Anurag Gupta & Anr vs The State Of West Bengal & Anr on 24 July, 2026

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    Calcutta High Court (Appellete Side)

    Anurag Gupta & Anr vs The State Of West Bengal & Anr on 24 July, 2026

                                                                           2026:CHC-AS:1110
    
    
    
    
                     IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
                      Criminal Revisional Jurisdiction
                                  Appellate Side
    Present:
    
    The Hon'ble Justice Shampa Dutt (Paul)
    
                                CRR 3193 of 2023
                                Anurag Gupta & Anr.
                                        Vs.
                          The State of West Bengal & Anr.
    
    For the Petitioners              : Mr. Moyukh Mukherjee,
                                      Ms. Sagnika Banerjee,
                                      Ms. Sarmistha Basak.
    
    For the O.P. 2                   : Mr. Shataroop Purkayasta,
                                       Mr. Parikshit Basu,
                                       Mr. Srinjan Ghosh,
                                       Ms. Bidisha Manna,
                                       Ms. Rajorna Mazumder.
    
    For the State                    : Mr. Sagar Saha,
                                       Mr. Sandeep Prasad Shaw.
    
    Judgment reserved on             : 15.07.2026
    
    Judgment delivered on            : 24.07.2026
    
    SHAMPA DUTT (PAUL), J. :
    

    1. The revisional application has been preferred praying for

    quashing of proceedings in connection with G.R. No.

    SPONSORED

    09/2021 arising out of Bidhannagar (South) P. S. Case No. 1

    of 2021 dated January 2, 2021 under Sections 420/406/34

    of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 pending before the Learned

    Court of the Additional Chief Judicial Bidhannagar,

    Magistrate, 24 Parganas (North).

    Page 2 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    2. The petitioner’s case is that the dispute/case made out in the

    FIR arises out of a breach of an alleged agreement for sale

    for purchase of a flat wherein the opposite party no. 2

    being the de facto complainant advanced a sum of money

    to the developer MKHS Realty LLP for purchasing a flat.

    However, the proposed flat was not constructed and handed

    over in time as per the allegation of the de facto complainant

    within the time limit mentioned in the agreement in spite of

    receiving major part of the consideration as alleged.

    3. Even though the petitioners who were the Director’s of

    LGW Ltd. had no role to play in such construction of flat

    and handing over the have been same to de facto

    complainant, the petitioners have been made as accused

    in the FIR and Chargesheet only for the sake of harassment

    and to extort money.

    4. It is stated that this is purely a civil dispute arising out of the

    breach of a contract in relation to non handing over of flat in

    spite of receiving the money by the developer in which the

    petitioners have no role to play. Such civil dispute arising out

    of a mere breach of an agreement for sale has been sought to

    be given a criminal colour by lodging FIR by the de facto

    complainant. In fact, the charge sheet also does not disclose

    any criminal offence, rather the dispute is entirely civil in
    Page 3 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    nature and as such, the FIR as well the charge sheet filed

    subsequently is an abuse of process of law and thus the

    charge sheet as well as the FIR should be quashed with

    immediate effect by exercising the powers under Section

    482/401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

    5. The petitioners are Director’s of LGW Ltd. involved in

    manufacturing of garments and jewellery. The company also

    holds substantial portion of land in various part of Kolkata

    as well as around Rajarhat area. Since LGW Ltd. has

    substantial portion of land in various part of Kolkata, in

    respect of one of such land in Rajarhat, the company

    through its Director’s being the petitioners herein

    entered into six development agreements, all dated 5th

    December, 2014 in respect of six plots of land with a

    developer by the name of MKHS Realty LLP, which was

    represented by its partners Mounthill Realty Pvt. Ltd.

    and Sankalp Height pvt. Ltd. for development of a project

    in the said land by the name of “The Pyramid” consisting

    of 17 towers having G+10 storied. All the six development

    agreements contains similar terms and conditions. Along with

    the six development agreements six Powers of Attorney were

    also executed by the company through its Directors in favour

    of MKHS Realty LLP for construction of the said project. As
    Page 4 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    will be evident from the clauses contained in the said powers

    of attorney, the entire responsibility of construction of the

    building, approval of building plan and permission from all

    necessary authorities for construction of the buildings and

    obtaining necessary permissions were solely responsible

    upon the MKHS Realty LLP, which was represented by its

    partners.

