Allahabad High Court
DEEPAK GUPTAversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER
- Decided
- Bench
- SAURABH SRIVASTAVA
Holding
The application under Section 528 BNSS is dismissed as it lacks merit because the magistrate’s cognizance was based on sufficient prima‑facie material and the court cannot conduct a mini‑trial at this stage.
Summary
The applicant, Deepak Gupta, filed an application under Section 528 of the BNSS seeking to quash the charge‑sheet and the magistrate’s cognizance order in a criminal case alleging offences under Sections 303(2) and 317(2). The applicant alleged false implication and mala‑fide motives, contending that the investigation was unfair. The State opposed, arguing that at the stage of taking cognizance only a prima‑facie case is required and that factual disputes must be decided by the trial court. The High Court, relying on precedents (S.W. Palanitkar v. State of Bihar, Nupur Talwar v. CBI and Muskan v. Ishaan Khan) held that the court cannot conduct a mini‑trial in a Section 528 proceeding and must only examine whether sufficient material exists to proceed. Finding that the material on record was sufficient to sustain the magistrate’s cognizance, the court dismissed the application as devoid of merit.
Issues considered
- Whether an application under Section 528 BNSS can be entertained to quash a charge‑sheet and cognizance order when only prima‑facie material is on record.
- Whether the High Court must conduct a mini‑trial to determine alleged false implication at the stage of a Section 528 proceeding.
- Whether the inherent powers under Section 528 BNSS may be exercised when sufficient material exists for proceeding under Section 482 CrPC.
Legislation cited
- BNSS — s. 528
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 — s. 482
Subjects
- Section 528 BNSS
- quash of charge sheet
- prima facie
- inherent jurisdiction
- Section 482 CrPC
- false implication
- magistrate cognizance
- mini trial prohibition
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 39030 of 2026
Deepak Gupta
.....Applicant(s)
Versus
State of U.P. and Another
.....Opposite
Party(s)
Counsel for Applicant(s) : Ali Raza Khan, Raza Abbas
Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A.
Court No. - 79
HON'BLE SAURABH SRIVASTAVA, J.
1. Heard learned counsel for applicant and learned AGA for State.
2. Present application has been preferred with prayer to quash charge sheet
dated 7.1.2026 as well as cognizance/summoning order dated 21.1.2026
passed by learned Judicial Magistrate, Farenda, Maharajganj and entire
proceeding of Case no. 109 of 2026 arising out of Case Crime no. 0203 of
2025 under sections 303(2), 317(2) BNS, PS- Purandarpur, District
Maharajganj.
3. It is contended by learned counsel for applicant that applicant has been
falsely implicated in the present case due to mala fide intention and ulterior
motive of opposite party no. 2. From perusal of documentary evidences, no
offence punishable in pursuance of aforesaid sections is made out against the
applicant. Investigation has not been conducted in fair manner and as such
impugned cognizance order and charge sheet are liable to be quashed and set
aside.
4. Per contra, learned counsel for opposite parties vehemently opposed the
prayer sought through the instant application and rebutted the stands taken
up by learned counsel for applicants by way of submitting that the
contentions, which are sought to be raised on behalf of applicant, would
relate to disputed questions of fact, and would involve appreciation of
evidence. It is also submitted that at the time of taking cognizance, only a
prima facie case is to be seen and the court concerned is not expected to hold
a mini trial.
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5. After hearing the rival submissions extended by learned counsels for the
parties and perusing the records, this Court is of the opinion that at the stage
of summoning, the Magistrate is only required to record a prima facie
opinion, based on the material on record, and is not expected to hold a mini
trial or to examine the defence of the accused. In judgment rendered by
Hon'ble Apex Court in case of S.W. Palanitkar and Others v. State of
Bihar and Another; (2002) 1 SCC 241 it was held that the test which was
required to be applied was whether there is "sufficient ground for
proceeding" and not whether there is "sufficient ground for conviction". In
the case of Nupur Talwar v. Central Bureau of Investigation and
Another; (2012) 11 SCC 465, it was reiterated that the limited purpose of
consideration of material at the stage of issuing process being tentative as
distinguished from the actual evidence produced during trial, the test to be
applied at the stage was whether the material placed before the Magistrate
was "sufficient for proceeding against the accused" and not "sufficient to
prove and establish the guilt".
6. Recently, in judgment rendered by Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of
Muskan Vs. Ishaan Khan (Sataniya) and others passed in Criminal
Appeal no. 4752 of 2025 (arising out of S.L.P. (Criminal) No. 1531 of 2025,
it has been held that on the aspect of the powers of the Courts under Section
482 of the Cr.PC, it is settled that at the stage of quashing, the Court is not
required to conduct a mini trial. Thus, the jurisdiction under Section 482 of
the Cr.PC with respect to quashing is somewhat limited as the Court has to
only consider whether any sufficient material is available to proceed against
the accused or not. If sufficient material is available, the power under
Section 482 should not be exercised.
7. From perusal of the material on record, at this stage, it cannot be said that
no offence is made out against the applicant. The assertions of false
implication raised by the applicant are factual issues that requires proper
adjudication by the trial court based on evidence and cannot be conclusively
determined in proceedings under Section 528 BNSS. In proceeding u/s 528
BNSS, this Court is not inclined to hold mini-trial.
8. It is well settled that the inherent powers under Section 528 BNSS are to
be exercised sparingly and with caution, primarily to prevent abuse of the
process of the court or to secure the ends of justice. In the instant case, no
sufficient ground have been made out to invoke the extraordinary
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jurisdiction of this Court under Section 528 BNSS.
9. In view of the foregoing, the application under Section 528 BNSS is
devoid of merits and is accordingly dismissed.
(Saurabh Srivastava,J.)
September 23, 2026
Shaswat
Digitally signed by :-
SHASWAT SINGH
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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