Hiralal vs State Of M P Through P S Crime Branch … on 30 April, 2026

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    Madhya Pradesh High Court

    Hiralal vs State Of M P Through P S Crime Branch … on 30 April, 2026

             NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:12370
    
    
    
    
                                                                1                            CRR-3881-2025
                                  IN     THE     HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
                                                        AT INDORE
                                                             BEFORE
                                              HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE GAJENDRA SINGH
                                                 CRIMINAL REVISION No. 3881 of 2025
                                                         HIRALAL
                                                          Versus
                                       STATE OF M P THROUGH P S CRIME BRANCH INDORE
                               Appearance:
    
                               Shri Raghvendra Singh Raghuvanshi - Advocate for the petitioner [P-1].
                               Shri Palash Choudhary, counsel for the objector.
    
                               Shri Prashant Jain appearing on behalf of Advocate General[r-1].
    
                                                          Heard On: 03.02.2026
                                                         Delivered On: 30.04.2026
                                                                    ORDER
    

    This criminal revision under Section 438 read with Section 442 of
    BNSS, 2023 is preferred being aggrieved by the order dated 13.05.2025
    passed in ST No.85/2025 by 33rd ASJ, Indore whereby the charges under
    Section 318(4) read with /3(5), 316(5) read with 3(5) and 111(4) read with

    3(5) of BNS, 2023 have been framed against the revision petitioner in a case
    arising out of the Crime No.113/2024 registered at Police Station Crime
    Branch, Indore.

    SPONSORED

    2. Facts in brief are that the aforesaid Crime no.113/2024 was
    registered on 30.10.2024 on the complaint of Amit S/o Prakash Upadhayay
    with allegations that the members of whatsap group UBS Securities

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    contacted the revision petitioner with a proposal to make investment in the
    stock market and got transferred an amount of Rs,.26,55,000/- in different
    accounts. The offence was registered against the unknown persons. After the
    investigation, final report under Section 193 of BNSS, 2023 was submitted
    against three persons namely Vinay Yadav R/o Ratlam and Rahual Yadav
    and Heeralal both Resident of Udaypur, Rajasthan and the investigation was
    kept pending against other co-accused persons under Section 318(4), 316(4),
    114(4), 3(5) of BNS, 2023.

    2. Vide order dated 13.05.2025, the charges were framed. Challenging
    the framing of charges, this revision petition has been preferred on the
    ground that the framing of charges is based on the surmises and

    conjunctures, the learned trial Court has failed to exercise its jurisdiction to
    shift the evidence in connection with the present applicant/revision
    petitioner. There is neither any call record between the petitioner and other
    co-accused persons nor any incriminating material has been seized from the
    revision petitioner. Confessional statements of the revision petitioner as well
    as other co-accused persons are not even admissible in framing of charges
    against the revision petitioner. The revision petitioner is law graduate and has
    been charged for Section 111(4) of BNS, 2023 which is an organized crime
    and is not applicable to the present applicant/revision petition as there are no
    criminal antecedents of the present revision petitioner and thus, it is the first
    offence registered against the revision petitioner. He relied upon Kashmiara
    Singh vs. State of Madhya Pradesh
    ; AIR 1952 SC 159, Ghulam Hassan
    Beigh vs. Mohammad Maqbool Magrey and Others
    ; 2022 SCC OnLine SC

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    913; Union of India vs. Prafulla Kumar Samal; (1979) 3 SCC 4, Deepak
    Bhai Jagdish Chandra Patel vs. State of Gujarat; (2019) 16 SCC 547, Sajjan
    Kumar vs. CBI
    (2010) 9 SCC 368.

    3. Heard.

    4. Counsel for the State as well as counsel for the objector has opposed
    the prayer.

    5. Final report submitted under Section 193 of BNSS, 2023 keeping
    the investigation pending as 90 days of custody was going to be completed
    reveal the role of the present revision petitioner. The revision petitioner came
    into contact with Rahul Yadav and Vinay Mewada (co-accused persons) in
    the year 2023. Vinay Mewada asked for procuring the bank accounts for a
    payment of Rs.10,000/- per bank account to the present revision petitioner
    who consulted regarding the bank accounts with co-accused Rahul Yadav
    and promised Rahul Yadav to pay Rs.5,000/- per bank account. Thereafter,
    Rahul Yadav provided 04 bank accounts to the revision petitioner and the
    revision petitioner further provided those accounts to Vinay Mawada and the
    amount of consideration received from Vinay Mewada was sent to Rahul
    Yadav after deducting his share. On 19.06.2024, Rahul Yadav provided the
    information of bank accounts open in SBI Bank alongwith the cheque book,
    ATM Cards, SIM No.62322-39088, Password of Email
    [email protected] and Bank Login ID through parcel to Heeralal.
    They all were in contact through different social media platforms and were

    deleting the chat history regularly. Vinay Mewada has made witness to

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    himself.

    6 . Before dealing with the rival contentions, it is appropriate to refer to
    the scope of exercise of power under section 227 of the Cr.P.C or presently
    section 250 of the BNSS, 2023. The Apex Court in P.Vijayan vs. State of
    Kerala and another
    – (2010) 2 SCC 398, made an in-depth consideration
    regarding the scope of power under section 227 Cr.P.C and held thus:

    “10. Before considering the merits of the claim of both
    the parties, it is useful to refer to Section 227 of the
    Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, which reads as
    under:

    “227. Discharge. — If, upon consideration of the record
    of the case and the documents submitted therewith, and
    after hearing the submissions of the accused and the
    prosecution in this behalf, the Judge considers that there
    is not sufficient ground for proceeding against the
    accused, he shall discharge the accused and record his
    reasons for so doing.”

