BHUPENDRA AND 3 OTHERSversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD

            APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 36931 of 2026

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

Counsel for Applicant(s)           :     Rajkapoor Upadhyay, Som Pal Singh
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)      :     G.A.

Court No. - 79
                 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 24.12.2024 along with cognizance/summoning order
dated 26.06.2025 as well as entire proceedings of Criminal Case No.84 of
2025 (State vs. Bhupendra and others) arising out of Case Crime No.351 of
2024, under Sections 115(2), 351(2) and 352 of BNS, P.S. Neoria, District
Pilibhit, pending in the court of learned Civil Judge (S.D.)/Additional Chief
Judicial Magistrate, Pilibhit.

3. Learned counsel for applicants has made only one submission before the
Court that offences under Sections 115(2), 351(2) and 352 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 Murli and others Vs.
State of U.P. and another, 2008 (61) ACC 54; Virendra Singh and others
Vs. State of U.P. and others, 2002 (45) ACC 609 and 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. 36931 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 115(2), 351(2) and
                                    352 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 26.06.2025 passed by
                                    learned Civil Judge (S.D.)/Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate,
                                    Pilibhit against the applicants on the basis of charge-sheet submitted by
                                    concerned Investigating Officer under Sections 115(2), 351(2) and 352 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.

                                    September 11, 2026
                                    Ashish/-
                                                                                        (Saurabh Srivastava,J.)




Digitally signed by :-
ASHISH KUMAR SINGH
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad