ABCD Vs UNION OF INDIA
Bench: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE UDAY UMESH LALIT, HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE INDU MALHOTRA, HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KRISHNA MURARI
Judgment by: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE UDAY UMESH LALIT
Case number: W.P.(Crl.) No.-000191 / 2018
Diary number: 29508 / 2018
Advocates: MOHD. IRSHAD HANIF Vs
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
1
Reportable
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO.191 OF 2018
ABCD …Petitioner
VERSUS
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. …Respondents
O R D E R
Uday Umesh Lalit, J.
1. This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner1 above-named
seeking following directions:
“I. Writ of Mandamus to the extent that the
investigation arising out of FIR No.58/2018 U/S
376,328,506 & 509 IPC 1860, be transferred from
Delhi Police to an independent Central Agency.
II. Writ of Mandamus to State of West Bengal to
suspend the accused (Respondent No.7) herein and
initiate departmental proceedings against him and
1 In terms of Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Identity of the Petitioner
is not being disclosed
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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direct him not to influence the witness of this crime to
ensure free and fair investigation.
III. Order the transfer of the investigation arising out
of FIR No.256/2018 dated 03.06.2018 under Section
384, 389, 34 IPC registered at Basirhat PS, West
Bengal to a Central Agency and till then stay the
investigation.
IV. Direct the Investigating Agency to immediately
collect Call Detail Records (CDR) of the mobile
numbers and confiscate the two mobile phones of the
accused and to retrieve the CCTV footage of Lalit
Hotel on 27.01.2018 to 29.01.2018 of the lobby,
restaurant and room number 2603 where the accused
took the petitioner to commit the offence of rape.
V. Order protection to the petitioner and her family
members.
VI. Any other order or directions to secure justice to
the petitioner which this court may deem fit and
proper.”
2. FIR No.58 of 2018 filed by the petitioner with Police Station
Barakhambha Road, New Delhi alleged:
That the petitioner and Respondent No.7 herein (an IPS Officer) became
friends through exchanges on Facebook and started meeting each other.
There were talks of marriage. On 28.01.2018, Respondent No.7 had
come to Delhi and was putting up at Hotel Lalit. After having spent the
entire day with Respondent No.7, the petitioner went to the room of
Respondent No.7 where he offered some chocolates to her. She fell quite
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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dizzy after she had the chocolates. Taking advantage of her situation
Respondent No.7 made physical advances and had sexual intercourse
with her. Thereafter for some time, there were discussions between the
families to carry forward their relationship to the next level of marriage
but Respondent No.7 abruptly told the petitioner on 10.02.2018 that there
could be no relationship between them. Alleging that Respondent No.7
had taken undue advantage of her situation and had forcible intercourse
with her on 28.01.2018 said FIR was filed on 26.05.2018.
3. On or about 03.06.2018, FIR No.256 of 2018 was filed by the
mother of Respondent No.7 submitting that the petitioner and her family
members had been pressurising the family of Respondent No.7 to pay to
them a sum of Rs.15 lakhs failing which they were threatened with filing
of cases with allegations of rape and other criminal cases against
Respondent No.7. It was alleged that succumbing to the pressure so
exerted, a sum of Rs.5 lakhs was paid to the brother of the petitioner on
04.02.2018 and the rest of the amount was to be paid within three months.
FIR, thus alleged commission of offences punishable under Sections 384,
389 read with 34 IPC2.
2 Indian Penal Code, 1860
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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4. It must be stated that protection under Section 438 of the Code3 was
granted to the present petitioner and her family members which protection
is still continuing and a petition under Section 482 of the Code3 has also
been filed by the petitioner seeking quashing of said FIR No.256 of 2018,
on which notice has been issued.
5. It was in the background of these two FIRs that this writ petition
came to be filed submitting, inter alia that since the Respondent No.7
belonged to police service, there was apprehension that the investigation by
Delhi Police into the FIR lodged by the petitioner may not be proper and
fair. The petitioner also adverted to certain facets of the matter, namely,
that the investigating agency had delayed the recording of the statement of
the petitioner under Section 164 of the Code3; that no CCTV footage of
Hotel Lalit were attempted to be obtained. In these circumstances it was
prayed that the investigation be transferred from Delhi Police to an
independent police agency. Further, the FIR lodged by the mother of
Respondent No.7 was stated to be a deliberate attempt to rope in the
petitioner and her family and it was prayed that the investigation into said
FIR may also be entrusted to an independent agency.
3 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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6. On 19.06.2018 the investigation into FIR No.58 of 2018 was
transferred to Crime Branch of Delhi Police and thereafter sometime in
August 2018, the present writ petition came to be filed for the reliefs stated
hereinabove.
