THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAJA ELANGO CRIMINAL PETITION No.6150 OF 2010 ORDER: The petitioner preferred this petition challenging the order dated 4.2.2010 passed by the learned XIII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad in Crl. M.P. (SR) No. 776 of 2010, Whereby, he directed the respondent-police to reopen the case and to reinvestigate crime No.299 of 2007 registered against the petitioners. This Court perused the entire records and also the order passed by the learned Magistrate. Originally, a case in Crime No.299 of 2007 was registered and the same was closed on the ground of ‘lack of evidence’. Subsequently, another complaint was filed by the complainant invoking the provisions of Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C. The learned Magistrate while forwarding the said complaint to the police for investigation, has directed the respondent-police to reopen Crime No. 299 of 2007 and to reinvestigate the matter. On a perusal of the impugned order, this Court is of the view that the learned Magistrate has no such power to direct for re-investigation of a case, that too by invoking the powers under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. Hence, the order passed by the learned Magistrate is erroneous in law and the same is liable to be quashed and is hereby quashed. The Criminal Petition is accordingly allowed. ________________________ JUSTICE RAJA ELANGO Dated :20th October, 2011 pnb