    6. The company being LGW Ltd. is the land owner

    represented the by its Director’s the petitioners herein

    and the petitioners have no role to play for approval of

    sanction plan or for construction of any part of the building

    or for timely construction of the project or handing over the

    flats constructed in the building to any prospective

    purchaser.

    7. Subsequent to the Development Agreements and Powers of

    Attorney, six Allocation Agreements were also entered into on

    5th December, 2014. As will be evident from the Allocation

    Agreements, the proposed flat in respect of which the FIR has

    been lodged by the de facto complainant being Flat No. J/2

    in tower/Block No. 16 was solely falling within the

    Developer’s allocation.

    8. The written complaint on the basis of which the Police Case

    was started is dated 02.01.2020 wherein the complainant in
    Page 5 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    the written complaint has lodged the complaint against the

    LGW Limited and its Directors and M/s. MKHS Realty LLP

    and its Directors.

    9. It appears from the said written complaint that it has been

    categorically stated by the complainant as follows:-

    “In the year 2015 an agreement for sale was executed

    by and between me along with my wife Mrs. Venu

    Vidastaas purchaser, MKHS Realty LLP as developer

    and LGW Limited as owner.”

    10. The complainant has stated in the written complaint that the

    petitioner/company herein is the owner of the land and not

    the developer and the other petitioners are its directors.

    11. It further appears from the written complaint that part of the

    construction was made but not within the estimated period.

    The complainant has further stated that the developers did

    not have the complete sanction plan.

    12. In course of hearing, written notes was filed by the

    petitioners along with judgments relied upon.

    13. A supplementary affidavit has been filed. The State has

    placed a Memo of Evidence along with the case diary in the

    present case.

    14. It appears from the said Memo of Evidence that the articles

    seized includes the original agreement between the
    Page 6 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    petitioners herein and the company MKHS Realty LLP. The

    money receipts seized show that all the receipts were

    issued by the MKHS Realty LLP, who is the developer in

    the present case.

    15. There are no money receipts seized, to show that any amount

    was received by the petitioner/company herein or its

    Directors.

    16. The Investigating Agency has seized the agreements between

    the land owner, which is the petitioner company and its

    Directors and the developers. The said fact prima facie goes

    to show that the petitioners herein, themselves also appear to

    be prima facie victims in the present case.

    17. The following judgments have been relied upon by the

    petitioner:-

    (i) Lalita Kumari Versus Government of Uttar Pradesh

    & Ors. (2014) 2 SCC 1;

    (ii) S.W. Palanitkar Versus State of Bihar (2002) 1 SCC

    241;

    (iii) Uma Shankar Gopalika Versus State of Bihar

    (2005) 10 SCC 336;

    
        (iv)    Sarabjit Kaur Versus State of Punjab (2023) 5 SCC
    
                330
                                 Page 7                              2026:CHC-AS:1110
    
    
    
    
        (v)     State of Kerala Versus A. Parneed Pillai & Anr.
    
                (1972) 3 SCC 661;
    
        (vi)    Dalip Kaur & Ors. Versus Jaganar Singh (2009) 14
    
                SCC 696;
    
    

    (vii) Lalit Chaturvedi & Ors. Versus State of Uttar

    Pradesh & Anr. 2024 SCC Online SC 171;

    18. Affidavit-in-opposition has been filed by the opposite party

    no. 2, the complainant herein who has stated as follows:-

    (a) The Petitioner no. 1 and 2 are the Directors of LGW
    Limited which is a body corporate registered under the
    Companies Act, 1956 and is the Owner of six plots of
    landslying and situated at L.R. Khatian No. 4835 at
    Mouza Gopalpur, J.L. No. 02, being Holding No.
    RGM/5/03, BL1, Narayanpur, under Ward No. 5 of
    Rajarhat Gopalpur Municipality (Now Bidhannagar
    Municipal Corporation) Police Station Airport, District
    North 24 Parganas.