    If two views are possible and one of them gives rise to
    suspicion only, as distinguished from grave suspicion,
    the trial Judge will be empowered to discharge the
    accused and at this stage he is not to see whether the
    trial will end in conviction or acquittal. Further, the
    words “not sufficient ground for proceeding against the

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    accused” clearly show that the Judge is not a mere post
    office to frame the charge at the behest of the
    prosecution, but has to exercise his judicial mind to the
    facts of the case in order to determine whether a case
    for trial has been made out by the prosecution. In
    assessing this fact, it is not necessary for the court to
    enter into the pros and cons of the matter or into a
    weighing and balancing of evidence and probabilities
    which is really the function of the court, after the trial
    starts.

    11. At the stage of Section 227, the Judge has merely to
    sift the evidence in order to find out whether or not
    there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the
    accused. In other words, the sufficiency of ground
    would take within its fold the nature of the evidence
    recorded by the police or the documents produced
    before the court which ex facie disclose that there are
    suspicious circumstances against the accused so as to
    frame a charge against him.”

    07. In Sajjan Kumar vs. Central Bureau of Investigation -(2010) 9
    SCC 368,(2010) 9 SCC 368, the Apex Court has laid down certain
    guiding principles for discharge as under:

    “21. On consideration of the authorities about the scope

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    of Sections 227 and 228 of the Code, the following
    principles emerge:

    (i) The Judge while considering the question of framing
    the charges under Section 227 CrPC has the undoubted
    power to sift and weigh the evidence for the limited
    purpose of finding out whether or not a prima facie case
    against the accused has been made out. The test to
    determine prima facie case would depend upon the facts
    of each case.

    (ii) Where the materials placed before the court disclose
    grave suspicion against the accused which has not been
    properly explained, the court will be fully justified in
    framing a charge and proceeding with the trial.

    (iii) The court cannot act merely as a post office or a
    mouthpiece of the prosecution but has to consider the
    broad probabilities of the case, the total effect of the
    evidence and the documents produced before the court,
    any basic infirmities, etc. However, at this stage, there
    cannot be a roving enquiry into the pros and cons of the
    matter and weigh the evidence as if he was conducting a

    trial.

    (iv) If on the basis of the material on record, the court
    could form an opinion that the accused might have

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    committed offence, it can frame the charge, though for
    conviction the conclusion is required to be proved
    beyond reasonable doubt that the accused has
    committed the offence.

    (v) At the time of framing of the charges, the probative
    value of the material on record cannot be gone into but
    before framing a charge the court must apply its judicial
    mind on the material placed on record and must be
    satisfied that the commission of offence by the accused
    was possible.

    (vi) At the stage of Sections 227 and 228, the court is
    required to evaluate the material and documents on
    record with a view to find out if the facts emerging
    therefrom taken at their face value disclose the
    existence of all the ingredients constituting the alleged
    offence. For this limited purpose, sift the evidence as it
    cannot be expected even at that initial stage to accept all
    that the prosecution states as gospel truth even if it is
    opposed to common sense or the broad probabilities of
    the case.

    (vii) If two views are possible and one of them gives
    rise to suspicion only, as distinguished from grave
    suspicion, the trial Judge will be empowered to

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    discharge the accused and at this stage, he is not to see
    whether the trial will end in conviction or acquittal.”

    8. On perusal of the statement of Vinay Mewada recorded on
    14.12.2024, satisfy the standard of prima facie case for framing the charges
    under Sections 318(4) read with /3(5) and 316(5) read with 3(5) of BNS,
    2023 against him. Accordingly, the learned trial Court has not committed
    any error in framing the charges against the revision petitioner under
    Sections 318(4) read with 3(5) and 316(5) read with 3(5) of BNS, 2023.
    Hence, the findings in this regard is affirmed.

    9. Now, the question arises whether the charges under Section 111(4)
    read with Section 3(5) of BNS, 2023 can be framed against the revision
    petitioner or not?

    10. Section 111. Organised crime

    (1) Any continuing unlawful activity including kidnapping,
    robbery, vehicle theft, extortion, land grabbing, contract killing,
    economic offence, cyber-crimes trafficking of persons, drugs,
    weapons or illicit goods or services, human trafficking for
    prostitution or ransom, by any person or a group of persons acting
    in concert, singly or jointly, either as a member of an organised
    crime syndicate or on behalf of such syndicate, by use of violence,
    threat of violence, intimidation, coercion, or by any other unlawful
    means to obtain direct or indirect material benefit including a
    financial benefit, shall constitute organised crime.

