Panchananda Jana vs The State Of West Bengal And Anr on 20 August, 2025

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Calcutta High Court (Appellete Side)

Panchananda Jana vs The State Of West Bengal And Anr on 20 August, 2025

                                                             2025:CHC-AS:1589




            IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
           CRIMINAL REVISIONAL JURISDICTION
                            Appellate Side


Present:

The Hon'ble Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta


                          C.R.R. 3857 of 2024

                          Panchananda Jana
                                Versus
                The State of West Bengal and Anr.



For the Petitioner :          Mr. Anjan Bhattacharya, Adv.
                              Ms. Anita Shaw, Adv.


For the State         :       Mr. Debasish Roy, Ld. PP
                              Mr. Arijit Ganguly, Adv.
                              Mr. Karan Bapuli, Adv.


Heard on              :       01.08.2025



Judgment on           :       20.08.2025
                               2

                                                                    2025:CHC-AS:1589




Ajay Kumar Gupta, J:

1.

The petitioner being the accused preferred this Criminal

Revisional application under Section 401 read with Section 482 of the

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (in short ‘CrPC‘) corresponding to

Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (in short

‘BNSS’) seeking quashing of the impugned Charge Sheet being No.

191/2024 dated 21.05.2024 submitted in connection with

Mahishadal P.S. Case No. 130/2024 dated 22.03.2024 under

Sections 341/323/506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections

10/12 of the POCSO Act and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act,

pending before the Court of Learned Judge, Special Court, POCSO,

Haldia at Purba Medinipur.

2. The factual matrix of the instant case is that mother of the

victim girl lodged a written complaint to the Officer-in-Charge,

Mahishadal Police Station accusing to the effect that her daughter

aged about 13 years (herein after referred to as ‘victim girl’) studying

in class VI in xxxxxxxx School. The headmaster of the said school on

the pretext of seeing the neck chain, inserted his hand inside her

school dress, with intent to outrage her modesty and/or committed

aggravated sexual assault and/or sexual harassment. It was further

alleged that on the previous day i.e. on 21.03.2024, the headmaster

assaulted her and other students, when they went to report that
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there was no fan in the class room. In addition, it was further alleged

that the headmaster has a bad character, similar types of incident

happened earlier with other students. When the parents of the

students went to inquire about such incident, he threatens them with

dire consequence that nobody can do anything against him, which

resulted in registration of an FIR being Mahishadal P.S. Case No.

130/2024 dated 22.03.2024 under Sections 341/323/506 of the

Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 10/12 of the POCSO Act as

well as Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act and initiated

investigation.

3. The Petitioner was arrested and subsequently enlarged on

bail. He denies the allegations and contended that he is innocent and

has been falsely implicated into this case asserting that no such

incident ever happened. However, after culmination of the

investigation, a Charge Sheet being No. 191/2024 dated 21.05.2024

under Sections 341/323/506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and

Sections 10/12 of the POCSO Act as well as Section 75 of the

Juvenile Justice Act has been submitted by the investigation officer is

under the subject matter of challenge as it was filed mechanically and

without proper investigation or scanning of the oral and documentary

evidence of the witnesses, collected in course of investigation.
4

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4. According to the Petitioner, the whole case is based on false,

fabricated and concocted story. If it would have been properly

scanned with the oral and documentary evidence of witnesses, the

result would have been different and charge sheet would not have

been submitted against the petitioner, as such, he preferred this

revisional application seeking quashing of the charge sheet and

proceedings thereof.

SUBMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER:

5. Learned counsel, Mr. Bhattacharya, appearing on behalf of

the petitioner vociferously argued and further submitted that the

present case is based on false, fabricated, concocted and only to

canvass ulterior motive of the complainant to defame the petitioner,

who was discharging his duties as headmaster of a school since

2019. The allegation is out and out false. The allegations are not

supported by any reliable evidence. The FIR is not corroborated or

supported by the victim girl herself. Incident shifted from the venue of

running class room to headmaster’s office room in presence of other

students on next date although complaint was different regarding

place and date of incident. Even, other witnesses narrated about the

incident differently, no specific date, time and manner of incident

narrated to justify the incident happened with the victim girl. No
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reliable evidence transpired from the charge sheet about his previous

bad character or conducts as alleged by the witnesses.

