when a criminal appeal against convictionof accused is pending, no complaint is to be filed on the basis of adverse remarks passed against the investigation officer by the trial court - as res subjudice applies

NON­REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL No.25  OF 2009
Shri Hanumant Dinkar Arjun            ….Appellant(s)
VERSUS
Shri Suresh R. Andhare & Anr.  ….Respondent(s)
               
J U D G M E N T
Abhay Manohar Sapre, J.
1. This appeal is filed against the final judgment
and   order   dated   15.07.2008  passed   by   the   High
Court   of     Judicature   at   Bombay   in   Criminal
Revision Application No.309 of 2008 whereby the
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High   Court   dismissed   the   criminal   revision
application   filed   by   the   appellant   (complainant)
herein.
2. A few facts need mention hereinbelow for the
disposal of this appeal, which involves a short point.
3. The appellant filed a complaint under Sections
166, 167, 201 to 204 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860   (hereinafter   referred   to   as   “IPC”)   read   with
Section   25   of   the   Bombay   Police   Act,   1951   (for
short, “BP Act”) against respondent No. 1 herein
before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Indapur.
4. This complaint was filed on the basis of certain
adverse   observations   made   by   the   1st  Additional
Sessions   Judge,   Baramati   in   his   order   dated
26.02.2003 passed in Session Case No. 99/2000
against   respondent   No.1   by   which   four   accused
persons were convicted for commission of offence
punishable   under   Section   302/34   IPC   and
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sentenced them to undergo imprisonment for life
and to pay a fine of Rs.2000/­ each.
5. According to the appellant, in the light of the
certain adverse observations made in the said order
by   the   Additional   Sessions   Judge   against
respondent   No.1­Sub­Inspector   of   Police,   who
investigated the said case, a  prima facie  case for
initiating criminal action against him is made out.
6. The   Courts   below,     however,   declined   this
prayer made by the appellant and the High Court by
the impugned order upheld the order declining the
prayer giving rise to filing of the present appeal by
way of special leave in this Court by the appellantcomplainant.
7.    It is not disputed by the parties that the
accused persons have filed criminal appeal in the
High Court against the order dated 26.02.2003 and
the same is pending in the High Court.
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8. If that be so, then, in our opinion, the order
dated   26.02.2003,   which   is   the   basis   of   the
complaint in question, is sub judice in the criminal
appeal.
9. In other words, when the order, which is the
foundation for filing the complaint in question itself
is sub judice, the appellant is required to await the
final outcome of the criminal appeal filed by the
accused persons.
10. It is for this reason, we are not inclined to
entertain   this   appeal   and   while   disposing   of   the
same grant liberty to the appellant to move afresh
for   raising   his   grievance   in   question   depending
upon the outcome of the criminal appeal filed by the
accused   persons   against   the   order   dated
26.02.2003.
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11. We, however, make it clear that we have not
expressed any opinion on the merits of the case,
which is subject matter of the complaint.
12. With   these   observations,   this   appeal   stands
disposed of finally.
     
                                     .………...................................J.
                                   [ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE]
                                 
     …...……..................................J.
                    [DINESH MAHESHWARI]
New Delhi;
May 03, 2019
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