Judgment
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN FRIDAY, THE 13TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2023 / 21ST ASWINA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT ADS 652/2011 OF ADDITIONAL SESSIONS COURT (ADHOC) III, KOLLAM\nAA 222/2011 OF ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT (ADHOC)-II, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM PETITIONER/S:
1 JAISON JOY, AGED 39 YEARS S/O.JOY ARACKAL HOUSE, VISHNUPURAM TEMPLE ROAD CHERANELLORE, COCHIN, PIN - 682034 2 JACKSON ARACKAL JOY AGED 42 YEARS S/O.JOY ARACKAL HOUSE, VISHNUPURAM TEMPLE ROAD CHERANELLORE, COCHIN., PIN - 682034 3 SHINOJ AGED 28 YEARS S/O.SHAMSUDHEEN KUTTIYIL HOUSE, THAMARAKKALA, ALAPPUZHA., PIN - 688001 BY ADVS.
M.SASINDRAN SATHEESHAN ALAKKADAN SIDHARTH P. SASI RESPONDENT/S:
1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682031 2 THE STATE POLICE CHIEF, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA., PIN - 695010 3 THE DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF, ERNAKULAM ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682011 4 THE DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF, KANNUR TALAP, KANNUR, KERALA, PIN - 670002
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 2 5 THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER MAYYIL POLICE STATION MAYYIL, KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670602 6 THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER THRIKKAKKARA POLICE STATION ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682021 7 PRAYAG O.C., THIRUVONAM HOUSE DHARMADAM, PALAYAD P.O., KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670661 8 DIJITH CHOYYAN, DISA HOUSE, KANNUR CORPORATION THOTTADA P.O., KANNUR, PIN - 670007 9 SHAMMAL MOOSAPPI KALLINKEEL SUHARA MANZIL, THAYYIL P.O. MARAKKARKANDI, KANNUR, PIN - 670003 10 SARAN.P.R.
ASHAKIRAN HOUSE DHARMADAM P.O, KANNUR, PIN - 670106 11 AJITH KUMAR, C.K.HOUSE, CHERUPAZHASSY P.O, MAYYIL, KANNUR, PIN - 670601 12 SELJI MATHEW S/O.JOHN MATHEW CHALAKKAPARA, KANJIRAMATTOM AMBALLOR, ERNAKULAM RURAL, PIN - 682 315 PRESENTLY RESIDING AT SAM NIVAS RENED HOUSE ABRAHAM K.P.VALLOOVAN ROAD, ELAMKULAM, ERNAKULAM CITY, PIN - 682020 13 LISAMMA REJI W/O.REJI KURIAN THADATHIL HOUSE, KANAKKARI KAVALA BHAGAM KANAKKARI P.O., KANAKKARI, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PIN - 686632 14 NAJEEM S/O.MEERA SAHIB CHARUVILA PUTHEN VEEDU PATTARA, KALLARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM RURAL, PIN - 695608 15 RAFEEK M.M.
M.M MAZIL, ELAVATTAM P.O, NANNIYODE PANCHAYATH, CHALODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT, PIN - 695562 16 SURESHKUMAR K.V, KORACHAN HOUSE, KINANOOR KARINTHALAM PANCHAYATH, CHAYYOTH P.O, NEELESHWAR KASARAGOD, PIN - 671314
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 3 17 JINSHU A.
ANDATHODATHU HOUSE, KUZHIKKALATTUPARAMBA, OLAVANNA PANCHAYATH, OLAVANNA P.O, KOZHIKODE 673 019, PIN - 673019 18 JUDU FERNANDEZ, PUTHUVALPURAYIDAM 8/324A H KADINAMKULAM PANCHAYATH, PALLITHURA P.O THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695586 19 SAJANA K.S, PARAKKAL HOUSE, MADAMPALLY PANCHAYATH, PERUMBANANCHI P.O, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686536 20 NEENAMOL K. JOY, CHEROLIKKAL HOUSE, MUTHOLI PANCHAYATH, PADINJATTINKARA P.O, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686571 21 BINNY MICHAEL, NEDUNILATHIL HOUSE, MANJOOR PANCHAYATH, KANJIRATHANAM P.O, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686603 22 RESMI R, PARDHAS HOUSE, BHARANIKKAVU PANCHAYATH, PULLIKANAKKU P.O, ALAPPUZHA, PIN - 690537 23 VINOD KUMAR K.E, SOUPARNIKA HOUSE, THILLANKERI PANCHAYATH, ULIYIL P.O, MADAMPPALLY, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686546 24 BIJU P.A, PARATHANAM HOUSE, MADAPALLY P.O, MADAPALLY, KOTTAYAM,, PIN - 686546 25 RASHID, PULATHARA KIZHAKKATHIL HOUSE, KARUNAGAPPALLY MUNICIPALITY, KARUNAGAPPALLY, KOLLAM, PIN - 690518 26 VINOD K, LATHI NIVAS, ALIYADU P.O, MANIKKAL, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695607 27 KEVIN THOMAS KANNANDAMALAYIL HOUSE, EAST OTHARA P.O., IRAVIPERUR, PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN - 689546 28 JAYAN M.B.