    (b) M/s MKHS Realty LLP Limited Liability Partnership Firm,
    incorporated under the Limited Liability Partnership Act,
    2008
    , having its office at Narayanpur, P.O. Rajarhat,
    Gopalpur, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal 700136, P.S
    Airport, being a Real Estate Developer, entered into
    six development agreements dated 5th December
    2014 with the LGW Limited (being the owner), for
    developing and/or constructing a housing complex
    over the ‘said land’, on an advance payment of Rs 3.5
    Crore in each development agreements (totalling to Rs 21
    Crores in the said 6 numbers of development agreement)
    to the said LGW Limited and on further terms and
    conditions as contained therein.

    (c) The said LGW Limited (the owners) had also entered into
    6(six) numbers of Joint-Development Power of Attorney
    with MKHS Realty LLP in respect to the 6(six) plots of
    lands as mentioned above.

    Page 8 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    (d) The said LGW Limited (the owners) and MKHS Realty
    LLP (the developers) in pursuance to the said 6(six)
    numbers of development agreement had entered into
    6(six) numbers of “owners allocation” and “developers
    allocation” supplementary agreement, wherein the
    owners and the developers had distributed and/or
    allocated amongst themselves flats in the said project
    named, “The Pyramid” having G+10 storied building in 17
    Towers/Block.”

    19. It appears from the further statements made by the opposite

    party no. 2 in the affidavit-in-opposition from paragraph 4(e)

    onwards that the complainant in the present case. He has

    developed his case from as stated in the initial written

    complaint. The opposite party no. 2 has very cleverly

    concealed his affidavit-in-opposition that the agreement for

    sale entered into by the opposite party no. 2 in respect of the

    flat sought to be purchased was with MKHS Realty LLP.

    20. It appears that the grievance of the complainant was

    regarding delay in making constructions and handing over

    the property in due time as per agreement. The further

    grievance was that there was no sanction plan for above five

    stories.

    21. It is expected that a prudent person prior to entering into an

    agreement shall be prima facie satisfied with the documents

    required for such investment. A sanction plan is a document

    which is available to a developer at the initial stage and is
    Page 9 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    available for inspection, which in this case it appears that the

    complainant was not diligent enough to look into.

    22. The opposite party no. 2 has further gone into the allegation

    about the amount received by the petitioner as owners of the

    land, from MKHS Realty LLP (Developers) which actually does

    not concern the opposite party no. 2, who has an

    agreement only with MKHS Realty LLP, the developers.

    23. The Supreme Court in Rikhab Birani & Anr. Vs State of

    Uttar Pradesh & Anr., 2025 SCC OnLine SC 823, decided

    on 16.04.2025, held:-

    “15. In Lalit Chaturvedi v. State of Uttar Pradesh,
    this Court quoted an earlier decision
    in Mohammed Ibrahim v. State of Bihar, wherein,
    referring to Section 420 of the IPC, it was observed
    that the offence under the said Section requires
    the following ingredients to be satisfied:

    “18. Let us now examine whether the ingredients
    of an offence of cheating are made out. The
    essential ingredients of the offence of “cheating”

    are as follows:

    (i) deception of a person either by making a false
    or misleading representation or by dishonest
    concealment or by any other act or omission;

    (ii) fraudulent or dishonest inducement of that
    person to either deliver any property or to consent
    to the retention thereof by any person or to
    intentionally induce that person so deceived to do
    or omit to do anything which he would not do or
    omit if he were not so deceived; and

    (iii) such act or omission causing or is likely to
    cause damage or harm to that person in body,
    mind, reputation or property.”

