Pat HC | No cognizable offence disclosed in FIR though the apparent allegation of embezzlement of money held to be a legitimate ground for proceeding trial 

Patna High Court: Birendra Kumar, J. dismissed a criminal miscellaneous application filed by the petitioner challenging the order of cognizance passed against him under various Sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. 

In the instant petition the accused in connection with Vigilance P.S. Case of 2013 registered under Sections  409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 477A and 120B of the Penal Code as well as under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The petitioner, when worked as an Executive Engineer, was alleged to pass false measurement report of Government schemes and uncompleted worked which was marked as completed in the aforementioned reports. It was further alleged that the reports were submitted in collusion with the Assistant Engineer. 

It was averred by the petitioner that allegation made in the FIR on their face value did not disclose a cognizable offence made out against the petitioner and even if any non-cognizable offence is made out, investigation of the same was not permissible, except under order of the Magistrate.

The Court observed that no cognizable offence was disclosed in the FIR against the petitioner though the apparent allegation of embezzlement of public money was there. It was stated that, petitioner was a Government servant having a specific allegation of submission of measurement report which showed completion of the work whereas the work was not completed at all in respect of Government schemes. Hence, prima facie material was there against the petitioner for proceeding with the trial. [Md. Zahoorul Haque v. State Of Bihar, 2019 SCC OnLine Pat 1017, decided on 25-06-2019]