6. It was further added by the learned counsel that apart from

her friends, no other students had been examined by the

Investigating Officer though the alleged incident occurred in the class

room of the school. The allegations of committing the said offence

with a minor girl inside the running class room in front of other

students are unbelievable. No prudent man could even imagine of

such incident be happened in the running class room in presence of

other students. If such incident really had been happened then real

truth would have bound to come from the statements of other

students, who were very much present in the class room or the

students who accompany with the victim girl to the headmaster’s

office room but, no other independent students have been examined

though they were vital witnesses to unearth the actual truth. There

are vital discrepancies and inconsistencies amongst the witnesses.

7. Under such vital discrepancies and inconsistencies of the

statements of the complainant, victim girl and other witnesses touch

the root of the allegation. If such proceedings, based on patently

absurd and inherently improbable in presence of other students in

the broad day light either in the running class room or headmaster’s
6

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office room, would continue then it would be gross abuse of process

of law. If proceeding based on such baseless charge sheet allowed to

be continued, the petitioner would prejudice and suffer irreparable

loss and injury. It would damage his reputation and career in future.

It would also adversely impact on other students and institution.

Therefore, Court should be very careful and cautious while dealing

with such types of cases.

8. Finally, learned counsel candidly submitted that though the

allegation, is serious in nature, falls under the POCSO Act, but Court

while exercising inherent power under Section 482 of CrPC should

look into the entire facts narrated in the FIR and evidence collected in

the course of investigation very carefully and cautiously to prevent

gross abuse of process of law and also secure the ends of justice.

Petitioner was arrested and he spent 43 days in judicial custody

without any fault and his life became miserable in the society due to

false implication. Therefore, this Court can exercise inherent power

under Section 482 of the CrPC to prevent the abuse of process of law

and to secure the ends of justice.

9. Learned counsel has also placed reliance of a decision in the

case of Ganesh Orang Vs. State of West Bengal & Anr.1 to support

1
CRA 248 of 2019 with CRAN 2 of 2021 (Old CRAN 2848 of 2019)
7

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his contention that place, time and circumstances under which

alleged offence was committed by the petitioner are the essential

parameters to be required to establish in order to prove even the

prima facie prosecution case and, in the instant case, vital

contradictions and inconsistencies are appearing on the face of

records and, in such a situation, the Investigating Officer ought not

to have been filed charge sheet against the petitioner. Only on such

ground, the Revisional application can be allowed and charge sheet

should be quashed

10. On the other hand, none appeared on behalf of the opposite

party no. 2/victim girl despite service of notice. In addition, this

Court also directed the State to serve the notice to the opposite party

no. 2 through concerned jurisdictional Police Station but none

appeared on her behalf even after receiving of notice.

SUBMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE STATE:

11. Learned counsels appearing on behalf of the State produced

the case diary and vehemently opposed the prayer of the petitioner

and further submitted that during investigation, statements of the

victim, her friends and other teachers of the school were recorded

under Section 161 of CrPC. Statement of the victim girl was also

recorded under Section 164 of CrPC. Statement of two other students
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were also recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC. They have

established the prima facie case against the offence committed by the

petitioner in the school premises. Though, there are some

inconsistencies but this Court cannot embark upon such

inconsistencies at this stage. The petitioner must have to face trial

and opportunity need to be given to the victim girl and vital eye

witnesses to uncover the real truth otherwise faith of public on the

judicial process will be undermined. Finally, learned counsel prays

for dismissal of the application.

DISCUSSIONS, ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION OF THIS COURT:

12. Considering the arguments advanced and submissions made

on behalf of the parties and upon perusal of materials available on

records, core legal issues arise for determination are as follows: –

1. Whether contradictions or inconsistencies in the
statements of the witnesses recorded in course of
investigation can be a ground for quashing of the charge
sheet?

2. Whether incomplete or mechanical or perfunctory
investigation warrants quashing of the Charge Sheet in
exercising inherent power under Section 482 of the
CrPC?

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3. Whether prima facie material exists in the charge
sheet to allow to proceed with the case falls under
POCSO Act?

