SANJAYKUMAR MAHASUKHLAL (DATRANIA)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 44-PARTLY ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The High Court held that no offence under IPC sections 409 and 427 was made out and quashed the Special Electricity Judge’s order, granting the petitioner a discharge under CrPC section 227.
Summary
The petitioner, a former Vidhyut Sahayak, was charged under IPC sections 409 and 427 and Section 140 of the Electricity Act in Special Electricity Case No. 50 of 2006. He filed a criminal revision under CrPC sections 397 and 401 seeking to quash the Special Electricity Judge’s judgment. The High Court examined the charge‑sheet and found no entrustment of property, no dishonest intention, and no material mens rea to sustain the offences under IPC 409 and 427. Consequently, the Court held that the offences were not made out and ordered the discharge of the petitioner under CrPC section 227. The judgment of the Special Electricity Judge dated 17‑04‑2010 was quashed and the matter was directed back to the trial court to proceed with the Electricity Act aspects. The revision application was therefore partly allowed.
Issues considered
- Whether the evidence establishes the offence of criminal breach of trust under IPC section 409 (and the underlying provision of section 405).
- Whether the evidence establishes the offence of mischief causing damage under IPC section 427.
- Whether the order of the Special Electricity Judge should be set aside under CrPC sections 397 and 401.
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to discharge under CrPC section 227.
Legislation cited
- Code of Criminal Procedures. 227, s. 397, s. 401
- Electricity Acts. 140
- Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 405, s. 409, s. 427
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.RA/321/2010 JUDGMENT DATED: 04/05/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL REVISION APPLICATION NO. 321 of 2010
FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
============================================
Approved for Reporting Yes No
============================================
SANJAYKUMAR MAHASUKHLAL (DATRANIA)
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.
============================================
Appearance:
BAILABLE WARRANT NOT RECEIVED BACK for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR ASHISH M DAGLI(2203) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR SP HASURKAR(345) for the Respondent(s) No. 2
MR ROHAN RAVAL, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
============================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 04/05/2026
JUDGMENT
1) By way of present revision application under Sections 397 and
401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the applicants have
sought following relief:-
“(B) This Hon’ble Court may be pleased to allow this
Criminal Revision Application by quashing and setting
aside the Judgment and order passed by learned Spl.
Electricity Judge, Baroda, in Spl. Electricity Case No.50 of
2006 decided on 17.4.2010.”
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R/CR.RA/321/2010 JUDGMENT DATED: 04/05/2026
2) Prima facie it appears that the applicant was working as Vidhyut
Sahayak, at that time in connection of the alleged act committed
by the applicant one FIR being I-C.R.No.174 of 2006, for the
offences under Sections 409 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code
and under Section 140 of the Electricity Act, with MGVCL Co.
Ltd., Police Station, Vadodara,
3) Having heard the learned Advocate Mr. A. M. Dagli, for the
applicant and learned Advocate Mr. H. P. Hasurkar, for the
respondent no.2 - GETCO (PGVCL) and going through the record
it prima facie appears that after completion of investigation
charge-sheet is filed which culminated into Special Electricity
Case No.50 of 2006, which is pending before the learned Special
Electricity Court, Vadodara and a discharge application at Exhibit
5 came to be filed under Section 227 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure. Perusing the evidence it appears that prima facie no
entrustment of property or no any prima facie evidence which
suggest involvement or would get attract provision of Section
406 of the IPC as defined under Section 405 of the IPC i.e.
offence of criminal breach of trust and in absence of any
material mens rea or dishonest intention qua offence under the
IPC either under Section 409 or 427 of the IPC, this Court is of
the view that no offence is made out under Sections 409 and
427 of the IPC.
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R/CR.RA/321/2010 JUDGMENT DATED: 04/05/2026
4) In view of the above, no offence is made out under the Sections
409 and 427 of the IPC against the applicant and he is required
to be discharged only for the charges levelled under Sections
409 and 427 of the IPC.
5) It is clarified that so far the applicant was employed with the
MGVCL and alleged act covers under Section 140 of the
Electricity Act, the trial Court may proceed with the Electricity
Act. Even if any evidence is reveals or lead by the prosecution it
is kept open for the learned trial Court to take appropriate action
after giving opportunity to both the parties in accordance with
law.
6) Accordingly, the present revision application is disposed of being
partly allowed. The order dated 17.04.2010 below Exhibit 13,
in Special Electricity Case No.50 of 2006, passed by the Special
Electricity Judge, Vadodara, is quashed and set aside up to
above extent and the discharge application at Exhibit 13, under
Section 227 of the Code, filed by the applicant is hereby partly
allowed and the applicant is discharged from the chrages
levelled under Sections 409 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code
only.
7) The learned trial Court is directed to expedite the proceedings of
the Special Electricity Case No.50 of 2006.
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R/CR.RA/321/2010 JUDGMENT DATED: 04/05/2026
8) Interim relief granted earlier stands vacated. Record and
proceedings, if any, be sent back to the concerned Court
forthwith.
(HASMUKH D. SUTHAR,J)
ANKIT JANSARI
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ANKIT YOGESHBHAI JANSARI(HCW0109), ENGLISH STENOGRAPHER GRADE I, at High Court of Gujarat on 04/05/2026 16:14:00
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