    Explanation. For the purposes of this subsection,-

    (i) “organised crime syndicate” means a group of two or
    more persons who, acting either singly or jointly, as a
    syndicate or gang indulge in any continuing unlawful
    activity;

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    (ii) “continuing unlawful activity” means an activity
    prohibited by law which is a cognizable offence
    punishable with imprisonment of three years or more,
    undertaken by any person, either singly or jointly, as a
    member of an organised crime syndicate or on behalf of
    such syndicate in respect of which more than one
    charge-sheets have been filed before a competent Court
    within the preceding period of ten years and that Court
    has taken cognizance of such offence, and includes
    economic offence:

    (iii) “economic offence includes criminal breach of
    trust, forgery, counterfeiting of currency-notes, bank-

    notes and Government stamps. hawala transaction,
    mass-marketing fraud or running any scheme to defraud
    several persons or doing any act in any manner with a
    view to defraud any bank or financial institution or any
    other institution or organisation for obtaining monetary
    benefits in any form.

    (2) Whoever commits organised crime shall.-

    (a) if such offence has resulted in the death of any
    person, be punished with death or imprisonment for life,
    and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less
    than ten lakh rupees;

    (b) in any other case, be punished with imprisonment
    for a term which shall not be less than five years but
    which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall
    also be liable to fine which shall not be less than five
    lakh rupees.

    (3) Whoever abets, attempts, conspires or knowingly
    facilitates the commission of an organised crime, or
    otherwise engages in any act preparatory to an
    organised crime, shall be punished with imprisonment
    for a term which shall not be less than five years but
    which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall
    also be liable to fine which shall not be less than five
    lakh rupees.

    (4) Any person who is a member of an organised crime
    syndicate shall be punished with imprisonment for a
    term which shall not be less than five years but which

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    may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be
    liable to fine which shall not be less than five lakh
    rupees.

    (5) Whoever, intentionally, harbours or conceals any
    person who has committed the offence of an organised
    crime shall be punished with imprisonment for a term
    which shall not be less than three years but which may
    extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable
    to fine which shall not be less than five lakh rupees:

    Provided that this sub-section shall not apply to any
    case in which the harbour or concealment is by the
    spouse of the offender.

    (6) Whoever possesses any property derived or obtained
    from the commission of an organised crime or proceeds
    of any organised crime or which has been acquired
    through the organised crime, shall be punishable with
    imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than
    three years but which may extend to imprisonment for
    life and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be
    less than two lakh rupees.

    (7) If any person on behalf of a member of an organised
    crime syndicate is, or at any time has been in possession
    of movable or immovable property which he cannot
    satisfactorily account for, shall be punishable with
    imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than
    three years but which may extend to imprisonment for
    ten years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not
    be less than one lakh rupees.

    11. The primary intent behind introducing of Section 111 of BNS,
    2023, is to provide a targeted and effective mechanism to dismantle
    organized crime syndicate. From a reading of the said provision of law, it is
    manifest that for the purpose of invoking Section 111 of BNS, 2023, there
    are certain basic parameters and if only it is found that the accused comes
    within the said parameters, the offence punishable under Section 111 of
    BNS, 2023 can be invoked. The said parameters are as follows:

    (a) the offences enlisted in the Section must have been committed;

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    (b) accused should be a member of an organized crime syndicate;

    (c) he should have committed the crime as a member of an
    organized crime syndicate or on behalf of such syndicate;

    (d) he should have been chargesheeted more than once before a
    competent Court within the preceding period of ten years for a
    cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment for three years
    or more and the Court before which chargesheet has been filed
    should have taken cognizance of such offence and includes
    economic offence;

    (e) the crime must be committed by using violence, intimidation,
    threat, coercion or by any other unlawful means.

    11. In Aamir Bashir Magray v. State (UT of J&K), 2025 SCC OnLine
    J&K 721, the Court opined that in order to bring an accused’s actions under
    ‘organised crime’, it must be shown that they engaged in a continuing
    unlawful activity which might include economic offences, and that they were
    charge-sheeted more than once before a competent Court in the past ten
    years, with the Court having taken cognizance for those offences.

    12. In the case of Amrish Rana vs. State of H.P.;2026:HHC:3356
    reported in 2026 Latest Case Law 346 HP, the legal position regarding the
    applicability of Section 111 of BNS, 2023 in para no.14 to 17 has been
    discussed as below:-

    “14. This section was explained by the Karnataka High Court in
    Avinash vs. State of Karnataka (11.03.2025 – KARHC):

    MANU/KA/0938/2025 as under:

    1. The primary intent behind introducing Section 111 of
    BNS, 2023, is to provide a targeted and effective
    mechanism to dismantle organised crime syndicates
    From a reading of the said provision of law, it is
    manifest that for the purpose of invoking Section 111 of
    BNS, 2023, there are certain basic parameters, and if it
    is found that the accused comes within the said
    parameters, the offence punishable under Section 111 of
    BNS, 2023 can be invoked. The said parameters are as
    follows:

    (a) the offences enlisted in the Section must have been

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    committed;

    (b) accused should be a member of an organised crime
    syndicate;

    (c) he should have committed the crime as a member of
    an organised crime syndicate or on behalf of such a
    syndicate.

    (d) he should have been chargesheeted more than once
    before a competent Court within the preceding period of
    ten years for a cognizable offence punishable with
    imprisonment for three years or more, and the Court
    before which the chargesheet has been filed should have
    taken cognisance of such offence, including an
    economic offence.

    (e) the crime must be committed by using violence,
    intimidation, threat, coercion or by any other unlawful
    means.