13. All the issues are taken up together for the purpose of the

fair and effective disposal of this case for the sake of convenience and

to avoid repetition. Upon meticulously perusal of the case diary

particularly the statements recorded under Sections 161 and 164 of

the CrPC, this Court finds there are vital contradictions,

inconsistencies and dichotomies between the FIR and statements of

the witnesses recorded under Section 161 and 164 of the CrPC. The

comparative chart of the Statements of the witnesses is given in

details as under: –

Point of FIR Victim and Victim’s Witnesses’ Contradictions
Comparison (Mother’s Other witnesses’ Statement statements /observations
Complaint) statements under Section under
under Section 164 of CrPC Section
161
of CrPC 164 of
CrPC

Manner of I) On I) She stated I) She along I) Victim’s I) There exist
commission 21.03.2024, without with other friend clear
of the the victim mentioning any students went (Class VI) contradictions
offence girl along particular date to the mentions regarding the
with her that she and her headmaster’s incident date and place
classmates classmates went office to report happened of occurrence of
went to the to the as the fan was in the offence.

headmaster’s headmaster’s not working classroom
II) No specific
office to office to report as without but does
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report as the fan was not mentioning not specify time has been
there was no working but he any specific date or specified by the
fan in the did not listen, date but, he time. witnesses.

classroom,            rebuke and drive did not listen
                                                                    II) Student III) Complainant
but,           the out them.                  and ask to go
                                                                    of Class IX said there was
headmaster                                    to the class.
                      II)     Again      on                         mentions        no fan whereas
did not listen
                      21.03.2024,       she II)     Again      on incident          others said fan
and           start
                      along     with    her the next day, happened                  was          not
assaulting
                      classmates went she along with in                             working.
her daughter
                      to    report      the other students classroom
as well as her
                      same issue of fan, went          to     the based        on
classmates.
                      but               the headmaster's            hearsay but
II)            On headmaster            did office to report without
22.03.2024,           not             listen. about           the mentioning
she      alleged Rather,                 on same             issue any date or
on             the pretext of seeing but                       he time.
pretext          of the neck chain he assaulted her
seeing         the inserted his hand as               well     as
neck      chain, into the victim's other students
the                   school dress.           without
headmaster                                    indicating the
                      III) Two teachers
inserted       his                            date and time.
                      of      the      same
hand      inside
                      school          stated III)     On      the
the      victim's
                      about             the same date, on
school dress
                      aforesaid        facts pretext           of
in             the
                      without                 seeking         the
running
                      indicating        any neck           chain,
class.
                      particular       date the              head
III) Parents of and place on the master
the students basis of hearsay inserted                        his
went to the evidence without hand                          inside
headmaster's          naming            who the          school
office          to informed them.             dress     of    the
inquire about
                                                      11

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              the incident,                                victim girl.
              he
              threatened
              with        dire
              consequence
              and said that
              nobody      can
              do     anything
              against him.

 Place of     Inside             Headmaster's              Headmaster's      I)   Victim's Contradictions
Occurrence    classroom          office    room       in office room in friend said between
              during             presence             of presence         of in         the classroom (FIR/
              running            students.                 students.         classroom.      witnesses)     and
              class        in                                                                office room by
                                                                             II) Student
              presence      of                                                               victim girl.
                                                                             of Class IX
              students.
                                                                             said in the
                                                                             classroom
                                                                             based      on
                                                                             hearsay.

Presence of   Other              Other      students No clarity.                             I)       Hearsay
Witnesses     students           were present.                                               evidence of the
              were present.                                                                  teachers is not
                                 Two            teachers
                                                                                             admissible.
                                 stated that they
                                 only heard about                                            II)            No
                                 the incident from                                           independent
                                 others;        without                                      students
                                 indicating names                                            examined        to
                                 and      the     actual                                     corroborate the
                                 place                of                                     incident.
                                 occurrence.
                                         12

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Assault   Headmaster      Victim girl stated In      her     164 I) The Class Allegations                 of
          assaulted the that            the statement, the friend                     assault            are
          victim     girl headmaster    did victim girl said mentioned                inconsistent
          and      other not   listen   and that       on    the that on the and
          students        send them back first day the same                    day, uncorroborated;
          when       they to   class     by headmaster              the
                                                                                      II) No medical
          complained      threatening them.   sent          them headmaster
                                                                                      evidence
          about the fan                       back and on beaten                  a
                                                                                      supports
          on                                  the next day boy               when
                                                                                      injuries.
          21.03.2024.                         he beaten up he                went

some students outside and III) The victim
and inserted returned to girl herself
his hand into class. refused to
her school undergo
II) The
dress. medical
Class IX
examination.

