application of judicial mind. The applicants are no way involved in committing the aforesaid offence as alleged in the F.I.R. There is material contradictions in the statements of the victim recorded under Sections 161 and 164 Cr.P.C, as such, continuation of the aforesaid proceedings against the applicants are nothing but an abuse of process of Court, which is liable to be set aside.
5. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for opposite party nos. 1, 2 and 3 raised a preliminary objection that earlier by making a false statement of fact, the applicants have obtained interim order dated 04.07.2023. In this regard, referring the said interim order, it is pointed out that one of the submissions of learned counsel for the applicants was that in the prosecution story as well as in the statements under Section 161 and 164 Cr.P.C., the victim has not mentioned date and time of the said incident whereas victim in her statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C. filed at Page 25 of the paper book, has clearly stated that on 16.01.2022, there was marriage in the house of Wazid Ali. On that day, Wazid Ali seeing the victim alone, committed rape on her and on the next date of marriage, his younger brother Afzal also committed rape on her. Learned A.G.A. for the State referring the statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C. of the victim, further pointed out that the victim in her statement has made serious allegation of rape giving vivid description of the incident. So far as date of incident is concerned, it is pointed out that the victim in her statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C. has disclosed the date of incident on 16.01.2022 at about 10:00 O'clock and on 17.01.2022 but in the case diary, due to typographical error, the date 17.01.2022 was wrongly mentioned as 17.07.2022 in CD No.4, but later on, it was corrected in CD No. 8 dated 03.07.2023. Hence, this application is liable to be dismissed.
6. Here it would be relevant to quote the extract of the statements under Section 161 and 164 Cr.P.C. of the victim:-
Statement of the victim under Section 161 Cr.P.C.
मैं पहले हाजी इक़बाल उर्फ़ बाला पुत्र अब्दुल वहीद निवासी मिर्जापुर पौल थाना मिर्जापुर जनपद सहारनपुर के ग्रेटर कैलाश दिल्ली स्थित मकान पर साफ़ सफाई का घरेलू काम करती थी। करीब डेढ़ वर्ष पहले मुझसे इक़बाल उर्फ़ बाला के बड़े लड़के मोहम्मद वाज़िद ने कहा कि हमारे घर पर लड़की शादी है तुझे घरेलू काम करने के लिए मेरे साथ मेरे गाँव मिर्ज़ापुर स०पुर चलना है, तुझे ज्यादा पैसे देंगे। मैं वाज़िद के साथ दिल्ली से मिर्ज़ापुर स०पुर आ गयी। वाज़िद के घर में दिनांक 16.01.2022 को किसी लड़की की शादी थी। घर के सभी लोग शादी के काम व्यस्त थे। इक़बाल का लड़का वाज़िद मुझे सुबह के समय एक कमरे में साफ़ सफाई करने के बहाने लेकर गया, और उस कमरे में मुझे अकेला देखकर वाज़िद ने मेरे साथ जबरजस्ती बलात्कार किया, और कहा कि यदि इसके बारे में किसी को बताया तो तुझे जान से मार दूंगा। अगले दिन शादी के बाद शाम के समय वाज़िद का छोटा भाई अफ़ज़ाल मेरे कमरे में आया और उसने भी मेरे साथ जबरदस्ती बलात्कार किया, तथा जुबान खोलने पर जान से मारने की धमकी दी क्योंकि मैं करीब एक हफ्ते वाज़िद के मकान पर मिर्ज़ापुर में रही थी इसीलिए मैं इन सभी के नाम जान गयी थी। ये काफी बड़े लोग है। इसीलिए मैं डर गयी थी, एक हफ्ते बाद वाज़िद ने अपनी गाडी से मुझे मेरे घर दिल्ली छुड़वा दिया था। अभी कुछ दिन पहले मुझे पता चला कि इन लोगो के विरुद्ध मेरे जैसे पीड़ित लोगो ने मुक़दमे लिखवाये है इसीलिए मैं भी हिम्मत करके इन्साफ मिलने का उम्मीद में मिर्ज़ापुर थाने पर आयी हूँ और मुकदमा लिखवाया। मैं पढ़ी लिखी नहीं हूँ गरीब घर से हूँ यही मेरा बयान है।
Statement of the victim under Section 164 Cr.P.C.