MANIYANKERIL HOUSE, KADAPRA MANNAR P.O, NIRANAM, PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN - 689621 29 BOBBY MATHEWS, T.C 17/4248, GRA -103 HOUSE PATTAM P.O,
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 4 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM CORPORATION, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695004 30 JYOTHIS B.R, SOORYAKANTHI HOUSE, OORUPOYKA P.O, MUDAKKAL, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695104 31 MATHEW THARAKAN, S/O.KURIKETHU THARAKAN, SADANAM, ADOOR P.O PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN - 691523 32 ZACKEER T.H, THOTTIPARAMBIL HOUSE VENGALLOOR P.O, THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI., PIN - 685608 33 SEBASTIAN KURIAKOSE, KAINIKKARA HOUSE, CHEERANCHIRA P.O VAZHAPALLY, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686106 34 RAGESH S.
KALLUTHUNDIL, PADINJATTATHIL HOUSE SOORANAD THEKK, SASTHAMKOTTA P.O, KOLLAM, PIN - 690521 35 ANANTHAKRISHNA, CHARUVIL HOUSE, PALAYAMKUNNU P.O., VARKKALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM., PIN - 695146 36 ANOOP K.P, PARANGATTUTHAZHAM HOUSE, KIZHAKKUMURI P.O KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673611 37 SARAN DAS, SAVITHRI SREEDHARALAYAM HOUSE OORUPOYKA P.O, MUDAKKAL, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695104 38 SHINAS. S, DARUL RAYAN HOUSE, KALAMACHAL P.O, VAMANAPURAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695606 39 JERRY AMAL ROSE, KNAN HOUSE, CHANG P.O, AARYANAD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695542 40 DILEEP M, MAIPPALLY HOUSE VELLORA P.O, KOIPRA, KANNUR, PIN - 670306 41 IRSHAD K, PANIKKARAKATH, VAYADU HOUSE, THIRUVATTOOR P.O, PARIYARAM PANCHAYATH KANNUR, PIN - 670502 42 PUSHPAKUMARAN K,
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 5 SREEMOOLAM HOUSE, VELLARADA PANCHAYATH, DALUMMUKHAM P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695125 43 SHANIS NAZARUDHEEN, AFRAN COTTAGE HOUSE KALAMASSERY MUNICIPALITY, H.M.T COLONY P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683104 44 P.C. UDAYAKUMAR, NAVODAYAM HOUSE CHIRAKKARA P.O, CHIRAKKARA KANNUR\, PIN - 670104 45 TRIVANTAGE HAWLKE, NAMYATTIL HOUSE, PAYYOLI P.O PAYYOLI, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673522 46 PRINCY D'SOUZA, KOKECHAL HOUSE, PAIVALIKA PANCHAYATH, KAYYAR P.O, KASARGOD DISTRICT, PIN - 671322 47 AMAL SEBASTIAN, THANNIMOOTTILAYA VANJITHOTTIL HOUSE, PAKKIL P.O, NATTAKAM, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686012 48 ANAND C.S, CHANDRAZHATHU MADATHIL HOUSE IDAVATTAM P.O MARAVAN THURUTHU KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686605 49 DEEPAK THANKACHAN PULLOLIKKAL HOUSE CHOONDA P.O CHERUPUZHA, KANNUR, PIN - 670511 50 JINCY SANTHOSH, MOONNUPADIKKAL HOUSE POOZHIKOL P.O MULAKKULAM, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686604 51 SANTHOSH THANKACHAN, VADAKKE VEEDU HOUSE, MANAKKALA P.O ERATH, PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN - 691551 52 ROUF SAID VALAPPIL, SAID VALAPPIL HOUSE VALAPATTANAM P.O, VALAPATTANAM, KANNUR, PIN - 670010 53 NIJIL REJI, MANIMALAPPARAMBIL HOUSE, MEENADAM P.O, MEENADAM, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686516 54 DEEPAK C., CHEMPADASSERY HOUSE CHULLIYODU P.O, NANMENI WAYANAD, PIN - 673592 55 TIJO PHILIP,
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 6 PADINJAREKKARA HOUSE, KOTHALA P.O, KOOROPPADA PANCHAYATH, KOTTAYAM, PIN – 686502 SRI.HRITHWIK CS, PP THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13.10.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 7 P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J --------------------------------------- Crl.M.C. No. 8291 of 2023 -------------------------------------- Dated this the 13th day of October, 2023 O R D E R This Crl.M.C. is filed with following prayers :
i) “to quash Annexure A16 FIR in Crime No.784 of 2023 of Mayyil Police Station.