    Page 10 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    16. Reference was also made to the decision
    in V.Y. Jose v. State of Gujarat and it was
    observed:

    “7. Similar elucidation by this Court in “V.Y.
    Jose v. State of Gujarat
    “, explicitly states that a
    contractual dispute or breach of contract per
    se should not lead to initiation of a criminal
    proceeding. The ingredient of „cheating‟, as
    defined under Section 415 of the IPC, is existence
    of a fraudulent or dishonest intention of making
    initial promise or representation thereof, from the
    very beginning of the formation of contract.
    Further, in the absence of the averments made in
    the complaint petition wherefrom the ingredients
    of the offence can be found out, the High Court
    should not hesitate to exercise its jurisdiction
    under Section 482 of the Cr. P.C. Section 482 of
    the Cr. P.C. saves the inherent power of the High
    Court, as it serves a salutary purpose viz. a
    person should not undergo harassment of
    litigation for a number of years, when no criminal
    offence is made out. It is one thing to say that a
    case has been made out for trial and criminal
    proceedings should not be quashed, but another
    thing to say that a person must undergo a criminal
    trial despite the fact that no offence has been
    made out in the complaint.
    This Court in V.Y.
    Jose
    (supra) placed reliance on several earlier
    decisions in “Hira Lal Hari Lal Bhagwati v. CBI“,
    Indian Oil Corporation v. NEPC India Ltd.“, “Vir
    Prakash Sharma v. Anil Kumar Agarwal
    ” and “All
    Cargo Movers (I) (P) Ltd. v. Dhanesh Badarmal
    Jain
    “.”

    17. This Court, in Delhi Race Club (1940)
    Limited v. State of Uttar Pradesh
    , highlighted the
    fine distinction between the offences of criminal
    breach of trust and cheating, observing that the
    two are antithetical in nature and cannot coexist
    simultaneously. Police officers and courts must
    carefully apply their minds to determine whether
    the allegations genuinely constitute the specific
    offence alleged.

    18. In Kunti v. State of Uttar Pradesh, this Court
    referred to Sarabjit Kaur v. State of
    Punjab
    wherein it was observed that a breach of
    Page 11 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    contract does not give rise to criminal prosecution
    for cheating unless fraudulent or dishonest
    intention is shown right at the beginning of the
    transaction. Merely on the allegation of failure to
    keep a promise will not be enough to initiate
    criminal proceedings. Thus, the dishonest
    intention on the part of the party who is alleged to
    have committed the offence of cheating should be
    established at the time of entering into the
    transaction with the complainant, otherwise the
    offence of cheating is not established or made out.

    19. It is the duty and obligation of the court to
    exercise a great deal of caution in issuing process,
    particularly when the matter is essentially of civil
    nature. The prevalent impression that civil
    remedies, being time-consuming, do not
    adequately protect the interests of creditors or
    lenders should be discouraged and rejected as
    criminal procedure cannot be used to apply
    pressure. Failure to do so results in the
    breakdown of the rule of law and amounts to
    misuse and abuse of the legal process.

    20. In yet another case, again arising from
    criminal proceedings initiated in the State of Uttar
    Pradesh, this Court was constrained to note
    recurring cases being encountered wherein parties
    repeatedly attempted to invoke the jurisdiction of
    criminal courts by filing vexatious complaints,
    camouflaging allegations that are ex
    facie outrageous or are pure civil claims. These
    attempts must not be entertained and should be
    dismissed at the threshold. Reference was made
    to a judgment of this Court in Thermax
    Limited v. K.M. Johny
    , which held that courts
    should be watchful of the difference between civil
    and criminal wrongs, though there can be
    situations where the allegation may constitute
    both civil and criminal wrongs. Further, there has
    to be a conscious application of mind on these
    aspects by the Magistrate, as a summoning order
    has grave consequences of setting criminal
    proceedings in motion. Though the Magistrate is
    not required to record detailed reasons, there
    should be adequate evidence on record to set
    criminal proceedings into motion. The Magistrate
    Page 12 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    should carefully scrutinize the evidence on record
    and may even put questions to the
    complainant/investigating officer etc. to elicit
    answers to find out the truth about the
    allegations. The summoning order has to be
    passed when the complaint or chargesheet
    discloses an offence and when there is material
    that supports and constitutes essential
    ingredients of the offence. The summoning order
    should not be passed lightly or as a matter of
    course.

