Accepting incomplete charge sheet and denying statutory bail by Magistrate, is an apparent abuse of law; Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

“Charge sheet filed within statutory period of 60 days ought to be complete to enable the concerned Magistrate to adjudicate and not an incomplete charge sheet to infringe upon the right of the accused to be released on bail” the court held.

Delhi High Court has held in State v Hargyan that acceptance of an incomplete charge sheet and denying statutory bail (167(2) CrPC] to the accused amounted to apparent abuse of process of Law.

The accused was alleged of committing misappropriation of funds in ATM accounts, wherein he was acting as custodian. The police filed final report before the magistrate court. The court below, returning the charge sheet, directed further investigation into certain aspects .The accused applied for statutory bail before the magistrate court which was rejected.His revision before the sessions judge was allowed, granting statutory bail. Aggrieved by the same,state filed the above criminal revision petition.

Dismissing the petition, Justice P.S .Teji, observed:-“Section 167(2) Cr. P.C. precludes the concerned Magistrate to have the custody of the detenue beyond 60 days until he receives the charge sheet under Section 173 Cr. P.C. to adjudicate upon the same.”

The court noted that in the instant case, the accused was arrested on 29/10/2004 and the charge sheet which was filed on 26/12/2004, was returned for further investigation. Hence under the said circumstances , the court held that accepting an incomplete report on 26/12/2004, which was returned for further investigation, and further denying statutory bail to the accused amounted to abuse of process of law.

The court opined:- “In the present case, accepting an incomplete report on 26.12.2014 and returning the same on account of incomplete investigation on certain aspects, and making the accused disentitled for benefit under Section 167(2) Cr. P.C. is an apparent abuse of law.”

The Court further held:-“This court is of the considered opinion that charge sheet filed within statutory period of 60 days ought to be complete to enable the concerned Magistrate to adjudicate and not an incomplete charge sheet to infringe upon the right of the accused to be released on bail.”

Read the Judgment here.