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Allahabad High Court

REYAZ AHMAD MATHANJIversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER

Decided

Holding

The Court held that the application for quash cannot be entertained as the existence of an offence is not yet disproved and the disputes are factual, not procedural, thus the prayer is declined.

Summary

The applicant, Reyaz Ahmad Mathanji, filed an application under Section 528 of the BNSS seeking to quash a chargesheet dated 28‑02‑2025 and the summoning order dated 03‑04‑2025 issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Aligarh, in a case registered as Crime No. 0066 of 2025 under Sections 308(2) and 351(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. He contended that the allegations were false, frivolous, and that no money had been delivered to him, arguing that the proceedings were an abuse of process. The Court examined the record and held that, at the preliminary stage, it could not be said that no offence was made out against the applicant and that the matters raised were factual disputes not suitable for interlocutory disposal. Consequently, the Court declined the prayer to quash the chargesheet, directing that if the applicant is not on bail he may apply for bail within 45 days, and that any discharge application must be decided by the trial court within six weeks. The Court also ordered that no coercive measures be taken against the applicant for a period of 45 days or until the discharge application is disposed, and the application was dismissed.

Issues considered

  • Whether the High Court can quash a chargesheet and summoning order under Section 528 of the BNSS on the ground of alleged false and frivolous allegations.
  • Whether there is a failure of justice or abuse of procedure warranting the exercise of the Court's power to prevent abuse of process.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • quash
  • Section 528 BNSS
  • abuse of process
  • bail
  • discharge application
  • criminal procedure
  • preliminary hearing

Judgment

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
                 APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 13521 of 2026

Reyaz Ahmad Mathanji
                                                             .....Applicant(s)
                                    Versus

State of U.P. and Another
                                                                 .....Opposite
                                                                       Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s)               :     Eishan Mehta, Prateek Rai
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)          :     G.A., Ravinath Tiwari

Court No. - 80
                  HON'BLE NAND PRABHA SHUKLA, J.

1. Heard Mr. Eishan Mehta, learned counsel for the applicant, Mr.
Ravinath Tiwari, learned counsel for the High Court Legal Service
Authority, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record.

2. The present application under Section 528 BNSS has been filed with a
prayer to quash the chargesheet dated 28.02.2025 and set aside the
summoning Order dated 03.04.2025 passed by the learned Chief Judicial
Magistrate, Aligarh, and entire proceeding arising out of Case Crime No.
0066 of 2025, under Sections 308(2) and 351(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya
Sanhita, 2023, Police Station-Civil Lines, District-Aligarh.

3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant being the
husband of opposite party No. 2 has been dragged to the litigation on the
basis of false and frivolous allegations. It has also been submitted that no
amount has been delivered to the applicant as alleged.

4. From the perusal of the material on record and looking into the facts of
the case, at this stage, it cannot be said that no offence is made out against
the applicant. All the submissions made at the bar relate to the disputed
questions of fact, which cannot be adjudicated upon by this Court. Only in
cases where the Court finds that there has been failure of justice or abuse
of procedure, this power may be exercised to prevent the abuse of process
to secure the ends of justice.

5. Accordingly, prayer for quashing is declined.
                                                                                           NA528 No. 13521 of 2026
                                                                       2


                                    6. In case, the applicant is not on bail, it is directed that if the applicant
                                    appears or surrenders through counsel before the Trial Court and makes
                                    an application for bail within 45 days from the date of the order, the same
                                    shall be considered and disposed of expeditiously, after giving
                                    opportunity to the other side.

                                    7. Further, it is provided that in case the applicant moves an application for
                                    discharge at an appropriate stage through counsel, the same shall be disposed
                                    of by the Trial Court by a reasoned and speaking order in accordance with
                                    law within six weeks thereafter.

                                    8. For a period of 45 days or till the disposal of the discharge application,
                                    whichever is earlier, no coercive measures shall be taken against the
                                    applicant in the aforesaid case.

                                    9. With the aforesaid direction, this application is disposed of.



                                                                                      (Nand Prabha Shukla,J.)
                                    September 8, 2026
                                    Shivani Sri.




Digitally signed by :-
SHIVANI SRIVASTAVA
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad


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