1 (Crappln 1969/10) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.1969 OF 2010 Mrs. Rashmi Vijay Kini & others .... Applicants. V/s The State of Maharashtra ..... Respondent. Mr. Rajendra Shirodkar with Mr. Archit Sakhalkar for the applicants. Mr. P.A. Pol, Public Prosecutor for the State. CORAM: V. M. KANADE, J. DATE : 1st September, 2010 P.C.:- 1. Heard the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the applicants. 2. This application has been filed for quashing the criminal complaint filed against the applicants for the offence punishable under sections 465, 467, 468, 471, 474 read with section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. The offence was registered vide C.R. No. 2/2000 by D.C.B., C.I.D on 07/01/2000. 2 (Crappln 1969/10) 3. Brief facts are that the five persons arraigned as accused in the case registered by Borivali Police Station, were arrested and during their interrogation it transpired that they had taken help of travel agent who had procured bogus Indian Passports on the basis of bogus documents by taking help of the applicants working in the Passport Office. It is submitted that the allegation against the present applicant No. 1 and 2 is that they are working in the Passport Office and against applicant No.3 is that he is working in the Postal Department. It is submitted that there is no material whatsoever to connect the present applicants with the commission of the said offence. It is submitted that applicant Nos. 1 and 2 are posted at the counter to receive documents from persons who apply for fresh Passport. It is submitted that the applicants could not have come to know that the documents which are submitted by the applicants or by travel agent are bogus or fictitious. It is submitted that this being the only material on record, the complaint filed against them and the charge-sheet which has been filed pursuant to the said complaint is liable to be quashed. 4. It is not possible to accept the said contention. It is an admitted position that the charge has already been framed in 2003 itself and the criminal trial is likely to commence from 03/09/2010. The persons who were apprehended by the Boriviali Police Station had given the said information. It appears that these persons were connected with hijacking the Indian Airlines Aircraft and the Indian Passports were 3 (Crappln 1969/10) used which were obtained on the basis of fake documents. Considering the seriousness of the allegations made, in my view, at this stage, it would not be proper to consider the application for quashing the complaint particularly since the charge has already been framed in 2003 and the case is likely to commence from 03/09/2010. Hence, this application is dismissed. 5. All questions raised by the applicants are kept open. Trial Court to decide the case in accordance with law and shall not be influenced by the fact that the application for quashing has been dismissed by this Court. The Trial Court shall decide the case as expeditiously as possible within six months. 6. Application is accordingly disposed of. (V.M. KANADE, J.) 4 (Crappln 1969/10)