                                                                    witness
                                                                                      There       is     no
                                                                    stated      the
                                                                                      corroboration
                                                                    headmaster
                                                                                      about             the
                                                                    once beaten
                                                                                      assault to the
                                                                    her         for
                                                                                      victim            girl
                                                                    wearing
                                                                                      and/or           other
                                                                    different
                                                                                      students         while
                                                                    coloured
                                                                                      they went to the
                                                                    leggings
                                                                                      headmaster's
                                                                    without
                                                                                      office room to
                                                                    mentioning
                                                                                      report the issue
                                                                    date,     time
                                                                                      of fan.
                                                                    and place.

                                                                    III) She said
                                                                    nothing
                                                                    about the
                                                                    alleged
                                                                    assault of
                                                                    other
                                                                    students
                              13

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14. From the materials available on the case diary, there exist

material contradictions from the statements of the victim girl and her

mother. Actual incidents are not supported by any independent

witnesses including school teachers or students despite the alleged

incident occurred in running class room of a School in the broad day

light. The victim girl also refused medical examination. Furthermore,

no medical report corroborated allegation of physical assault to

support the offence. Statement of one another student of the said

school was also recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC but the

narration of incident is wholly unmatched.

15. Another student of class IX of the same school narrated in

her statement recorded in 164 Statement of the CrPC about some

other incident without mentioning date and time of the incident,

which is not any way connected with the present incident. She

further stated about the incident of the victim girl on the basis of

hearsay evidence without naming the person, who informed her.

16. Overall consideration of evidence collected in course of

investigation found to be absurd and not inconsistencies in respect of

time, place and manner of offence narrated in the FIR and statements

of the witnesses including victim girl and others. Complainant stated
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2025:CHC-AS:1589

there was no fan in the class room and her daughter as well as other

students stated the fan was not working. Victim girl stated

headmaster assaulted her and other students, when they went to

report to the headmaster in office room about the issue of fan but

same is not corroborated by other students. The statements recorded

under Sections 161 and 164 of CrPC found altogether two different

stories regarding place of occurrence and wholly inconsistencies with

regard to the place of incident and no specific time is mentioned. This

Court is conscious that Statements recorded under Section 161 CrPC

are not substantive evidence and cannot form the sole basis for

quashing a criminal proceeding unless such contradictions appear

vital with FIR and Section 164 Statements and go to the root of the

prosecution case and render it manifestly untenable. Therefore, in

the present case, the internal inconsistencies and the Investigating

Officer’s failure to examine other independent witnesses particularly

who were present in the class room and/or office room raise a serious

question regarding the genuineness of the case and the legality of the

charge sheet.

17. The POCSO Act, 2012 is a special legislation enacted to

protect children from sexual offences by ensuring child-friendly

procedures during investigation and trial, and imposing stringent

punishments for perpetrators. While the statute is protective in
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nature, it does not presume guilt and the principles of fair trial and

natural justice remain fully applicable to an accused person. Courts

are also required to adopt a cautious but balanced approach,

especially when the facts present significant contradictions,

procedural irregularities, or non-compliance with statutory

safeguards.

18. In the case of State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal2, the

Hon’ble Supreme Court held that where the allegations in the FIR or

the supporting material do not disclose the commission of any offence

or where the proceedings are manifestly attended with mala fide

intention, the High Court can exercise its inherent powers under

Section 482 of CrPC to prevent abuse of the process of law. In the

present case, the material on record, even if taken at face value, fails

to disclose a prima facie case for the offences under Sections 10 and

12 of the POCSO Act or Section 75 of the JJ Act. The mechanically

filing of the charge sheet without sufficient material appears to be not

sufficient to hold petitioner has committed such offence even prima

facie, therefore, it is an abuse of the legal process and continuation of

such proceedings would result in undue harassment and oppression

to the accused. The Hon’ble Supreme Court finds it just and proper

to invoke its inherent powers under Section 482 of CrPC.