ii) direct the 2nd respondent to issue appropriate directions to ensure that on registering crimes if any against the petitioners based on the complaints of the respondents 7 to 55 in connection with the transaction of Rings Promos Private Limited, in the event of arrests, to release the petitioners, without detention.
ii) In the alternative command the respondents 1 to 6 to issue notice under Section 41 A of the Cr.P.C., before proceeding to arrest the petitioners, In any crime, registered based on the complaints of the respondents 7 to 55.
iii) To declare that arrest or recording the arrest of the petitioners, repeatedly, in multiple complaints filed with short Intervals by a group of persons involving contractual obligations, is unjust, invalid and not permissible.
v) issue any other appropriate order or direction as this Hon'ble court may deem fit in the facts and circumstances of the case;” [SIC] 2.
The petitioner filed this Crl.M.C. with a prayer to quash Annexure-AXVI FIR and also to issue direction to the 2nd
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 8 respondent to issue appropriate direction to ensure that on registering crime if any against the petitioners based on complaints of the respondents 7 to 55 in connection to the transaction of Rings Promos Pvt. Ltd. and in the event of arrest to release the petitioner without detention. There is further prayer to issue direction to respondent Nos. 1 to 6 to issue notice under Sec.
41A Cr.P.C. before proceeding to arrest the petitioners if any crime is registered based on the complaint of respondent nos. 7 to 55.
3.
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor. No notice is necessary to respondent Nos. 7 to 55 because the way in which this Crl.M.C is going to be disposed of.
4.
The counsel for the petitioners reiterated the contentions raised in the Crl.M.C. The counsel for the petitioners also submitted that the point raised in this case is covered in favour of the petitioners in Praveen K.P. @ Praveen Rana v. State of Kerala [2023 KHC online 9179]. The relevant portion of the judgment is extracted hereunder :
28.
“The above decisions provide a balance between the needs of the investigating agency and the rights of the individual. In the instant case, petitioner has already been in custody for the last more than seven months, his passport has already been surrendered as admitted by the Prosecutor, all his properties have already been
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 9 attached under the BUDS Act, the documents in his possession and over which he had dominion have already been seized. Though the crimes are all different, the allegations are generally similar in nature. Thus, the requirements of section 41 of Cr.P.C, for future crimes with allegations of a similar nature are mostly satisfied.
Hence, the benefit of section 41A Cr.P.C ought to be accorded to the petitioner. Of course, in cases where the allegations are different or if the investigating officer requires the arrest of the petitioner for specific reasons in a particular case, he must have the liberty to do so, provided the conditions laid down in Arnesh Kumar and Satender Kumar Antil are scrupulously complied with.
29.
At the same time, the power of arrest vested with the investigating agency in appropriate cases cannot be trenched upon.
A balance will have to be struck between the principles of liberty and the power of arrest as contemplated under the Cr.P.C.
Therefore, in cases where the allegations are different from the crimes already registered or if the investigating officer requires the arrest of the petitioner for specific reasons in a particular case, he must have the liberty to do so, provided the conditions laid down in Arnesh Kumar and Satinder Kumar Antil are scrupulously complied with.
30.
Thus, to balance the rights of the petitioner as well as that of the investigating agency and the complainants, certain directions are required to be issued regarding the arrest of the petitioner.
Those directions are specified in the concluding paragraph as (iii) to (v) and are peculiar to the circumstances arising in the instant case.
31.
In conclusion, (i) All the F.I.R’s registered against the petitioner cannot be clubbed together to form a single crime.
(ii) A comprehensive order of bail is not a procedure contemplated by law to cover all crimes registered and to be registered in the future, deeming the date of arrest in the initial crime as the date of arrest in all such crimes.
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 10 (iii) As the petitioner has been in custody since 13-01-2023, delayed recording of his arrest in the crimes already registered infringes his right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
(iv) In all crimes already registered against the petitioner as on this date, his arrest shall be recorded within an outer period of ten days from today.
(v) In all crimes registered hereafter alleging offences and circumstances of a similar nature as those of the crimes already registered, the procedure contemplated under section 41A Cr.P.C.shall be followed, subject to the exception carved out under clause (vi) below.
