RAMESH KUMARAN & ANR. versus STATE THROUGH THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE & ANR.

Citation: [2025] 3 S.C.R. 1245 · Decided: 27-03-2025 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: ABHAY S. OKA · Disposal: Appeal(s) allowed

Judgment (excerpt)

[2025] 3 S.C.R. 1245 : 2025 INSC 405
Ramesh Kumaran & Anr. 
v. 
State Through The Inspector of Police & Anr.
(Criminal Appeal No. 1318 of 2025)
27 March 2025
[Abhay S. Oka* and Ujjal Bhuyan, JJ.]
Issue for Consideration
Cross-FIRs related to the same incident and for the same offences, 
with allegations and counter-allegations, were filed by two lawyers 
against each other. The Supreme Court explored the possibility of 
an amicable settlement between the parties.
Headnotes†
Constitution of India – Art.142 – Cross-FIRs related to same 
incident and for the same offences, filed by two lawyers against 
each other – Both lawyers practising before the same Courts – 
Incident arose due to past animosity – Unconditional apology 
and undertakings tendered by both parties – Supreme Court 
taking a broad view in the peculiar facts – In view of personal 
and professional interests of both the parties, proceedings 
based on both the FIRs quashed in pursuance of directions 
passed u/Art.142 – Penal Code, 1860 – ss.294(b), 323 and 
506(1). [Paras 13, 16 and 17]
List of Acts
Constitution of India; Penal Code, 1860.
List of Keywords
Quashing of FIR; Article 142 of Constitution of India; First 
Information Report; Unconditional apology.
Case Arising From
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No. 
1318 of 2025
From the Judgment and Order dated 29.09.2023 of the High Court of 
Judicature at Madras at Madurai in CRLOP(MD) No. 15913 of 2019
* Author
1246
[2025] 3 S.C.R.
Supreme Court Reports
Appearances for Parties
Advs. for the Appellants:
Vairawan A.S, Ms. Jaswanthi A, Ms. Aaina Verma, Amit Kumar.
Advs. for the Respondents:
Sabarish Subramanian, Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Ms. Jahnavi Taneja, 
Danish Saifi, A Velan, Ms. Navpreet Kaur, Prince Singh, Nilay Rai.
Judgment / Order of the Supreme Court
Judgment
Abhay S. Oka, J.
FACTUAL ASPECTS
1.	
This appeal arises out of a dispute between the first appellant 
and the second respondent who are both members of the Bar and 
practise before the Courts in Kodaikanal. The second appellant is 
the father of the first appellant. Two First Information Reports (for 
short, ‘FIR’) were registered as a result of a dispute between the first 
appellant and the second respondent. According to the appellants, on 
18th December 2017, the second respondent and two other persons 
assaulted the appellants. Therefore, FIR No.499 of 2017, which was 
the first FIR, was registered at the instance of the first appellant. It 
is alleged in the said FIR that at 4.45 pm on 18th December 2017, 
while the first appellant was walking near Kodaikanal Lake, the 
second respondent and two unidentified persons were drinking 
alcohol in a car. The allegation is that the said three persons 
assaulted the first appellant. Thereafter, the second respondent 
punched the first appellant on the nose with his right hand. The 
nose started bleeding. The first appellant has alleged in the FIR that 
the fight arose from past animosity, as he had a verbal altercation 
with the second respondent in the Kodaikanal Court three years 
back. Accordingly, FIR No. 499 of 2017 was registered on 21st 
December 2017 at 8.30 pm alleging the commission of offences 
under Sections 294(b), 323 and 506(1) of the Indian Penal Code, 
1860 (for short, ‘IPC’) against the second respondent and two other 
persons. According to the appellants, charge sheet has already 
been filed in the said case. 
[2025] 3 S.C.R. 
1247
Ramesh Kumaran & Anr. v.  
State Through The Inspector of Police & Anr.
2.	
The present appeal relates to the second FIR, which is FIR No.500 
of 2017, registered at the instance of the second respondent against 
the appellants. It related to the same incident and was also registered 
on 21st December 2017, half an hour after FIR No.499# of 2017 
was registered. The allegation made by the second respondent is 
that on 18th December 2017, while he was standing near Sterling 
Resort near the Kodaikanal Lake, the first appellant came there 
and abused him with filthy words and started verbally arguing with 
him. Thereafter, he called the second appellant on the phone, and 
both of them abused him with foul language. They also threatened 
him, stating that since he belonged to another city, he should leave 
this city or they would kill him. Therefore, FIR No. 500 of 2017 was 
registered at the instance of the second respondent for the offences 
punishable under Sections 294(b), 323 and 506(1) of the IPC. It 
appears that a closure report w

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