2
[(1992) Supp (1) SCC 335],
16

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19. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the decision in Vineet Kumar

& Ors. Vs. State of U.P. & Anr.3 held in paragraph 39 thereof that

inherent power given to the High Court under Section 482 of Cr.P.C.

is with the purpose and object of advancement of justice. In case

solemn process of Court is sought to be abused by a person with

some oblique motive, the Court has to thwart the attempt at the very

threshold. The Court cannot permit a prosecution to go on if the case

falls in one of the Categories as illustratively enumerated in State of

Haryana v. Bhajan Lal4. Judicial process is a solemn proceeding

which cannot be allowed to be converted into an instrument of

operation or harassment. When there are materials to indicate that a

criminal proceeding which cannot be allowed to be converted into an

instrument of operation or harassment. When there is material to

indicate that a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala

fide and proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive,

the High Court will not hesitate in exercise of its jurisdiction under

Section 482 of Cr.P.C. to quash the proceeding under Category 7 as

enumerated in State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal (supra), which is to

the following effect:

“(7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended
with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is

3 2017 (13) SCC 369: AIR 2017 SC 1884
4
AIR 1960 SC 866
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maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for
wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to
spite him due to private and personal grudge.”

20. Similarly, in another decision in Mahmood Ali v. State of

U.P.5, the Apex Court while considering the power under Section 482

of Cr.P.C, in paragraph 12 thereof held that whenever an accused

comes before the Court invoking either the inherent powers under

Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or extraordinary

jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to get the

FIR or the criminal proceedings quashed essentially on the ground

that such proceedings are manifestly frivolous or vexatious or

instituted with the ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance, then in

such circumstances, the Court owes a duty to look into the FIR with

care and a little more closely. We say so because once the

complainant decides to proceed against the accused with an ulterior

motive for wreaking personal vengeance, etc., then he would ensure

that the FIR/complaint is very well drafted with all the necessary

pleadings. The complainant would ensure that the averments made

in the FIR/complainant are such that they disclose the necessary

ingredients to constitute the alleged offence. Therefore, it will not be

5
[2023 KHC 7029 : 2023 KHC OnLine 7029 : 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 613 : 2023 KLT OnLine 175 : AIR 2023 SC 3709 : AIR
OnLine 2023 SC 602 : 2023 CriLJ 3896]
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2025:CHC-AS:1589

just enough for the Court to look into the averments made in the

FIR/complainant alone for the purpose of ascertaining whether the

necessary ingredients to constitute the alleged offence are disclosed

or not. In frivolous or vexatious proceedings, the Court owes a duty to

look into many other attending circumstances emerging from the

record of the case over and above the averments and, if need be, with

due care and circumspection try to read in between the lines. The

Court while exercising its jurisdiction under Section 482 of the

Cr.P.C. or Article 226 of the Constitution of India need not restrict

itself only to the stage of a case but is empowered to take into

account the overall circumstances leading to the

initiation/registration of the case as well as the materials collected in

the course of investigation.

(Emphasis supplied)

21. Therefore, the legal position is clear that when the petitioner

seeks quashing of charge sheet or criminal proceedings can be

resorted to when the prosecution materials do not constitute

materials to attract the offence alleged to be committed. Similarly, the

Court owes a duty to look into the other attending circumstances,

over and above the averments to see whether there are materials to

indicate that a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala
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fide and proceeding instituted maliciously with ulterior motives. Once

the said fact is established, the same is a good reason to quash the

charge sheet and criminal proceedings thereof.

22. The Hon’ble Himachal Pradesh High Court was also

cognizant of the seriousness of offences under the POCSO Act and

the imperative of protecting child victims. However, it is equally

essential to guard against the misuse of penal provisions for

extraneous motives. As observed in Sanjay Sharma (supra)6, Courts

must intervene where prosecution is manifestly vexatious or premised

on insufficient material, to prevent miscarriage of justice.

23. In the case of Rajesh Sharma v. State of U.P.7, while

dealing with similarly sensitive provisions, the Hon’ble Supreme

Court cautioned against the mechanical prosecution of accused

persons emphasising the need for judicial scrutiny to prevent

harassment. Although the case arose under Section 498A of IPC, the

underlying principle against mechanical and mala fide prosecution is

equally relevant in the present context.

24. In the case of Sanjay Sharma v. State of Himachal

Pradesh, the Hon’ble Himachal Pradesh High Court reiterated as

follows:

6

[(2022) SCC Online HP 3327]
7
[(2017) SCC OnLine SC 821]
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2025:CHC-AS:1589

“The inherent powers of the High Court under Section
482
CrPC may be invoked in cases where the
allegations are ex facie absurd or where continuation of
proceedings would result in injustice or oppression to
the accused. The Court observed that while such power
must be exercised with circumspection, it cannot be
withheld in cases where the prosecution amounts to a
misuse of judicial process”.