7. This writ petition was heard from time to time and it may be
relevant to note the following developments.
(a) On 23.07.2019 the submissions of the petitioner were
recorded that the investigating agency had not recovered CCTV
footages from the concerned Hotel and that material available in
electronic form with Respondent No.7 was also not retrieved by the
investigating agency. The Investigating Officer who was present in
Court, submitted that no CCTV footage could be procured as the
footages are preserved by the Hotel only for a month and the incident
itself was reported more than three months later. It was also stated
that a mobile belonging to Respondent No.7 was taken into custody
by the Investigating Officer while the other mobile belonging to him
did not have any material and as such the same was returned to
Respondent No.7. In the circumstances it was directed that the
investigators shall take into custody the other mobile of Respondent
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
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No.7 and send both the mobiles for forensic analysis. It was also
directed that the investigation into the matter be conducted at an early
date;
(b) On 11.09.2019 it was informed that after due investigation
charge-sheet was filed in the matter. It was stated that second mobile
of Respondent No.7 was also taken into custody and attempts were
made to extract the Metadata for the opinion of the experts. The
submissions of the petitioner and Respondent No.7 were recorded as
under:
“It was submitted by Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, learned
Senior Advocate that the investigation in connection
with recovery of data from these two phones was not
proper and there was no co-operation from the accused.
It must be stated that the Charge-sheet does not suggest
that because of any lack of cooperation on part of the
accused in not providing or supplying the Code
Number, the Mobile Phone could not be operated or
opened. It must also be stated that Ms. Sonia Mathur,
learned Senior Advocate for the accused has very fairly
supplied the Code Number (No.220192) and stated that
this Code Number applies to both the Mobile Phones,
with the help of which said Mobile Phones could
normally be opened.”
(c) On 21st October, 2019 Crl.M.P. No.162386 of 2019 was filed
by the petitioner seeking police protection after having highlighted an
incident that had occurred on 18.10.2019. In respect of said incident,
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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the petitioner had filed FIR No.314 with Police Station Kotla Mubarak
Pur, District South Delhi, alleging, inter alia:
“I was going back to my home from Defence Colony in front
of I phone store opposite red light suddenly one car came
from back side and hit me. I was bruised and tried to stop
the driver but he run away from there. I was injured so I
made call 100 number help and hired an auto from there
because I was feeling very unsafe there. I reached at my
residence. PCR came and took me to AIIMS Trauma Centre.
I immediately made a call to SIT (reference FIR bearing
No.0058/18 with PS Barakhamba Road New Delhi dated
26.05.2018) but they didn’t take my calls. I made a call to
concerned DCP and Whatsapp msg for the same.”
The FIR also stated that the petitioner had strong
apprehension that Respondent No.7 had attacked her. It was further
stated that CCTV Footage available be seized.
In the application filed in this Court it was stated:
“Needless to say that the Petitioner’s life has been shadowed
and her life has been under threat and clandestine scanner by
the Accused who being an IPS officer had been adopting all
means to make the Petitioner succumb to his deeds.
Henceforth the Petitioner submits that her life under the
radar of the Accused IPS officer would come to an end, if
adequate protection and measures are not granted by this
Hon’ble Court.”
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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(d) On 24.10.2019, the order stated that in terms of the directions
issued on 11.09.2019 attempts were made to retrieve data from the
second mobile of Respondent No.7 as well as from the mobile of the
Investigating Officer. The order further recorded:
“According to the learned counsel, the data could be
retrieved from the official mobile phone of the accused.
However, as regards the personal mobile phone of the
accused and the mobile of the investigator, no data
could be retrieved as both the mobile phones were
damaged. Therefore, the matter was referred to CBI
CFSL.
At this stage, Ms. Sonia Mathur, learned Senior
Advocate appearing for respondent no.7 submitted that
the relevant details including iCloud ID and Password
of the mobile belonging to him were extended to the
CBI CFSL by respondent no.7.
Consequently, relevant iCloud data has now been
retrieved by CBI CFSL from both the mobile phones
of respondent no.7 i.e. official mobile phone as well as
personal mobile phone. However, no data could be
retrieved from the mobile phone belonging to the
Investigating Officer as said mobile phone did not have
the back-up in the form of any iCloud as it was not an
iPhone.
We therefore call upon the concerned Investigating
Officer to file an appropriate affidavit stating all these
details without disclosing what exactly was the
material which was retrieved as a result of the entire
exercise.