(vi) If circumstances exist where the investigating officer requires the arrest of the petitioner in crimes to be registered hereafter, the directions in Arnesh Kumar’s case and in Satender Kumar Antils' case, and the provisions of section 41(1)(ii) Cr.P.C shall scrupulously be complied with. Further, the Magistrate concerned shall scrutinize the need for any detention in such cases with the seriousness it deserves and not in a routine manner.” 5.
In tune with the above judgment, this Crl.M.C. also can be disposed of. Admittedly, the petitioners are also in custody.
Therefore, this Crl.M.C. is disposed of with the following directions:
1) Since the petitioners are in custody, the delayed recording of their arrest in the crimes already registered infringes their right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 11 2) The arrest of the petitioners in all crimes already registered against the petitioners as on this date shall be recorded within a outer limit of 10 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order by the officers concerned.
3) In all crimes hereafter alleging offences and circumstances of a similar nature as those of crimes already registered against the petitioners, the procedure contemplated under Sec. 41A Crl.P.C. shall be followed subject to the exception under Clause 4.
4) If circumstances exists, where the investigating officer requires the arrest of the petitioners in crimes to be registered hereafter, the directions in Satender Kumar Antil 's case and the provisions of Sec. 41(1)(ii) Cr.P.C.
shall scrupulously be complied with. It is also made clear that the Magistrate concerned shall scrutinize the need for any detention in such cases with the seriousness it deserves and not in a routine manner.
SD/-
P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN
JUDGE SKS
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 12 APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 8291/2023 PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure AI A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE, HAVING PERMANENT ACCOUNT NO.AA1CR0775Q, DATED NIL ISSUED BY THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES Annexure AII A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF THE SPECIAL RESOLUTION CONFIRMING ALTERATION OF OBJECT CLAUSES DATED NIL Annexure AIII A TRUE COPY OF THE REGISTRATION OF CERTIFICATE FOR GST, DATED 02.07.2020 HAVING REGISTRATION NO.32AICR0775Q2ZU, ISSUED ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Annexure AIV A TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF TRADE MARK DATED 09.07.2020 IN FAVOUR OF THE COMPANY WITH THE REGISTERED LOGO OF THE COMPANY Annexure AV A TRUE COPY OF THE LICENSE NO. 11322999000560 DATED 24.10.2022 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE PETITIONER COMPANY FOR MEAT PROCESSING UNIT Annexure AVI A TRUE COPY OF THE LICENSE DATED 07.10.2022 IN RESPECT OF THE TRADE - RETAIL BUSINESS INCLUDING FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS, FOODS MEAT, SALT SPICES Annexure AVII A TRUE COPY OF THE AGREEMENT ENTERED BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE 11TH RESPONDENT DATED 13-02-2023 Annexure AVIII A TRUE COPY OF THE AGREEMENT DATED 14-09-2022 FOR GREEN STORE FRANCHISEE AGREEMENT WITH THE 7TH RESPONDENT Annexure AIX A TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT DATED 20-06-2023, SUBMITTED BY THE 3RD PETITIONER BEFORE THE POLICE Annexure AX A TRUE COPY OF THE LAWYER NOTICE ISSUED TO THE 7TH RESPONDENT, FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY Annexure AXI A TRUE COPY OF THE FIR IN CRIME NO. 1207 OF 2023 DATED 14.7.2023 OF THRIKKAKKARA POLICE STATION ERNAKULAM CITY Annexure AXII A TRUE COPY OF THE FIR IN CRIME NO.1017 OF 2023 OF DATED 17.07.2023 KURAVILANGAD POLICE STATION Annexure A TRUE COPY OF THE FIR IN CRIME NO.988 OF 2023
CRL.MC NO. 8291 OF 2023 13 AXIII DATED 26.07 2023 OF TELLICHERRY POLICE STATION Annexure AXIV A TRUE COPY OF THE FIR IN CRIME NO.470 OF 2023 DATED 14.08.2023 OF PINARAYI POLICE STATION Annexure AXV A TRUE COPY OF THE FIR IN CRIME NO.1451 OF 2023 DATED 17.08.2023 OF KILIMANOOR POLICE STATION Annexure AXVI A TRUE COPY OF THE FIR IN CRIME NO. 0784 OF 2023 DATED 16.09.2023 OF MAYYIL POLICE STATION Annexure AXVII A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 21-09-2023 IN CRL.M.P.2487 OF 2023 OF THE SESSION COURT KOTTAYAM Annexure AXVIII A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 27-07-2023 IN W.P.(C) 24419 OF 2023