HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA WRIT PETITION No. 15777 OF 2011 . DATED 12th August, 2011. BETWEEN Smt. Poreddy Archana …Petitioner And The Station House Officer, Rajendranagar Police Station, Cyberabad,RR District and anr ….Respondents. HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA WRIT PETITION No. 15777 of 2009. ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the respondents in not registering the crime and conducting investigation upon a complaint given by the petitioner on 15.6.2009 as illegal and arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to register a crime, investigate the matter and take up appropriate action against the culprits. It is the case of the petitioner that marriage was solemnized between her and one Sri S.Raghuveer Reddy on 29.04.2007 and to meet the demand of dowry, her father gave dowry by disposing of landed property and also paid certain amounts in cash and jewellery. Though all the demands made prior to the marriage were fully met by her parents, soon after the marriage, her husband as well as her in-laws started ill- threatening and harassing her for additional dowry. On 4.5.2009 she had been driven out of her matrimonial house and as a result thereof, she has been staying with her maternal parents. On a complaint given by her on 22.5.2009, the police have registered a case in crime No. 562 of 2009 on the rolls of the Rajendranagar Police Station for the offences punishable under Section 498-A IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. After completing the investigation, the first respondent filed charge sheet and CC.No. 626 of 2009 is pending adjudication on the file of the learned Judicial First Class Magistrate, Rajendranagar. She also filed DVC No. 4 of 2009 in the same Court seeking divorce. It is the further case of the petitioner that her husband and in-laws driven out of their house in the early hours of 5.5.2009 and they ( husband & in-laws of the petitioner) also retained all her valuable jewellery and ornaments. She got issued legal notice to her husband and in-laws on 30.5.2009 for return of her articles, jewellery, shridhan amount etc.,. Her in-laws and husband however did not return the same. Hence, she lodged another complaint on 15.6.2009 before the first respondent against her husband, in-laws etc., complaining that they have committed theft of her jewellery and valuable articles. It is the grievance of the petitioner that despite the aforesaid complaint, the respondent-police have not registered a crime so far. The learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that whenever a complaint is lodged, it is the duty of the respondent-police to register the same and investigate into. He therefore sought appropriate directions to the respondents to register the complaint of the petitioner, investigate into the same and take appropriate action thereon. Counter affidavit is filed on behalf of the first respondent stating that the petitioner so far did not approach the respondent-police nor submitted any written complaint alleged to have been lodged on 15.6.2009 against her husband and in-laws for committing theft of her jewellery etc., The petitioner filed a reply affidavit denying the averments made in the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the first respondent. It is stated in the reply affidavit that in fact the petitioner sent complaint dated 15.6.2009 under registered post and the same was received by the respondent-police. Despite submitting copy of the complaint before the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police, they have not initiated any action on her complaint. If the petitioner is aggrieved by the action of the first respondent in not registering the crime, the petitioner can file a written complaint under Section 154 (3) Cr.P.C. before the concerned Superintendent of police or under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C before a competent criminal Court. However, as the petitioner has already approached the respondent-authorities with a copy of the aforesaid complaint, the first respondent shall treat the copy of the complaint dated 15.6.2009 which is annexed to the Writ Petition vide Ex.P.3 as complaint and take up further action thereto, in accordance with law. Subject to the above observation, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. ------------------------------------ -- JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA Dated 12th August, 2011. Msnro