Mr. Manoj V. George, learned counsel appearing for
the writ petitioner then submitted that on 17.10.2019,
the petitioner was hit by a vehicle resulting in some
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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injuries for which she was treated at AIIMS Trauma
Centre, New Delhi, whereafter an appropriate
complaint was also lodged with Police Station Kotla
Mubarakpur. FIR No.314 dated 18.10.2019 PS Kotla
Mubarakpur, District South, New Delhi and medical
papers have been placed on record along with Cr. M.P.
No.162386 of 2019.
Ms. Suhasini Sen, learned counsel submitted that
considering the nature of allegations and the injuries
suffered by the petitioner, the respondents, on their
own, have extended police protection to the petitioner
in the form of a Security Officer. She also submitted
that FIR No.314 is being investigated and appropriate
response shall be filed before the next date of hearing.”
(e) Thereafter, a Status Report was filed on 26.11.2019 by
Investigating Officer, Crime Branch, New Delhi, regarding status of
investigation into the crime registered pursuant to the FIR dated
26.05.2018 and it was stated that after retrieving the data from the
mobile phones of Respondent No. 7, supplementary charge-sheet was
prepared which would be filed after getting the approval. Another
Status Report was filed on the same date by Assistant Commissioner
of Police, Sub-Division, Defence Colony, New Delhi that CCTV
footages of the concerned place where the petitioner was allegedly
struck by a car showed that no such incident had actually occurred. It
was asserted:
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
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“13. That the CCTV footages so obtained were
analysed. In the available CCTV Footage of about 8.52
p.m. dated 17.10.19, a Thela driven by a child is seen
scraped the left leg of the Petitioner/complainant while
she was attempting to hire a TSR/Auto at place of
occurrence. Complainant is seen looking towards the
Thela and then moving away. She made no attempt to
stop him. The CCTV footage has not revealed that the
complainant was hit by a car which she had tried to
stop. On the contrary, she walked away from the place
of occurrence. (Still photographs of the CCTV footage
are enclosed).
14. Local investigation was done and no witness could
be found, who could corroborate the version of the
complainant regarding four-wheeler (offending
vehicle) as alleged by the complainant/petitioner.
15. That the investigation conducted in this case so far
reveals that as per the time frame and place of incident
provided by the complainant/petitioner, she was
scraped by a “Thela”.
16. As per the available CCTV footage complainant
was hit by a Thela near Gurudwara Chowk, Kotla
Mubarak Pur, New Delhi at about 8.52 p.m. dated
17.10.2019. She made PCR calls from her place of stay
i.e. Indira Niketan Working Girls Hostel, Sarojini
Nagar, New Delhi at 9.00 p.m. and 9.07 p.m. She was
taken to Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre,
AIIMS, New Delhi where she was examined at about
9.56 p.m. She was found entering the Jai Prakash
Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi
with PCR staff at about 9.24 p.m. The call was initially
sent to Police Station Sarojini Nagar and thereafter to
Police Station Defence Colony and finally to Police
Station Kotla Mubarak Pur, New Delhi. The details of
investigation are mentioned in Para 12 to 15.”
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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(f) Consequently, on the next date i.e. on 27.11.2019 liberty
was given to the petitioner and her counsel to watch the CCTV
footages and the matter was adjourned.
(g) After having availed the facility of watching the CCTV
footages, a response was filed by the petitioner on 03.12.2019 to the
status report as under: -
“8. The petitioner submits that the autorickshaw
which encircled at 12th minute 36 seconds (12:36) the
tricycle which is stated to be driven by a child to knock
her down and a car which appears within a few seconds
with closed doors raised serious suspicions in the mind
of the petitioner who construes this as a chain of events
orchestrated by some vested interest. The petitioner
who was suffering and was bleeding also realized that
any telephone call to Police saying that a tricycle hit
her without mentioning about the car which is found
suspicious would not put them into action and her
claim would be rubbished as a hit by a cycle driven by
a child.
9. The petitioner required immediate medical
attention and it was only with this intention that she had
stated that a car had come from the backside to hit her
even though now it is clear that it was a Thela (tricycle
fitted with carriage) which had hit her from the back as
the car reaches only after 28 second of the hit by the
tricycle (Thela).
The chain of events in the staged road accident
when an auto rickshaw encircles and dodges her in a
jerk and a child rides into the junction only to hit her
from the back and a Car/Van appearing in the scene as
if in a lookout for the fallen pedestrian invariably
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
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reinforces the apprehension in the mind of the
petitioner, regarding a foul play.”
(h) A response was also filed by the petitioner to the other status
report. Submitting inter alia continuation of Respondent No. 7 in
service would affect fair trial.
