M/S Krishana Steels vs. State Of U P And Another

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A227/2443/2020HC AllahabadGSTCNR UPHC01074214202022 May 20222 pages
For Petitioner: Anurag Sharma
AI SummaryAllowed

Facts

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
Court No. - 92 Case :- MATTERS UNDER ARTICLE 227 No. - 2443 of 2020 Petitioner :- M/S Krishana Steels Respondent :- State Of U P And Another Counsel for Petitioner :- Anurag Sharma Counsel for Respondent :- G.A. Hon'ble Manish Kumar,J. The present petition has been preferred for setting aside 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 after furnishing reliable security during the pendency of the trial pending before the court below. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that applicant has purchased the said Iron Bar TMT/Iron rod from Shine Enterprises, Om Enterprises and Alliance Traders and in support of his submission, he draws the attention of this Court to certain documents i.e. Invoices and GST registration showing the purchase made by the petitioner from these firms. It is further submitted that the charge-sheet has been filed in the case after the investigation and the case property i.e. iron bars are lying open since the year 2019 and perishing due to the effect of nature. It is further submitted that as per Section 451 Cr.P.C., the court below has rejected the application for release on the ground that the address of the firm which has been shown were not found on that address. Even the firm of the petitioner was not found on the address provided. In place of considering that the case property is a perishable item, which is affected by the nature due to rust etc. and its value will be depreciated as the case property is lying in open. It is further submitted that the address in the release application is the same address of the firm of the petitioner which has been mentioned in the registration certificate. It is further submitted that except the petitioner, no other person has claimed the said case property. Learned counsel for the applicant has relied upon the judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Sundarbhai Ambalal Desai vs. State of Gujarat [(2002) 10 SCC 283]. On the other hand, learned AGA has submitted that it is yet to be determined as to who is the owner of the property as it has been confiscated or seized as a stolen property. After hearing learned counsel for the respective parties and going through the record as well as the judgment of Hon'ble the Supreme Court in the case of Sundarbhai Ambalal Desai (supra), in which Hon'ble the Supreme Court had ordered to release gold ornaments, liquor and vehicle etc, it is found that the Iron Bars or TMT Saria is lying in the open since the year 2019 and getting rust due to the rains etc.; the charge-sheet has already been filed and the petitioner is ready to give security and an undertaking that whenever the court will direct, the case property will be produced. As the value of the case property deteriorates due to rusting and may become unusable, hence, it is directed that a detailed panchnama of those articles be prepared, taking photographs and samples of such articles and a bond that such articles will be produced, if required, at the time of trial and after taking proper security, the same shall be released by the trial court in favour of the petitioner within a period of four weeks from the date of moving the application along with

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.