USHA MALHOTRA vs STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER — CRM-M/11999/2016

Mr. Justice Jasjit Singh BediView PDF

Case Summary: CRM-M/11999/2016 - Usha Malhotra v. State of Punjab Decision: The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the petition seeking to quash defamation proceedings (Section 500 IPC) against Usha Malhotra. The court held that an absconding accused cannot obtain quashing of proceedings merely because co-accused were acquitted, particularly when the accused has evaded the judicial process and been declared a proclaimed offender twice. Key Reasoning: The court applied established precedent that: (1) prosecution has no obligation to present evidence against an absconding co-accused during trial of others; (2) co-accused acquittals are irrelevant to proceedings against absconders; (3) an accused's evasion and improper conduct justify refusing quashing relief; and (4) pendency of an appeal against co-accused acquittal further precludes quashing the petitioner's case. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.

Mr. Justice Sudhir Mittal

—

Mr. Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa

Mr. Justice Sudhir Mittal

—

Mr. Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa

Mr. Justice Hari Pal Verma

—

Mrs. Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul

Mr. Justice Hari Pal Verma

—

Mrs. Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul

Mr. Justice Hari Pal Verma

—

Mrs. Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul

—

Mrs. Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul

Mr. Justice Hari Pal Verma

—

Mrs. Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul

Mr. Justice Hari Pal Verma

Mr. Justice Hari Pal Verma

—

Mr. Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan

Mr. Justice Fateh Deep Singh

—

Mr. Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan

—

Mr. Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan

—

Mr. Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan

Mr. Justice Hari Pal Verma

First hearing

Initial hearing scheduled

Case filed

Registration No. CRM-M/11999/2016