8. In the aforesaid background and circumstances on record, it was
submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor General:-
(i) The investigation into the crime, lodged pursuant to FIR by
the petitioner, was conducted fairly under the supervision of
a Special Investigation Team headed by ACP Shweta Singh
Chauhan. After due investigation, charge-sheet has also been
filed; prompt steps were taken by the investigating agency
and as such nothing further need be done in the present writ
petition.
(ii) The allegations made by the petitioner that a car had struck
her and the suggestion that Respondent No.7 was
instrumental for such incident were completely
unsustainable. It was not a car but a thela mounted on a
tricycle which had simply brushed against the petitioner.
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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However, the petitioner deliberately flared it up to show as if
it was Respondent No.7 who was behind the incident.
(iii) On her own showing, she was aware that she was not hit by
a car but by a thela but she did not state the facts truthfully
and correctly as she anticipated that the claim could be
rubbished as a minor incident. Moreover, the petitioner used
such minor and innocuous incident to make insinuations
against Respondent No.7.
9. On the other hand, Mr. Manoj George, learned Advocate for the
petitioner submitted that:-
(i) Respondent No.7 belonged to police service and as such
there was definite apprehension that the investigation into the crime
pursuant to FIR lodged by the petitioner, would not be conducted in
fair and transparent manner;
(ii) The crime registered pursuant to the FIR lodged by the
mother of Respondent No.7 was an indication of undue influence
exerted by Respondent No.7, a police officer;
(iii) Certain audio recording and video recording with the
petitioner were not taken note of while conducting investigation;
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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(iv) Complete data from two mobile phones of Respondent No.7
was not recovered while the mobile phone of the Investigator was
completely damaged with the result there could be no retrieval of any
data from the mobile phone of the Investigator; and
(v) Soon after the petitioner was hit by a thela she had seen a car
in the vicinity and therefore apprehended that it was an attempt on
part of someone.
10. The investigation into the crime registered pursuant to FIR No.58
of 2018 lodged by the petitioner was conducted by a Special Investigation
Team headed by ACP Ms. Shweta Tiwari Singh and a charge-sheet has been
filed. The apprehension that was expressed at some stage that the mobile
phones belonging to Respondent No.7 were not being taken in custody, was
dealt with by this Court and it was ensured that said mobiles would be in the
custody of the investigating agency. The data from those mobiles was also
sought to be recovered and it must be stated that Respondent No.7 did extend
cooperation in ensuring that the data could be retrieved. However, the
assertion on behalf of the petitioner is that complete data has not been
retrieved. Both the mobile phones were also sent for forensic analysis. It is
suggested by the petitioner that certain pictures may have been taken by
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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Respondent No.7, which data is not presently available. However, what has
been extracted from iCloud is fully available with the investigating agency.
The data, in any case, would at best point that at various stages there were
exchanges and conversation between the petitioner and Respondent No.7 but
what needs to be gone into at the appropriate stage is the basic submission
that Respondent No.7 had taken undue advantage of the petitioner on the
fateful night. The contention that the mobile phone of the Investigating
Officer was damaged may not be material as details of any conversation
between the petitioner and the Investigating Officer, may also be proved
through the mobile phone of the petitioner herself. There is thus, nothing
substantial which could either show that the investigation was not well
directed or had failed to look into a particular direction. In our considered
view, nothing further is required to be done. At this stage, it may be stated
that if any video or audio recordings are still being retained by the petitioner,
they may be handed over to the Special Investigation Team within two days
from today. It is left to the Special Investigation Team to consider whether
that parts needs to be dealt with in the supplementary charge-sheet which, as
indicated above, is contemplated to be filed.
11. As regards the crime registered pursuant to FIR lodged by the
mother of Respondent No.7, protection has been afforded to the petitioner
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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and her family members and the application under Section 438 of the Code3
has also been dealt with. An application filed by the petitioner under Section
482 of the Code3 is presently pending with the High Court. It is, thus, clear
that the petitioner has been invoking the processes of the court and adequate
protection is being afforded to the petitioner and her family members. We,
therefore, do not see any reason why the matter presently pending pursuant
to the FIR lodged by the mother of Respondent No.7 be transferred and
investigation be entrusted to any other agency.
12. In the aforesaid circumstances we do not see any reason why
investigation into both the aforesaid FIRs, at this stage, be entrusted to any
Central Investigating Agency. All that we can say at this juncture is that the
charge-sheet filed in the crime registered pursuant to FIR lodged by the
petitioner shall be considered by the concerned court on its own merits and
in accordance with law.
13. In the end, we must observe that the matter was considered by this
Court only from the standpoint of ensuring that there was fair investigation
into the crime registered pursuant to FIR filed by the petitioner and any
observation made by us or directions issued by us shall not be considered as
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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reflection on merits of the matter or on the quality of investigation. The matter
shall be considered on its own merits and in accordance with law.
