IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL Criminal Writ Petition No. 1098 of 2007 Sri Pratap Singh Negi ........... Petitioner Versus State of Uttarakhand and others. ............. Respondents Sri B.N.Maulekhi, learned counsel for the petitioner Sri Tanuj Semwal, learned counsel for the respondent Nos. 1 & 2. Date: March 18, 2009. Hon’ble Prafulla C.Pant, J. Hon’ble B.S. Verma, J. By means of this writ petition the petitioner has sought writ in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondent No.2 to expedite and conclude the investigation in case crime No.207A of 2000 relating to offences punishable under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468 & 471 I.P.C. registered with Police Station, Tehri. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the State. It is submitted on behalf of learned counsel for the petitioner that the crime was registered in the year 2000 and since then nine years passed and the investigating agency has yet not completed the investigation. 3. A counter affidavit, has been filed on behalf of the investigating agency stating that the matter relates to embezzlement of money in a bank and lot of statements were required to be recorded by the Investigating Officer. In Para-6 of the counter affidavit, details have been given regarding the progress of investigation. Learned counsel for the State pointed out that in the cross case registered against the petitioner, investigation is completed and chargesheet has already been filed against the petitioner. 4. Having heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State and after going through the papers on record, this Court is of the view that the investigating agency has already taken too much time in completing the investigation i.e. more than eight years. The investigating agency cannot be permitted to take further indefinite period for completing the investigation particularly when there appears no hurdle in completing the investigation. 5. Therefore, the writ petition is disposed of with the direction that the investigating agency shall complete the investigation relating to crime No. 207A of 2000 as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of three months. (Application No. 1953 of 2009 for condonation of delay in filing counter affidavit stands allowed.) (B.S. Verma, J.) (P.C.Pant,J.) 18.03.2009 P.Singh