    21. Lastly, we would refer to another detailed
    judgment of this Court in Sharif Ahmed v. State of
    Uttar Pradesh
    , which draws out the ingredients
    required to establish an offence under
    Sections 406, 415, 420, 503 and 506 of the IPC in
    the following terms:

    “36. An offence under Section 406 of
    the IPC requires entrustment, which carries the
    implication that a person handing over any
    property or on whose behalf the property is
    handed over, continues to be the owner of the said
    property. Further, the person handing over the
    property must have confidence in the person
    taking the property to create a fiduciary
    relationship between them. A normal transaction
    of sale or exchange of money/consideration does
    not amount to entrustment. Clearly, the
    charge/offence of Section 406 IPC is not even
    remotely made out.

    37. The chargesheet states that the offence under
    Section 420 is not made out. The offence of
    cheating under Section 415 of the IPC requires
    dishonest inducement, delivering of a property as
    a result of the inducement, and damage or harm
    to the person so induced. The offence of cheating
    is established when the dishonest intention exists
    at the time when the contract or agreement is
    entered, for the essential ingredient of the offence
    of cheating consists of fraudulent or dishonest
    inducement of a person by deceiving him to deliver
    any property, to do or omit to do anything which
    he would not do or omit if he had not been
    deceived. As per the investigating officer, no
    fraudulent and dishonest inducement is made out
    Page 13 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    or established at the time when the agreement
    was entered.

    38. An offence of criminal intimidation arises
    when the accused intendeds to cause alarm to the
    victim, though it does not matter whether the
    victim is alarmed or not. The intention of the
    accused to cause alarm must be established by
    bringing evidence on record. The word „intimidate‟
    means to make timid or fearful, especially : to
    compel or deter by or as if by threats. The threat
    communicated or uttered by the person named in
    the chargesheet as an accused, should be uttered
    and communicated by the said person to threaten
    the victim for the purpose of influencing her mind.
    The word „threat‟ refers to the intent to inflict
    punishment, loss or pain on the other. Injury
    involves doing an illegal act.

    39. This Court in Manik Taneja v. State of
    Karnataka
    , had referred to Section 506 which
    prescribes punishment for the offence of „criminal
    intimidation‟ as defined in Section 503 of the IPC,
    to observe that the offence under Section 503
    requires that there must be an act of threating
    another person with causing an injury to his
    person, reputation or property, or to the person or
    reputation of any one in whom that person is
    interested. This threat must be with the intent to
    cause alarm to the person threatened or to do any
    act which he is not legally bound to do, or omit to
    do an act which he is entitled to do. Mere
    expression of any words without any intent to
    cause alarm would not be sufficient to bring home
    an offence under Section 506 of the IPC. The
    material and evidence must be placed on record to
    show that the threat was made with an intent to
    cause alarm to the complainant, or to cause them
    to do, or omit to do an act. Considering the
    statutory mandate, offence under Section 506 is
    not shown even if we accept the allegation as
    correct.”

    22. Significantly, this Court in Sharif
    Ahmed
    (supra) cautioned courts to check such
    attempts of making out a criminal case on the
    basis of vague and ex facie false assertions.”

    Page 14 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    24. In Ramesh Chandra Gupta vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and

    Ors., 2022 LiveLaw (SC) 993, Criminal Appeal No(s). ………

    of 2022 (Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No(s). 39 of 2022), the

    Supreme Court held:-

    “15. This Court has an occasion to consider the
    ambit and scope of the power of the High Court
    under Section 482 CrPC for quashing of criminal
    proceedings in Vineet Kumar and Others vs.
    State of Uttar Pradesh and Another
    , (2017)
    13 SCC 369 decided on 31st March, 2017. It may
    be useful to refer to paras 22, 23 and 41 of the
    above judgment where the following was stated:

    “22. Before we enter into the facts of the present
    case it is necessary to consider the ambit and
    scope of jurisdiction under Section 482 CrPC
    vested in the High Court. Section 482 CrPC saves
    the inherent power of the High Court to make such
    orders as may be necessary to give effect to any
    order under this Code, or to prevent abuse of the
    process of any court or otherwise to secure the
    ends of justice.