ihfM+rk xx us l'kiFk c;ku fd;k fd eSa 18 o"kZ dh gwWA eSa i<+h fy[kh ugha gwaA eSa fnYyh esa xzsVj dSyk'k esa okft+n HkkbZ ds ;gkW ij >kM+w iksNk dk dke djrh FkhA eSa lqcg 08 cts ls 'kke 6 cts rd dke djds vius ?kj okil pyh tkrh FkhA dqN le; ckn okft+n us eq>ls dgk fd esjs ?kj fetkZiqj esa 'kknh gS rks dke ds fy;s ogkW pyuk iM+sxk vkSj iSls T;knk feysaxsA lqcg okft+n us eq>ls dgk fd esjk dejk lkQ dj nks rks 16-01-2022 dks le; djhc 10-00 cts eSa dejk lkQ djus x;h fQj okft+n us vUnj ls dejk cUn dj fn;kA okft+n us esjs diM+s mrkjs vkSj vius diM+s mrkjdj esjs lkFk xyr dke fd;kA tc ;s lc mlus fd;k eSa fpYykbZ Fkh exj 'kknh dk ?kj gksus dh otg ls esjh fdlh us ugha lquhA 'kknh dk le; Fkk yxHkx 50 yksx FksA ?kj esa ikap dejs FksA fQj 17-01-2022 dks vQtky Hkh esjs dejs esa vk x;k tks okft+n dk NksVk HkkbZ Fkk] us Hkh esjk cykRdkj fd;k vkSj tku ls ekjus dh /kedh nh Fkh D;ksafd eSa Mj xbZ Fkh eSaus f'kdk;r ugha dh Fkh cl ;gh esjk c;ku gSA
7. Here it would also be relevant to quote the criminal history of both the applicants, including the present case:-
Criminal history of applicant no. 1 - Afzal
(i) Case Crime No. 52 of 2018, under Sections 147, 148, 149, 353, 504, 506, 447 IPC, Section 3(2)5 SC/ST Act and Section 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(ii) Case Crime No. 83 of 2022, under Section 2/3 Gangsters Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(iii) Case Crime No. 101 of 2022, under Sections 504/506 IPC and Section 3(2)5A SC/ST Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(iv) Case Crime No. 110 of 2022, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 386, 504, 506, 120B IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(v) Case Crime No. 127 of 2022, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 342, 386, 504, 506 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(vi) Case Crime No. 122 of 2022, under Sections 376, 323, 354A IPC and Section 7/8 POCSO Act, police station Mahila Thana, district Saharanpur
(vii) Case Crime No. 156 of 2022, under Sections 147, 148, 323, 386, 420, 506, 392 IPC and Section 3(2)(5A) SC/ST Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(viii) Case Crime No. 181 of 2022, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 406, 120B IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(ix) Case Crime No. 195 of 2022, under Sections 376D/506 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(x) Case Crime No. 224 of 2022, under Sections 395, 504, 506, 323 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(xi) Case Crime No. 231 of 2022, under Sections 147, 14, 149, 395, 342, 506, 504, 386, 420, 120B IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(xii) Case Crime No. 245 of 2022, under Sections 376D, 342, 504, 323 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(xiii) Case Crime No. 286 of 2022, under Sections 307, 504, 506, 120B IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(xiv) Case Crime No. 625 of 2022, under Sections 307, 504, 506, 120B IPC, police station Behat, district Saharanpur
(xv) Case Crime No. 7 of 2023, under Sections 395, 386, 365, 342, 506 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur (xvi) Case Crime No. 89 of 2023, under Sections 376, 506 IPC and Section 3/4 POCSO Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur Criminal history of applicant no. 2 - Wazid
(i) Case Crime No. 196 of 2017, under Sections 420, 406, 506 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(ii) Case Crime No. 318 of 2017, under Sections 447 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(iii) Case Crime No. 52 of 2018, under Sections 147, 148, 149, 353, 504, 506, 447 IPC, Section 3(2)5 SC/ST Act and Section 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(iv) Case Crime No. 165 of 2018, under Sections 2/3 Gangsters Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(v) Case Crime No. 177 of 2019, under Sections 420, 504, 506, 467, 468, 471 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(vi) Case Crime No. 178 of 2019, under Sections 406, 342, 504, 506, 354 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(vii) Case Crime No. 245 of 2019, under Sections 406, 420 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(viii) Case Crime No. 1409 of 2017, under Sections 420, 468, 477A, 471, 120B IPC and Section 629A Company Act, 1956, police station Gomti Nagar, district Lucknow
(ix) Case Crime No. 519 of 2021, under Sections 420, 466, 467, 468, 471, 120B IPC, police station Behat, district Saharanpur