(Emphasis supplied)

25. Similarly, in Pankaj Kumar v. State of Maharashtra8,

the Hon’ble Supreme Court held thereof as under:

“The seriousness of the offence should not deter the

Court from quashing the proceedings if the material on

record fails to disclose a prima facie case.”

These principles fully apply to the facts of the present case in hand,

where the allegations are inconsistent, unsupported and do not make

out the basic ingredients of the alleged offences. This Court also fails

to repose confidence upon the evidence collected in course of

investigation with regard to the alleged offence.

26. In the case in hand, at the cost of repetition this Court finds

the vital contradictions and inconsistencies with regard to the

8
[(2008) 16 SCC 117]
21

2025:CHC-AS:1589

allegations in the FIR and the statements of the victim girl. Other

statements recorded under Sections 161 and 164 of CrPC are also

not found any consistency rather there is vital dichotomy, shaky and

week piece of evidence. There is no specific time, date and place in

connection with the alleged offence, some times during running class

room and, on the other hand, in Headmaster’s office. Several

students were available in the school premises but none of

independent witnesses called for as witnesses to corroborate the

actual incident.

27. Two teachers of the same school were examined by the

investigating officer. They have narrated nothing about the actual

incidents as alleged by the complainant though they were very much

present in the school premises. They have heard about the incident

from others without naming any one from whom they had heard

about the incident, therefore, their hearsay evidences are not

admissible in law.

28. The tendency to implicate in the case falls under the

stringent POCSO Act is also not uncommon now a day. Even after

conclusion of criminal trial, it is often difficult to ascertain the real

truth and ultimately, maximum cases come to end with acquittal

and/or not proved. The Courts have to be extremely careful and
22

2025:CHC-AS:1589

cautious while dealing with these complaints and material collected

during investigation and should take pragmatic realities into

considerations while handling criminal case based on false

allegations.

29. This Court finally finds the following vital facts and

circumstances: –

a) There are material contradictions and dichotomies

amongst the victim’s statement, her mother’s version, other

witnesses and the FIR;

b) No date, time, place and manner of incident matched

with the evidence of the witnesses;

c) No independent students witnesses from the class (VI)

have been examined;

d) No seizure has been made like neck chain, attendance

register of the school, injury report etc.;

e) The procedural mandates of POCSO Act–such as child-

friendly protocols and presence of a support person–have

not been followed;

f) The charge sheet appears mechanically filed without

considering or assessing the evidence of the witnesses
23

2025:CHC-AS:1589

collected in course of investigation and further failed to

establish the prima facie case of the offence as alleged.

30. After careful scrutiny of the materials available in the case

diary, this Court does not find any sufficient materials to establish at

least prima facie case against the present petitioner, who was

headmaster of a school. Even if, for the sake of argument, this

proceeding is allowed to be continued, the conviction of petitioner

appears bleak and remote. To secure the ends of justice, the Charge

Sheet deserved to be quashed under the inherent power granted

under Section 482 of the CrPC insofar as the petitioner is concerned.

31. In the light of above discussion and analysis, this Court

finally comes to a conclusion that the object of POCSO Act is to

protect children, not to prosecute innocents. Law must not be

weaponised. The judicial conscience must be satisfied that sufficient

material exists to put a person on trial, especially under a stringent

statute. In its absence, quashing is not only permissible but

necessary.

32. In the back drop of aforesaid reasons, CRR 3857 of 2024

is, thus, allowed. Consequently, the Charge Sheet being No.

191/2024 dated 21.05.2024 submitted by the Mahishadal Police

Station arising out of Mahishadal P.S. Case No. 130/2024 dated
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22.03.2024 under Sections 341/323/506 of the Indian Penal Code,

1860 and Sections 10/12 of the POCSO Act as well as Section 75 of

the Juvenile Justice Act pending before the Court of Learned Judge,

Special Court, POCSO, Haldia at Purba Medinipur is hereby quashed.

33. Connected applications, if any, are also, thus, disposed of.

34. Case Diary, if any, is to be returned to the learned Advocate

for the State.

35. Let a copy of this Judgment be sent to the Learned Court

below for information.

36. Interim order, if any, stands vacated.

37. Parties shall act on the server copies of this Judgment

uploaded on the website of this Court.

38. Urgent photostat certified copy of this Judgment, if applied

for, is to be given as expeditiously to the parties on compliance of all

formalities.

(Ajay Kumar Gupta, J)

P. Adak (P.A.)

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