14. We may now refer to the development which occurred during the
pendency of the writ petition. In FIR No. 314, as well as in the application
preferred thereafter, insinuation was definitely made that Respondent No.7
was responsible for the incident that occurred on 17.10.2019. It was also
submitted that the petitioner was hit by a car and suspicion was expressed in
clear terms that Respondent No.7 was behind the episode. As it now turns
out, she was not hit by a car but by a thela which prima facie means that the
allegations in her sworn statement before this Court were not truthful.
15. Making a false statement on oath is an offence punishable under
Section 181 of the IPC2 while furnishing false information with intent to
cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person
is punishable under Section 182 of the IPC2. These offences by virtue of
Section 195(1)(a)(i) of the Code3 can be taken cognizance of by any court
only upon a proper complaint in writing as stated in said Section. In respect
of matters coming under Section 195(1)(b)(i) of the Code3, in Pushpadevi M.
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
ABCD v. Union of India
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Jatia vs. M.L. Wadhawan etc.4 prosecution was directed to be launched
after prima facie satisfaction was recorded by this Court.
16. It has also been laid down by this Court in Chandra Shashi v. Anil
Kumar Verma5 that a person who makes an attempt to deceive the court,
interferes with the administration of justice and can be held guilty of
contempt of court. In that case a husband who had filed a fabricated
document to oppose the prayer of his wife seeking transfer of matrimonial
proceedings was found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to two
weeks imprisonment. It was observed as under:
“1.The stream of administration of justice has to remain
unpolluted so that purity of court’s atmosphere may give
vitality to all the organs of the State. Polluters of judicial
firmament are, therefore, required to be well taken care of to
maintain the sublimity of court’s environment; so also to
enable it to administer justice fairly and to the satisfaction of
all concerned.
2. Anyone who takes recourse to fraud, deflects the course
of judicial proceedings; or if anything is done with oblique
motive, the same interferes with the administration of
justice. Such persons are required to be properly dealt with,
not only to punish them for the wrong done, but also to deter
others from indulging in similar acts which shake the faith
of people in the system of administration of justice.
14. The legal position thus is that if the publication be with
intent to deceive the court or one made with an intention to
4 (1987) 3 SCC 367 5 (1995) 1 SCC 421
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ABCD v. Union of India
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defraud, the same would be contempt, as it would interfere
with administration of justice. It would, in any case, tend to
interfere with the same. This would definitely be so if a
fabricated document is filed with the aforesaid mens rea. In
the case at hand the fabricated document was apparently to
deceive the court; the intention to defraud is writ large. Anil
Kumar is, therefore, guilty of contempt.”
In K.D. Sharma v. Steel Authority of India Limited and others6 it
was observed:
“39. If the primary object as highlighted in Kensington
Income Tax Commrs.7 is kept in mind, an applicant who does
not come with candid facts and “clean breast” cannot hold a
writ of the court with “soiled hands”. Suppression or
concealment of material facts is not an advocacy. It is a
jugglery, manipulation, manoeuvring or misrepresentation,
which has no place in equitable and prerogative jurisdiction.
If the applicant does not disclose all the material facts fairly
and truly but states them in a distorted manner and misleads
the court, the court has inherent power in order to protect
itself and to prevent an abuse of its process to discharge the
rule nisi and refuse to proceed further with the examination
of the case on merits. If the court does not reject the petition
on that ground, the court would be failing in its duty. In fact,
such an applicant requires to be dealt with for contempt of
court for abusing the process of the court.”
In Dhananjay Sharma v. State of Haryana and others8 filing of a
false affidavit was the basis for initiation of action in contempt jurisdiction
and the concerned persons were punished.
6 (2008) 12 SCC 481 7 (1917) 1 KB 486 : 86 LJKB 257 : 116 LT 136 (CA) 8 (1995) 3 SCC 757
Writ Petition (Criminal) Appeal No.191 of 2018
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17. In the circumstances a notice is required to be issued to the petitioner
in suo motu exercise of power of this Court “why action in contempt be not
initiated against her and why appropriate direction be not passed under
Section 195(1)(a)(i) of the Code”3. The Registry is directed to register the
matter as suo motu proceedings and send a copy of this Order to the
Petitioner, who is directed to appear in-person before this Court on
14.01.2020.
18. With the aforesaid observations this writ petition stands disposed
of.
………………………J.
[Uday Umesh Lalit]
………………………J.
[Indu Malhotra]
New Delhi;
December 10, 2019.