(x) Case Crime No. 83 of 2022, under Sections 2/3 Gangsters Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(xi) Case Crime No. 97 of 2022, under Sections 504, 506 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(xii) Case Crime No. 101 of 2022, under Sections 504, 506 IPC and Section 3(2)5A SC/ST Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(xiii) Case Crime No. 110 of 2022, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 342, 386, 504, 506, 120B IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(xiv) Case Crime No. 127 of 2022, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 342, 386, 504, 506 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
(xv) Case Crime No. 156 of 2022, under Sections 147, 148, 323, 386, 420, 506, 392 IPC and Section 3(2)(5A) SC/ST Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur (xvi) Case Crime No. 313 of 2022, under Sections 420, 504, 506, 386, 389, 120B IPC, police station Sadar Bazar, district Saharanpur (xvii) Case Crime No. 181 of 2022, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 406, 120B IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur (xviii) Case Crime No. 224 of 2022, under Sections 395, 504, 506, 323 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur (xix) Case Crime No. 231 of 2022, under Sections 147, 14, 149, 395, 342, 506, 504, 386, 420, 120B IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur (xx) Case Crime No. 457 of 2022, under Sections 2/3 Gangsters Act, police station Behat, district Saharanpur (xxi) Case Crime No. 286 of 2022, under Sections 307, 504, 506, 120B IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur (xxii) Case Crime No. 7 of 2023, under Sections 395, 386, 365, 342, 506 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur (xxiii) Case Crime No. 625 of 2022, under Sections 307, 504, 506, 120B IPC, police station Behat, district Saharanpur (xxiv) Case Crime No. 24 of 2023, under Sections 376D, 342, 120B IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur (xxv) Case Crime No. 89 of 2023, under Sections 376, 506 IPC and Section 3/4 POCSO Act, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur (xxvi) Case Crime No. 195 of 2022, under Sections 376D, 506 IPC, police station Mirzapur, district Saharanpur
8. Having examined the matter in its totality, I find that the grounds taken in the application reveal that many of them relate to disputed question of fact. This Court is of that the appreciation of evidence is a function of the trial court. This Court in exercise of power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. cannot assume such jurisdiction and put an end to the process of trial provided under the law. It is well settled by the Apex Court in catena of judgments that the power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. at pre-trial stage should not be used in a routine manner but it has to be used sparingly, only in such an appropriate cases, where it manifestly appears that there is a legal bar against the institution or continuance of the criminal proceedings or where allegations made in First Information Report or charge-sheet and the materials relied in support of same, on taking their face value and accepting in their entirety do not disclose the commission of any offence against the accused. The disputed questions of facts and defence of the accused cannot be taken into consideration at this pre-trial stage, which can be more appropriately gone into by the trial court at the appropriate stage.
9. This Court does not find that this case fall in a categories as recognized by the Apex Court for quashing the criminal proceeding of the trial Court at pre-trial stage. Considering the facts, circumstances and nature of allegations against the applicants in this case, the cognizable offence is made out. At this stage it would not be appropriate to adjudge whether the case shall ultimately end in conviction or not. Only prima facie satisfaction of the Court about the existence of sufficient ground to proceed in the matter is required. The impugned criminal proceeding under the facts of this case cannot be said to be abuse of the process of the Court. There is no good ground to invoke inherent power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. by this Court.
10. The relief as sought by the applicants through the instant application is hereby refused.
11. This application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. lacks merit and is, accordingly, dismissed.
Order Date :- 27.4.2024 Shubham