    15. It was laid down by the Kerala High Court in Mohd. Hashim
    v. State of Kerala
    , 2024 SCC OnLine Ker 5260, where no charge
    sheet was filed against the accused in the preceding ten years, he
    cannot be held liable for the commission of an offence punishable
    under Section 111 of the BNS Act. It was observed:

    “10. Section 111 (1) explicitly stipulates that to attract
    the offence, there should be a continuing unlawful
    activity, by any person or group of persons acting in
    concert, singly or jointly, either as a member of an
    organised crime syndicate or on behalf of such
    syndicate. The material ingredient to attract the above
    provision, so far as the present case is concerned, is that
    there should have been a continuing unlawful activity
    committed by a member of an organised crime
    syndicate or on behalf of such syndicate.

    11. Explanation (i) and (ii) of sub-section (1) of Section
    111
    of BNS define an organised crime syndicate and a
    continuing unlawful activity, respectively.

    12. Continuing unlawful activity under explanation (ii)
    of Section 111(1) of the BNS means an activity
    prohibited by law, which is a cognizable offence

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    punishable with imprisonment of three years or more,
    undertaken by any person, either singly or jointly, as a
    member of an organised crime syndicate or on behalf of
    such syndicate in respect of which more than one
    charge-sheet has to be filed before a competent Court
    within the preceding period of ten years and that Court
    has taken cognizance of such an offence. Furthermore,
    an organised crime syndicate under Explanation (i) of
    sub-section (1) of Section 111 of the BNS means a
    group of two or more persons who, acting either singly
    or jointly as a syndicate or gang, indulge in any
    continuing unlawful activity.

    13. While interpreting the analogous provisions of the
    Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999,
    which mandates the existence of at least two charge
    sheets in respect of a specified offence in the preceding
    ten years, the Honourable Supreme Court in State of
    Maharashtra v. Shiva
    alias Shivaji Ramaji Sonawane
    [(2015) 14 SCC 272] has unequivocally held as follows:

    “9. It was in the above backdrop that the High
    Court held that once the respondents had
    been acquitted for the offence punishable
    under the IPC and Arms Act in Crimes No.
    37 and 38 of 2001 and once the Trial Court
    had recorded an acquittal even for the offence
    punishable under Section 4 read with Section
    25 of the Arms Act in MCOCA Crimes No. 1
    and 2 of 2002 all that remained incriminating
    was the filing of charge sheets against the
    respondents in the past and taking of
    cognizance by the competent court over a
    period of ten years prior to the enforcement
    of the MCOCA. The filing of charge sheets
    or taking of the cognisance in the same did
    not, declared the High Court, by itself
    constitute an offence punishable under
    Section 3 of the MCOCA. That is because the
    involvement of respondents in previous
    offences was just about one requirement, but
    by no means the only requirement, which the
    prosecution has to satisfy to secure a
    conviction under MCOCA. What was

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    equally, if not more important, was the
    commission of an offence by the respondents
    that would constitute “continuing unlawful
    activity”. So long as that requirement failed,
    as was the position in the instant case, there
    was no question of convicting the
    respondents under Section 3 of the MCOCA.
    That reasoning does not, in our opinion,
    suffer from any infirmity.

    10. The very fact that more than one charge
    sheet had been filed against the respondents,
    alleging offences punishable with more than
    three years’ imprisonment, is not enough. As
    rightly pointed out by the High Court,
    commission of offences before the enactment
    of MCOCA does not constitute an offence
    under MCOCA. Registration of cases, filing
    of charge sheets and taking of cognisance by
    the competent court in relation to the offence
    alleged to have been committed by the
    respondents in the past is but one of the
    requirements for invocation of Section 3 of
    the MCOCA. Continuation of unlawful
    activities is the second and equally important
    requirement that ought to be satisfied. Only if
    an organised crime is committed by the
    accused after the promulgation of MCOCA,
    he may, seen in the light of the previous
    charge sheets and the cognisance taken by the
    competent court, be said to have committed
    an offence under Section 3 of the Act.

    11. In the case at hand, the offences which
    the respondents are alleged to have
    committed after the promulgation of
    MCOCA were not proved against them. The
    acquittal of the respondents in Crimes Nos.
    37 and 38 of 2001 signified that they were
    not involved in the commission of the
    offences with which they were charged. Not
    only were the respondents were acquitted of
    the charge under the Arms Act, but they were
    also acquitted in Crimes Case Nos. 1 and 2 of

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    15 CRR-3881-2025
    2002. No appeal against that acquittal had
    been filed by the State. This implied that the
    prosecution had failed to prove the second
    ingredient required for completion of an
    offence under MCOCA. The High Court was,
    therefore, right in holding that Section 3 of
    the MCOCA could not be invoked only on
    the basis of the previous charge sheets for
    Section 3 would come into play only if the
    respondents were proved to have committed
    an offence for gain or any pecuniary benefit
    or undue economic or other advantage after
    the promulgation of MCOCA. Such being the
    case, the High Court was, in our opinion,
    justified in allowing the appeal and setting
    aside the order passed by the Trial Court”.