    23. This Court time and again has examined the
    scope of jurisdiction of the High Court under
    Section 482 CrPC and laid down several principles
    which govern the exercise of jurisdiction of the
    High Court under Section 482 CrPC. A three-Judge
    Bench of this Court in State of Karnataka v. L.
    Muniswamy
    (1977) 2 SCC 699 held that the High
    Court is entitled to quash a proceeding if it comes
    to the conclusion that allowing the proceeding to
    continue would be an abuse of the process of the
    Court or that the ends of justice require that the
    proceeding ought to be quashed. In para 7 of the
    judgment, the following has been stated :

    „7. … In the exercise of this wholesome power, the
    High Court is entitled to quash a proceeding if it
    comes to the conclusion that allowing the
    proceeding to continue would be an abuse of the
    process of the court or that the ends of justice
    Page 15 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    require that the proceeding ought to be quashed.
    The saving of the High Court’s inherent powers,
    both in civil and criminal matters, is designed to
    achieve a salutary public purpose which is that a
    court proceeding ought not to be permitted to
    degenerate into a weapon of harassment or
    persecution. In a criminal case, the veiled object
    behind a lame prosecution, the very nature of the
    material on which the structure of the prosecution
    rests and the like would justify the High Court in
    quashing the proceeding in the interest of justice.
    The ends of justice are higher than the ends of
    mere law though justice has got to be
    administered according to laws made by the
    legislature. The compelling necessity for making
    these observations is that without a proper
    realisation of the object and purpose of the
    provision which seeks to save the inherent powers
    of the High Court to do justice, between the State
    and its subjects, it would be impossible to
    appreciate the width and contours of that salient
    jurisdiction.‟

    41. Inherent power given to the High Court under
    Section 482 CrPC is with the purpose and object of
    advancement of justice. In case solemn process of
    Court is sought to be abused by a person with
    some oblique motive, the Court has to thwart the
    attempt at the very threshold. The Court cannot
    permit a prosecution to go on if the case falls in
    one of the categories as illustratively enumerated
    by this Court in State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal
    1992 Supp (1) SCC 335. Judicial process is a
    solemn proceeding which cannot be allowed to be
    converted into an instrument of operation or
    harassment.
    When there are materials to indicate
    that a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended
    with mala fides and proceeding is maliciously
    instituted with an ulterior motive, the High Court
    will not hesitate in exercise of its jurisdiction
    under Section 482 CrPC to quash the proceeding
    under Category 7 as enumerated in State of
    Haryana v. Bhajan Lal
    1992 Supp (1) SCC 335
    which is to the following effect :

    „102. (7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly
    attended with mala fides and/or where the
    Page 16 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    proceeding is maliciously instituted with an
    ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the
    accused and with a view to spite him due to
    private and personal grudge.‟ Above Category 7 is
    clearly attracted in the facts of the present case.
    Although, the High Court has noted the judgment
    of State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal 1992 Supp (1)
    SCC 335 but did not advert to the relevant facts of
    the present case, materials on which final report
    was submitted by the IO. We, thus, are fully
    satisfied that the present is a fit case where the
    High Court ought to have exercised its jurisdiction
    under Section 482 CrPC and quashed the criminal
    proceedings.”

    16. The exposition of law on the subject relating to
    the exercise of the extra-ordinary power under
    Article 226 of the Constitution or the inherent
    power under Section 482 CrPC are well settled
    and to the possible extent, this Court has defined
    sufficiently channelized guidelines, to give an
    exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein
    such power should be exercised. This Court has
    held in para 102 in State of Haryana and
    Others v. Bhajan Lal and Others
    , 1992 Supp.

