M/S Krishana Steels vs. State Of U P And Another
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The petitioner, M/s Krishana Steels, sought the release of case property, approximately 50,500 kgs of Iron Bar TMT/Iron Bar, recovered in connection with case crime no. 1166/2019 under Section 414 IPC. The petitioner had purchased the iron bars from Shine Enterprises, Om Enterprises, and Alliance Traders, supported by invoices and GST registration. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ghaziabad, refused to release the property, citing that the addresses of the firms were not found. The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ghaziabad, upheld this decision in a criminal revision. The petitioner argued that the case property was perishable, lying in the open since 2019 and deteriorating due to rust, and that their firm's address was consistent with the registration certificate. No other party claimed the property.
Held
The High Court allowed the petition, setting aside the orders of the Chief Judicial Magistrate and the Additional District and Sessions Judge. The Court found that the iron bars were lying in the open since 2019 and were rusting, causing their value to deteriorate and potentially become unusable. The Court noted that the charge-sheet had been filed and the petitioner was prepared to provide security and an undertaking to produce the property when required. Citing the Supreme Court's judgment in Sundarbhai Ambalal Desai vs. State of Gujarat, the Court directed that a detailed panchnama, photographs, and samples of the articles be prepared. The trial court was ordered to release the case property to the petitioner within four weeks of the application, after taking proper security and an undertaking for its production during the trial. The Court found that the refusal to release the perishable property was not justified.
Key Issues
1. Whether the courts below erred in refusing to release the case property, which is perishable and depreciating in value, to the petitioner, despite the petitioner providing documentation of purchase and readiness to furnish security, under Section 451 Cr.P.C.? Petitioner's arguments: The petitioner contended that the case property, consisting of iron bars, is a perishable item that is deteriorating due to exposure to the elements since 2019, leading to a depreciation in its value. They argued that the lower courts wrongly rejected the release application by focusing on the addresses of the selling firms, rather than considering the nature of the property and the petitioner's claim. The petitioner emphasized that their firm's address was correctly stated and supported by registration documents, and that no other party claimed the property. They relied on the Supreme Court judgment in Sundarbhai Ambalal Desai vs. State of Gujarat. Respondent's arguments: The respondent (State of U.P.) argued that it was yet to be determined who the rightful owner of the property was, as it had been seized as potentially stolen property.
Sections Cited
Section 451 Cr.P.C., Section 414 IPC
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
the certified copy of this order.
With the aforesaid observation, the order dated 12.03.2020 passed by Additional District and Sessions Judge,court no. 7, Ghaziabad in Criminal Revision No. 372 of 2019 and order dated 25.09.2019 passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ghaziabad refusing to release the case property of the petitioner (Iron Bar TMT/Iron Bar quantity about 50,500 kgs) recovered in connection with case crime no. 1166/2019 under Section 414 IPC, Police Station Kavi Nagar, District Ghaziabad are set aside.
Present application/petition is accordingly allowed.
Order Date :- 23.5.2022 Nitesh TEWARY Date: 2022.05.25 17:20:30 IST Reason: Location: High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
Reproduced from the public record of the Allahabad High Court. Verify against the court's own copy before relying on it. Income tax judgments are on bharattax.net.