    14. Subsequently, the Honourable Supreme Court in State of
    Gujarat v. Sandip Omprakash Gupta
    [2022 SCC OnLine SC
    1727], while interpreting the analogous provisions of the Gujarat
    Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act, 2015, clarified the
    ratio in Shivaji alias Shivaji Ramaji Sonawane (supra) by
    observing thus:

    “52. It is a sound rule of construction that the
    substantive law should be construed strictly so as to
    give effect and protection to the substantive rights
    unless the statute otherwise intends. Strict construction
    is one that limits the application of the statute by the
    words used. According to Sutherland, ‘strict
    construction refuses to extend the import of words used
    in a statute so as to embrace cases or acts which the
    words do not clearly describe’.

    53. The rule as stated by Mahajan C.J. in Tolaram
    Relumal v. State of Bombay
    , (1954) 1 SCC 961: AIR
    1954 SC 496, is that “if two possible and reasonable
    constructions can be put upon a penal provision, the
    court must lean towards that construction which
    exempts the subject from penalty rather than the one
    which imposes a penalty. It is not competent to the court
    to stretch the meaning of an expression used by the
    legislature in order to carry out the intention of the
    legislature.”
    In State of Jharkhand v. Ambay Cements,

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    (2005) 1 SCC 368, this Court held that it is a settled rule
    of interpretation that where a statute is penal in
    character, it must be strictly construed and followed.

    The basic rule of strict construction of a penal statute is
    that a person cannot be penalised without a clear
    reading of the law. Presumptions or assumptions have
    no role in the interpretation of penal statutes.

    They are to be construed strictly in accordance with the
    provisions of law. Nothing can be implied. In such
    cases, the courts are not so much concerned with what
    might possibly have been intended. Instead, they are
    concerned with what has actually been said.

    54. We are of the view and the same would be in tune
    with the dictum as laid in Shiva alias Shivaji Ramaji
    Sonawane (supra) that there would have to be some act
    or omission which amounts to organised crime after the
    2015 Act came into force i.e., 01.12.2019 in respect of
    which, the 2026:HHC:3356 accused is sought to be
    tried for the first time in the special court.

    55. We are in agreement with the view taken by the
    High Court of Judicature at Bombay in the case of
    Jaisingh (supra) that neither the definition of the term
    ‘organised crime’ nor of the term ‘continuing unlawful
    activity’ nor any other provision therein declares any
    activity performed prior to the enactment of the
    MCOCA to be an offence under the 1999 Act nor the
    provision relating to punishment relates to any offence
    prior to the date of enforcement of the 1999 Act, i.e.,
    24.02.1999. However, by referring to the expression
    ‘preceding period of ten years’ in Section 2(1) (d), which
    is a definition clause of the term ‘continuing unlawful
    activity’ inference is sought to be drawn that in fact, it
    takes into its ambit the acts done prior to the
    enforcement of the 1999 Act as being an offence under
    the 1999 Act. The same analogy will apply to the 2015
    Act.

    56. There is a vast difference between the act or
    activity, which is being termed or called an offence
    under a statute and such act or activity being taken into
    consideration as one of the requisites for taking action

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    NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:12370

    17 CRR-3881-2025
    under the statute. For the purpose of organised crime,
    there has to be a continuing unlawful activity. There
    cannot be continuing unlawful activity unless at least
    two charge sheets are found to have been lodged in
    relation to the offence punishable with three years’
    imprisonment during the period of ten years.
    Indisputably, the period of ten years may relate to the
    period prior to 01.12.2019 or thereafter. In other words,
    it provides that the activities, which were offences
    under the law in force at the relevant time and in respect
    of which two charge sheets have been filed and the
    Court has taken cognisance thereof, during the period of
    the preceding ten years, then it will be considered as
    continuing unlawful activity on 01.12.2019 or
    thereafter. It nowhere by itself declares any activity to
    be an offence under the said 2015 Act prior to
    01.12.2019. It also does not convert any activity done
    prior to 01.12.2019 to be an offence under the said 2015
    Act. It merely considers two charge sheets in relation to
    the acts which were already declared as offences under
    the law in force to be one of the requisites for the
    purpose of identifying continuing unlawful activity
    and/or for the purpose of an action under the said 2015
    Act.

    57. If the decision of the coordinate Bench of this
    Court in the case of Shiva alias Shivaji Ramaji
    Sonawane (supra) is looked into closely along with
    other provisions of the Act, the same would indicate
    that the offence of ‘organised crime’ could be said to
    have been constituted by at least one instance of
    continuation, apart from continuing unlawful activity
    evidenced by more than one chargesheets in the
    preceding ten years. We say so, keeping in mind the
    following:

    (a) If ‘organised crime’ was synonymous with
    ‘continuing unlawful activity’, two separate
    definitions were not necessary.

    (b) The definitions themselves indicate that
    the ingredients of the use of violence in such
    activity with the objective of gaining
    pecuniary benefit are not included in the

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    Signed by: AMIT KUMAR
    Signing time: 30-04-2026
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    NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:12370

    18 CRR-3881-2025
    definition of ‘continuing unlawful activity’,
    but find place only in the definition of
    ‘organised crime’.

    (c) What is made punishable under Section 3
    is ‘organised crime’ and not ‘continuing
    unlawful activity’.

    (d) If ‘organised crime’ were to refer to only
    more than one chargesheets filed, the
    classification of crime in Section 3(1)(i) and
    3(1) (ii) resply on the basis of consequence
    of resulting in death or otherwise would have
    been phrased differently, namely, by
    providing that ‘if any one of such offence has
    resulted in the death’, since continuing
    unlawful activity requires more than one
    offence. Reference to ‘such offence’ in
    Section 3(1) implies a specific act or
    omission.

