38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, August 29, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Filing FIR after civil suit nothing but abuse of process of law: SC [Read Judgment]

By Jhanak Sharma      07 January, 2025 01:30 PM      0 Comments
Filing FIR after civil suit nothing but abuse of process of law SC

NEW DELHI: When there is a civil dispute over the title of a property, the act of setting criminal law in motion, two years after filing of the suits amounts to nothing but abuse of the process of law, the Supreme Court has said.

"If a person sells a property knowing that it does not belong to him, and thereby defrauds the person who purchased the property, the person defrauded, that is, the purchaser, may complain that the vendor committed the fraudulent act of cheating. But a third party who is not the purchaser under the deed may not be able to make such complaint," a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said.

SC Rules on FIR Abuse in Civil Property Disputes: Key Takeaways

The court allowed an appeal by Maharashtra Gomantak Party leader and Goa MLA Jit Vinayak Arolkar and quashed an FIR lodged on October 23, 2023 against him for cheating.

He was alleged to have sold a property at Pernem in Goa allegedly without consent of all the legal heirs of co-owners.

His counsel contended the FIR was mala fide since he acted as the constituted attorney of Vidhya Natekar and Sanjay Natekar, the vendors under the sale deeds. He said the appellant had published a public notice calling for objections from any interested party concerning the subject property before the sale deeds.

Supreme Court Quashes FIR Against Goa MLA Jit Arolkar Over Property Sale

The complainant, a  resident of USA, submitted that merely because civil suits were pending, that was no ground to quash the criminal proceedings as the conduct of a party may amount to an offence and may also give rise to civil claim.

The appellant tried to dishonestly misappropriate the property belonging to him and sold it to third parties, he claimed.

In its judgment on January 6, 2025, the bench, however, said even after taking the complaint as correct, the offence of cheating under Section 415 of IPC was not made out against the appellant.

"Moreover, the complaint was filed for the first time after a time gap of two years from the date of institution of the civil suits," the court said.

The court also pointed out the complainant suppressed the fact that civil suits were already filed in which applications for temporary injunction were made.

The court allowed the appeal against Bombay High Court order of March 1, 2023, which had declined to quash the FIR.

In the case, the bench said there was no allegation that the appellant deceived the complainant to transfer or deliver the subject property.

Going by the facts of the matter, the bench said it is impossible to understand how the appellant deceived the complainant and how the act of execution of sale deeds by the appellant caused or was likely to cause damage or harm to him in body, mind, reputation or property.

[Read Judgment]



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS


TOP STORIES

adult-woman-free-to-live-with-married-man-personal-autonomy-prevails-over-morality
Trending Judiciary
Adult Woman Free To Live With Married Man, Personal Autonomy Prevails Over Morality: Madhya Pradesh HC [Read Order]

Adult woman has right to live with married man, rules MP High Court; says personal autonomy outweighs moral concerns.

23 August, 2025 04:00 PM
sc-issues-notice-to-bci-on-plea-against-3-yr-moratorium-on-new-centre-for-legal-education
Trending Judiciary
SC issues notice to BCI on plea against 3-yr moratorium on new centre for legal education

SC issues notice to BCI on plea challenging 3-year moratorium on new legal education centres, calling it arbitrary and violative of fundamental rights.

23 August, 2025 05:13 PM
punjab-and-haryana-hc-upholds-denial-of-furlough-to-life-convict-rules-temporary-release-is-a-concession-not-a-right
Trending Judiciary
Punjab and Haryana HC Upholds Denial of Furlough to Life Convict, Rules Temporary Release Is A Concession, Not A Right [Read Order]

Punjab & Haryana HC upholds denial of furlough to life convict, rules temporary release is a concession, not a right, under 2022 law.

23 August, 2025 05:16 PM
sc-restores-mandatory-20-percent-deposit-for-suspension-of-sentence-in-cheque-bounce-case
Trending Judiciary
SC Restores Mandatory 20% Deposit for Suspension of Sentence in Cheque Bounce Case [Read Order]

SC sets aside P&H HC order; rules 20% deposit mandatory for suspension of sentence in ₹8.65 crore cheque bounce case under NI Act.

25 August, 2025 12:35 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email