    (1) 335 as under :

    “102. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the
    various relevant provisions of the Code under
    Chapter XIV and of the principles of law
    enunciated by this Court in a series of decisions
    relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power
    under Article 226 or the inherent powers under
    Section 482 of the Code which we have extracted
    and reproduced above, we give the following
    categories of cases by way of illustration wherein
    such power could be exercised either to prevent
    abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to
    secure the ends of justice, though it may not be
    possible to lay down any precise, clearly defined
    and sufficiently channelised and inflexible
    guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an
    exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein
    such power should be exercised.

    (1) Where the allegations made in the first
    information report or the complaint, even if they
    Page 17 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    are taken at their face value and accepted in their
    entirety do not prima facie constitute any offence
    or make out a case against the accused.

    (2) Where the allegations in the first information
    report and other materials, if any, accompanying
    the FIR do not disclose a cognizable offence,
    justifying an investigation by police officers under
    Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order
    of a Magistrate within the purview of Section
    155(2)
    of the Code.

    (3) Where the uncontroverted allegations made in
    the FIR or complaint and the evidence collected in
    support of the same do not disclose the
    commission of any offence and make out a case
    against the accused.

    (4) Where, the allegations in the FIR do not
    constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only
    a non-cognizable offence, no investigation is
    permitted by a police officer without an order of a
    Magistrate as contemplated under Section 155(2)
    of the Code.

    (5) Where the allegations made in the FIR or
    complaint are so absurd and inherently
    improbable on the basis of which no prudent
    person can ever reach a just conclusion that there
    is sufficient ground for proceeding against the
    accused.

    (6) Where there is an express legal bar engrafted
    in any of the provisions of the Code or the
    concerned Act (under which a criminal proceeding
    is instituted) to the institution and continuance of
    the proceedings and/or where there is a specific
    provision in the Code or the concerned Act,
    providing efficacious redress for the grievance of
    the aggrieved party.

    (7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly
    attended with mala fide and/or where the
    proceeding is maliciously instituted with an
    ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the
    accused and with a view to spite him due to
    private and personal grudge.”

    Page 18 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    17. The principles culled out by this Court have
    consistently been followed in the recent judgment
    of this Court in Neeharika Infrastructure Pvt.

    Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra and Others,
    2021 SCC Online SC 315.”

    25. The present case falls under category 1, 3 and 7 of Para 102 of

    Bhajan Lal (Supra).

    26. It appears that the dispute in the present case is regarding an

    investment made by the complainant with the developer and

    the petitioners had no role to play other than being the owner

    of the land, which was handed over to the developer by way of

    agreements.

    27. The dispute is thus clearly a civil dispute and that too in

    the present case not with/against the petitioners herein.

    28. The materials on record, do not prima facie show presence of

    the ingredients required to constitute the offences alleged

    against the petitioners herein and as such the proceeding in

    this case are liable to be quashed in the interest of Justice

    and to prevent an abuse of the process of law.

    29. CRR 3193 of 2023 is thus allowed.

    30. The proceeding in connection with G.R. No. 09/2021 arising

    out of Bidhannagar (South) P. S. Case No. 1 of 2021 dated

    January 2, 2021 under Sections 420/406/34 of the Indian

    Penal Code, 1860 pending before the Learned Court of the

    Additional Chief Judicial Bidhannagar, Magistrate, 24
    Page 19 2026:CHC-AS:1110

    Parganas (North), is hereby quashed in respect of the

    petitioners namely Anurag Gupta and Sanjay Kumar

    Gupta.

    31. All connected Applications, if any, stand disposed of.

    32. Interim order, if any, stands vacated.

    33. Copy of this judgment be sent to the learned Trial Court for

    necessary compliance.

    34. Urgent certified website copy of this judgment, if applied for,

    be supplied expeditiously after complying with all, necessary

    legal formalities.

    [Shampa Dutt (Paul), J.]



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