    (e) As held by this Court in State of
    Maharashtra v. Bharat Shanti Lal Shah

    (supra) continuing unlawful activity
    evidenced by more than one chargesheets is
    one of the ingredients of the offence of
    organised crime and the purpose thereof is to
    see the antecedents and not to convict,
    without proof of other facts which constitute
    the ingredients of Section 2(1)(e) and Section
    3
    , which respectively define commission of
    offence of organised crime and prescribe
    punishment.

    (f) There would have to be some act or
    omission which amounts to organised crime
    after the Act came into force, in respect of
    which the accused is sought to be tried for the
    first time, in the Special Court (i.e. has not
    been or is not being tried elsewhere).

    (g) However, we need to clarify something
    important. Shiva alias Shivaji Ramaji
    Sonawane (supra) dealt with the situation

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    Signed by: AMIT KUMAR
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    NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:12370

    19 CRR-3881-2025
    where a person commits no unlawful activity
    after the invocation of the MCOCA. In such
    circumstances, the person cannot be arrested
    under the said Act on account of the offences
    committed by him before the coming into
    force of the said Act, even if he is found
    guilty of the same. However, if the person
    continues with the unlawful activities and is
    arrested, after the promulgation of the said
    Act, then such a person can be tried for the
    offence under the said Act. If a person ceases
    to indulge in any unlawful act after the said
    Act, then he is absolved of the prosecution
    under the said Act. But, if he continues with
    the unlawful activity, it cannot be said that
    the State has to wait till he commits two acts
    of which cognizance is taken by the Court
    after coming into force. The same principle
    would apply, even in the case of the 2015
    Act, with which we are concerned.

    58. In the overall view of the matter, we are convinced
    that the dictum as laid by this Court in Shiva alias
    Shivaji Ramaji Sonawane(supra) does not require any
    relook. The dictum in Shiva alias Shivaji Ramaji
    Sonawane (supra) is the correct exposition of law”

    16. Section 111 (1) of the BNS in respect of organised crime is, in
    essence, analogous to the provisions of the Maharashtra Control
    of Organised Control Act and the Gujarat Control of Terrorism
    and Organised Crime Act
    . The legal principles laid down by the
    Honourable Supreme Court in its interpretation of organised crime
    as defined by the above two state legislations are applicable on all
    fours to Section 111 (1) of the BNS. Thus, it is not necessary to
    have a further interpretation of the above analogous provision.

    17. In view of the above discussion, to attract an offence under
    Section 111 (1) of the BNS it is imperative that a group of two or
    more persons indulge in any continuing unlawful activity
    prohibited by law, which is a cognizable offence punishable with
    imprisonment of three years or more, undertaken by any person,
    either singly or jointly, as a member of an organised crime
    syndicate or on behalf of such syndicate in respect of which more
    than one charge-sheet has to be filed before a competent Court

    Signature Not Verified
    Signed by: AMIT KUMAR
    Signing time: 30-04-2026
    19:05:05
    NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:12370

    20 CRR-3881-2025
    within the preceding period of ten years and that Court has taken
    cognizance of such an offence.”

    13. Now, come to the facts of this case, in the final report submitted
    under Setion 193 of BNSS, 2023, the applicability of Section 111 of BNS,
    2023 has been justified on the ground as mentioned below:-

    सदर अपराध मे कई अ य आरोपीय के नाम सामने आ रहे है एवं आवेदक क
    रािश हड़पने के िलए कमिशयल बक खातो का भी उपयोग कया जाक यह एक
    संग ठत सायबर अपराध है । उ अपराध म पूव मे जन आरो पयो को िगर तार
    कया जा चुका है उनक िगर तार से 90 दवस क अविध शी ह पूण होने जा
    रह है एवं अपराध म अभी अ य कोई आरोपीयो का िगर तार कया जाना शेष है
    अत: िगर तारशुदा उपरो आरोपीगणो के व धारा 193 (9) बीएनएसएस मे
    अनुसं धान जार रखते हु ये चालान कता करने क अनुमित ीमान सहायक पुिलस
    आयु महोदय अपराध शाखा इं दौर, मान अित. पुिलस उपायु महोदय अपराध
    शाखा इं दौर , ीमान पुिलस उपायु महोदय अपराध शाखा इं दौर से ा क गई
    एवं करण क ववेचना म अिधक समय लगने क संभावना होने से माननीय
    यायालय को ववेचना हे तु अित र समय दान करने हे तु ितवेदन े षत कया
    गया है । अत: करण म अिभयु गण वनय यादव, राहु ल यादव, ह रालाल अह र
    के व धारा 193(9) बीएनएसएस के तहत ववेचना जार रखते हु ये चालान
    मांक 04/2025 दनांक 16/01/2025 का कता कया जाकर वा ते यायाथ
    आरोपप माननीय यायालय के सम सादर े षत है

    14. Vide order dated 01.12.2025, the State was directed to address the
    Court that “how the explanation under Section 111(1) of BNS, 2023, applies
    in this case and thereafter vide order dated 12.01.2026, a notice was also
    issued to the victim to address this Court. The victim was provided with legal
    assistance. There was no substantial inputs on behalf of the victim regarding
    the applicability of Section 111 of BNS, 2023 in this case and the State has
    justified the applicability of Section 111 of BNS, 2023 with the explanation
    as below:-

