ASHOK KUMAR AND 3 OTHERSversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER

           HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD

             APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 16144 of 2026

Ashok Kumar And 3 Others
                                                                        .....Applicant(s)
                                         Versus
State of U.P. and Another
                                                                            .....Opposite
                                                                                  Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s)                              :    Anurag Upadhyay
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)                         :    G.A.

Court No. - 77
                   HON'BLE SAURABH SRIVASTAVA, J.

1. Heard learned counsel for the applicants and learned AGA for the State.

2. The present application has been preferred for seeking quashing of
charge-sheet dated 05.02.2025 along with cognizance/summoning order
dated 03.01.2026 passed by learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jaunpur as
well as entire proceedings of Case No.52 of 2026 (State vs. Ashok Kumar
and Others) arising out of Case Crime No.65 of 2025, under Sections 352,
351(3), 324(4) BNS, P.S. Line Bazar, District- Jaunpur.

3. Learned counsel for applicants has made only one submission before the
Court that offences under Sections 352, 351(3), 324(4) BNS are non-
cognizable and in view of the explanation to Section 2(1)h BNSS, the
charge sheet filed by the Investigating Officer concerned cannot proceed as a
police case and the same is liable to be proceeded with as a complaint case.
In support of his submission, learned counsel of applicants has placed
reliance upon the judgments passed in the case of Shakila Bano and others
Vs. State of U.P. and another, 2008 (61) ACC 636.

4. Although, learned AGA opposed the prayer sought through the instant
application but did not dispute the submissions so made by learned counsel
for applicants.

5. Before proceeding further, the relevant provisions of Section 2(1)h BNSS
are being reproduced for ready reference as under:-

"2. Definitions.- (1) In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise requires,-
                                                                                                NA528 No. 16144 of 2026
                                                                      2

                                    (h) "complaint" means any allegation made orally or in writing to a Magistrate, with
                                    a view to his taking action under this Sanhita, that some person, whether known or
                                    unknown, has committed an offence, but does not include a police report.

                                    Explanation.- A report made by a police officer in a case which discloses, after
                                    investigation, the commission of a non- cognizable offence shall be deemed to be a
                                    complaint; and the police officer by whom such report is made shall be deemed to be
                                    the complainant."

                                    6. In view of the above explanation, charge sheet submitted by the concerned
                                    Investigating Officer in the present case under Sections 352, 351(3),
                                    324(4) BNS shall be treated as complaint and it is to be decided as complaint
                                    and the learned Magistrate fell in legal error by taking cognizance as State
                                    case and the orders passed by him is, therefore, liable to be set aside.

                                    7. Since the legal issue has been raised by learned counsel for the applicants
                                    and as such process to issue notice to opposite party no.2 is hereby dispensed
                                    with.

                                    8. In view thereof, cognizance/summoning order dated 03.01.2026 passed by
                                    learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jaunpur against the applicants on the basis
                                    of charge-sheet submitted by concerned Investigating Officer under Sections
                                    352, 351(3), 324(4) BNS treating the same as State case, is set aside.

                                    9. Accordingly, the instant application is partly allowed.

                                    10. However, it is made clear that this order shall not preclude the learned
                                    court concerned to proceed with the case treating it as complaint case, if
                                    required, in accordance with law.

                                    May 6, 2026
                                    Saif
                                                                                            (Saurabh Srivastava,J.)




Digitally signed by :-
SHAIKH SAIF ABDIN
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad