SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL S.L.P.(Crl.) No.3343 of 2022)
DINESH GUPTA VERSUS THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH & ANR.

Reported Judgment 
In a landmark case, the Supreme Court of India has imposed a hefty fine of 25 lakh rupees in the Dinesh Gupta versus the state of Uttar Pradesh. This ruling follows a series of legal proceedings addressing grave allegations and ensuring justice. The case revolves around Mr. Dinesh Gupta, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, accused of committing a serious offense that attracted significant public attention. The Supreme Court thoroughly examined the evidence, considering the constitutionality of the allegations and the impact on society. The fine serves as a strong deterrent for similar offenses and highlights the importance of maintaining law and order while respecting fundamental rights and principles of justice. This decision has broader implications for legal precedence in Uttar Pradesh and India.

Relevant Paras 

Unscrupulous litigants should not be allowed to
go scot-free. They should be put to strict termsand conditions including costs. It is time to check with firmness such litigation initiated and laced with concealment, falsehood, and forum hunting. Even State actions or conduct of government servants being party to such malicious litigation should be seriously reprimanded. In the instant case, we find initiation of criminal proceedings before a forum which had no territorial jurisdiction by submitting incorrect facts and giving frivolous reasons to entertain such complaints. A closer look at the respondent’s actions reveals more than just an inappropriate use of jurisdiction. The core issue of the dispute, which involves financial transactions and agreements, clearly places it in the realm of civil and commercial law. Yet, the respondent chose to pursue criminal charges in a quest to abuse thecriminal justice system with a motive to seek personal vengeance rather than seeking true justice. This unnecessary turning of a civil matter into a criminal case not only overburdens the criminal justice system but also violates the principles of fairness and right conduct in legal matters. The apparent misuse of criminal proceedings in this case not only damages trust in our legal system but also sets a harmful precedent if not addressed.
3. A common order1 passed by the High Court2 dismissing the petitions filed by the appellants seeking quashing of the summoning order3 has been impugned in the present appeals.

34. The entire factual matrix and the time lines clearly reflects that the complainant deliberately and unnecessarily has caused substantial delay and had been waiting for opportune moment for initiating false and frivolous litigation.
35. Further, it has been noticed by the High Court in the impugned order that on an application filed by the appellants, an Arbitrator was appointed by the Delhi High Court vide order dated 15.05.2019 to settle the dispute amongst the parties and the said matter was still pending.
36. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we find that the FIR in question, if proceeded further, will result in absolute abuse of process of court. It is a clear case of malicious prosecution. Hence, the same is required to be quashed.

To read the order click here 

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