    करण सदर क ववेचना के दौरान एसबीआई बक के खाता .43068664307 ( SBIN003051) के ांजे शन
    के आईप ए े स क जानकार ा क गई जसमे पाया गया क उ एसबीआई बक को मो.नं. 6262239088,
    6378264078, 7024327935, 9079267010, 6376216620 एवं अ य वीपीएन ए े स के ारा इं टरनेट के
    मा यम से लािगन करना पाया गया जसक ववेचना करते मो.नं. 6232239088 करण म िगर तारशुदा
    आरोप वनय यादव एवं मो.नं. 6378263408 करण म िगर तारशुदा आरोपी राहु ल यादव का पाया गया ,
    अ य मो.नं. 7024327935, 9079267010, 6376216620 एवं बीपीएन ए े स के लािगनकता धारको क
    ववेचना म आए त यो के अनुसार तलाशी के हरसंभव यास कए जा रहे है ।

    उ ॉड म उपयोग बक खाते/मोबाईल नंबर/िलंक के खलाफ एनसीआरपी पोटल के मा यम से चेक

    Signature Not Verified
    Signed by: AMIT KUMAR
    Signing time: 30-04-2026
    19:05:05
    NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:12370

    21 CRR-3881-2025
    करने पर।। रा यो म 28 िशकायत दज होना पाया गया है , जनके आवेदको एंव संबंिधत पुिलस अिधकार से
    चचा करते 01. थाना डायघर जला ठाणे महारा म अप, ं .1588/24 धारा 318(4) बीएनएस , धारा 66(सी) ,
    धारा 66(ड ) आई.ट . ए ट 2000 , 02 . थाना सायबराबाद जला सायबराबाद रा य तेलगांना मे अपराध ं
    4896/24 धारा 318 (4) बीएनएस, धारा 66 (ड ) आई.ट . ए ट 2000-2008 , 03, थाना ट एससीएसबी जला
    सायबर ाइम पुिलस टे शन रा य तेलगांना म अपराध ं .26/24 धारा 318(4), 319, 338 बीएनएस, धारा 66
    (ड ) आई.ट .ए ट 2008, 04, थाना सायबर ाईम पुिलस टे शन जालघर िसट जला जालंधर रा य पंजाब मे
    अपराध ं .3/24 धारा 420 भाद व 1860, धारा 66(ड ) आई.ट . ए ट 2008 का पंजीब होकर ववेचना मे है ।

    अलग-अलग रा य से एनसीआरपी पोटल पर दज 28 िशकायत िन निल खत है –

    . एनसीआरपी पोटल पर िशकायत आवेदक का नाम/िनवासी ॉड रािश
    .

    1. 20207240028782 य नी रे ड िनवासी -अ दे श

    2. 21307240029324 द प कुमार िनवासी -ह रयाणा 2510428/-

    3. 21607240035585 ितलकराज िनवासी-कनाटका 213000/-

    4. 21907240071018 फरहान खान िनवासी -महारा 18,50,000/-

    5. 22108240019241 काश कुमार िनवास-म य दे श 2600000/-

    6. 22507240011099 सलोनी िनवासी-पंजाब 7,20,0000/-

    7. 22507240011821 आशीष िनवासी-पंजाब 550100/-

    8. 2290240055690 क याण कुमार िनवासी -तिमलनाडू 181727/-

    9. 22909240068450 कृ णकुमार िनवासी-तिमलनाडू 26,00,000/-

    10. 23108240086000 पवन कुमार िनवासी-यूपी

    11. 23108240086124 योित िनवासी-यूपी 10,00,000/-

    12. 23707240036466 ीहर िनवासी-तेलंगाना

    13. 30209240021212 के य पा िनवासी-अ दे श 95,00,000/-

    14. 30209240021232 के य पा िनवासी-अ दे श

    15. 30608240002786 मनद प कौर िनवासी-चंड गड

    16. 31507240017176 मोह मद सफ िनवासी -केरल

    17. 3160724005746 ीधर बाबू िनवासी-कनाटका 3800000/-

    18. 31608240057437 नीरमोह मद िनवासी-कनाटका 35,000/-

    19. 31608240058575 रमेश बाबू िनवासी-कनाटका 7,00,000/-

    20. 31608240058694 वजयल मी िनवासी -कनाटका 8,75,50,000/-

    21. 31608240060533 शसीकला िनवासी-कनाटका

    22. 31907240107965 मायरा महे श िनवासी -महारा

    23. 32708240040629 धीरज पुरो हत िनवासी-राज थान 50,000/-

    24. 32708240040649 धीरज िनवासी-राज थान 50,000/-

    25. 32708240040659 धीरज िनवासी-राज थान 50,000/-

    26. 33708240040753 संशाक िनवासी-तेलगाना

    27. 33708240042386 ी काश िनवासी-तेलगाना

    28. 33708240042706 के धानूजय िनवासी-तेलगाना 8,41,969/-

    Signature Not Verified
    Signed by: AMIT KUMAR
    Signing time: 30-04-2026
    19:05:05

    NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:12370

    22 CRR-3881-2025
    सायबर ॉड मे उपयोग टे ट बक आफ इं डया मे खाता . 43068664307 मे 6,54,58,77/- पये (छ:

    करोड चोपन लाख अ ठावन हजार स पये), Axis Bank के खाता ं . 923020004041317 म
    1,26,69,688/- पये (एक करोड छ बीस लाख छ: सौ अ यासी पये) , Indusind Bank के खाता ं .
    201029732800 म 40,61,1092/- (चालीस लाख इ सट हजार बान वे पये) पय क ॉड रािश जमा
    होना पायी गयी है ।

    15. The State has also scrutinized the applicability of Section 111 (4)
    of BNS, 2023 on the present revision petitioner and submitted the same as
    under:-

    1. यह है क आरोपी ह रालाल एवं अ य ारा इ वे टमट पर अ छा ा फट दलाने के नाम पर
    आनलाईन एक िलंक https://apps.apple.com/hk/app/ubs/id6504154109 भेजकर USB
    िस यो रट नामकएक ए लीकेशन डाउनलोड करवाकर फ रयाद को हा सअप नंबर
    9558181539, 8309980909, 7358270952, 9558181539, 9791510234, 7587522318 के
    धारको के ारा लािगन आईड , पासवड बनाकर संगठ त होकर विभ न ॉड बक खात म कुल
    26,55,000/- पये जमा करवाकर धोखाधड का रत क गयी है ।

    2. यह है क आरोपी हरालाल एवं अ य ारा ॉड मे उपयोग बक खाते/मोबाईल नंबर/िलंक के
    खलाफ एनसीआरसी पोटल के मा यम से चेक करने पर 11 रा यो म 28 िशकायत दज होना
    पाया गया है , जनके आवेदको एंव संबिधत पुिलस अिधकार से चचा करते

    0 1 . थाना डायघर जला ठाणे महारा मे अप , ं . 1588/24 धारा 318 (4)
    बीएनएस, धारा 66 (सी), धारा 66 (ड ) आई.ट .ए ट 2000,

    02. थाना सायबराबाद जला सायबराबाद रा य तेलगांना मे अपराध . 4896/24
    धारा धारा 318(4) बीएनएस, धारा 66 (ड ) आई.ट . ए ट 2000-2008,

    03. थाना ट एससीएसबी जला सायबर ाईम पुिलस टे शन रा य तेलगांना मे
    अपराध ं . 26/24 धारा धारा 3,18(4), 319, 338 बीएनएस , धारा 66 (ड )
    आई.ट . ए ट 2008,

    04. थाना सायबर ाईम पुिलस टे शन जालघर िसट जला जालंधर रा य पंजाब
    मे अपराध ं . 03/24 धारा 420 भाद व 1860, धारा 66 (ड ) आई.ट . ए ट
    2008 का पंजीब द कया गया है ।

    3 . यह है क ॉड म उपयोग टे ट बक आफ इं डया म खाता . 43068664307 म
    6,54,58,77/- पये (छः करोड चोपन लाख अ टावन हजार स र पये) Axis Bank के खाता
    . 923020004041317 मे 1,26,69,688/- पये (एक करोड छ बीस लाख छः सौ अ यासी
    पये), Indusind Bank के खाता ं . 201029732800 म 40,61,092/- (चालीस लाख इ सट
    हजार बान वे पये) पये लोगो के साथ धोखाधड का रत कर ॉड रािश जमा होना पायी गयी
    है ।

    16. The reasons mentioned by prosecution referred in para nos.13 14
    and 15 of this order for invoking Section 111(4) of BNS, 2023, at the most

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    Signing time: 30-04-2026
    19:05:05
    NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:12370

    23 CRR-3881-2025
    reflects that the complaints or offence registered are under investigation. they
    does not satisfy the standard of Sub-para no.17 of Para no.12 of this order.
    Accordingly, the learned trial Court has committed error in framing charges
    against the revision petitioner under section 111(4) of BNS, 2023. If the
    prosecution collects the material sufficient to justify invocation of Section
    111 of BNS, 2023 against the revision petitioner then the same may be
    submitted before the Court through further investigation and filing
    supplementary final report and may prayed for additional charge. At present,
    the charges under Section 111(4) of BNS, 2023 against the revision
    petitioner is not sustainable.

    17. The learned trial Court may consider the applicability of charges
    under Section 112 of BNS, 2023 that provide for petty organized crime and
    the pre-conditions like section 111 of BNS, 2023 does not apply.

    18. In view of the aforesaid, this revision petition is partly allowed to
    the extent that charges under Section 111(4) of BNS, 2023 framed against
    the present revision petitioner are set aside and the learned trial Court is
    directed to consider the applicability of charges under Section 112 of BNS,
    2023 after giving opportunity of hearing to both the parties and may pass a
    reasoned order on its own merits of the record without being influenced with
    the finding of this Court.

    19. Accordingly, the revision petition stands partly allowed and
    disposed off.

    20. A copy of this order be sent to the learned trial Court concerned

    Signature Not Verified
    Signed by: AMIT KUMAR
    Signing time: 30-04-2026
    19:05:05
    NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:12370

    24 CRR-3881-2025

    for information and necessary action.

    Certified copy, as per rules.

    (GAJENDRA SINGH)
    JUDGE
    amit

    Signature Not Verified
    Signed by: AMIT KUMAR
    Signing time: 30-04-2026
    19:05:05



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