2026 INSC 482 1

NON-REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. OF 2026

(Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No. 3123 of 2026)

SHRIKANT OJHA … APPELLANT(S)

VERSUS

STATE OF UP & ORS. … RESPONDENT(S)

J U D G M E N T

J.K. MAHESHWARI, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. Being aggrieved by an interim order dated 06.02.2026 of the

High Court of Judicature at Allahabad passed in Criminal Misc. Writ

Petition No. 1718 of 2026 filed by respondent No. 2 herein, relying

upon the judgment of Pradnya Pranjal Kulkarni v. State of

Maharashtra

1 and directing that investigation may go on but the

police report under Section 193(3) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha

Sanhita, 2023 (in short ‘BNSS’) shall not be submitted by the

1

(2025) SCC Online 1948

2

Investigating Officer in Court till the pendency of the present writ

petition, the present appeal has been filed by the complainant.

3. The facts unfolded as stated are that Spiritual Regeneration

Movement Foundation of India (in short, “Society”) is a society

registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 bearing

registration No. S-2366 of 1963 with registered office at Delhi and

administrative office at Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. The said

society was set up under the divine guidance of His Holiness

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for dissemination of spiritual upliftment and

benefit of the society at large. The said society has freehold

immoveable properties. As per the description given in the list of

dates, one G. Ram Chandramohan has sold the land of the society of

villages Devri and Khamaria, Takhtpur, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. In

June 2011, a complaint of fraud, misrepresentation and forgery by

unauthorized group was promptly submitted to the Registrar of

Societies. Additionally, Civil Suit No.38-A of 2011 seeking declaration

of execution of such sale deeds as unauthorized and void, was filed

by the society and same is pending before the Ld. Presiding Officer,

District Court Takhtpur, Bilaspur. FIR No. 328/2011 was also

registered at Police Station Takhatpur, District Bilaspur, for offences

3

under Sections 429, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 167, 212, 217 and

120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short ‘IPC’) against G. Ram

Chandramohan and the same is pending for adjudication.

4. On 17.12.2011, the society has also filed CS (OS) No. 3221 of

2011 titled as Spiritual Regeneration Movement Foundation of

India and Ors. Vs. PT. L.N. Sharma & Ors., seeking injunction and

to restrain unauthorized groups from preparing forged office bearers,

which is also now pending in Saket Court on account of change in

pecuniary jurisdiction.

5. The High Court in CS (OS) No. 3221/2011 (later renumbered to

CS No. 9984/2016) vide order dated 20.12.2011 granted ex-parte

injunction in favor of the society and directed the parties to maintain

status quo with respect to title and possession of the immovable

properties of the society till further orders, restraining defendant not

to create any third party interest without leave of the Court. A police

complaint filed on 07.07.2012 is pending in Police Station Madhu

Vihar, Delhi. On 22.11.2014, FIR No. 486/2014 was also registered

at Police Station City Kotwali, District Baloda Bazar, Bhatapara

under sections 419, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 167, 212, 217 and

120B of the IPC against the unauthorized group.

4

6. In the meantime, Civil Suit filed at Takhtpur, Bilaspur was

allowed holding that the society was the owner of the lands that had

been illegally and fraudulently sold by unauthorized group of

illegitimate office bearers, therefore, the sale deeds were declared not

binding on the society. High Court of Chhattisgarh in MCRC No.

7232/2018 and MCRC No. 1178/2019 granted bail to G. Ram

Chandramohan in connection with FIR No. 328/2011 and FIR No.

468/2014 respectively, though petitions seeking cancellation of bail

filed by the society are pending.

7. On account of disposing the property of society, FIR No. 294 of

2023 at PS Noida Sector 39 was registered under Section 420, 467

and 511 of IPC against G. Ram Chandramohan. Another FIR was

registered on 20.10.2023 bearing No. 259 of 2023 at Police Station

Sunera District Shajapur under Sections 420, 34 and 511 of IPC.

Simultaneously, on 11.01.2024, FIR No. 20 of 2024 has also been

registered at Police Station Bargi District Jabalpur under Sections

420, 409, 120B and 34 of IPC against G. Ram Chandramohan and

Awadesh Pandey. This was based on forged power of attorney and

fraudulently disposition of the property of the society. FIR No. 68 of

2024 of Police Station Shajapur has also been registered under

5

Sections 420, 467, 468 and 34 of IPC regarding sale of 199 bigha 8

biswa of land. High Court of Madhya Pradesh in Misc. Criminal Case

No. 12972 of 2024 dismissed the quashing petition filed by G. Ram

Chandramohan and Awadesh Pandey in connection with FIR No.

20/2024 PS Bargi.

8. Similarly, for disposing the property of society, forgery and

cheating, various other litigations are pending against the persons

who are usurping the management of the society. For the present

case, FIR No. 642 of 2025 in Police Station Noida Sector 39 was

registered in addition to FIR No. 294 of 2023 and 152 of 2025 already

registered at PS Noida Sector 39. In the FIR it was alleged that G.

Ram Chandramohan, Akash Malviya, Pradip Singh on the basis of

forged documents sold the land of the society to M/s Singhvahini

Infraprojects Private Limited. It is to clarify that respondent No.2

herein along with one Pradip Singh are the directors of M/s

Singhvahini Infraprojects Private Limited. In relation to this FIR

quashment petition was filed by respondent No. 2 herein before the

High Court wherein the impugned order was passed.

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9. This Court while issuing notice, initially thought that the lands

of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi were government allotted lands given on

lease but during the course of hearing it was informed by the

appellant that those lands are freehold, and this fact has not been

disputed by the counsel representing the State. During the course of

hearing, the appellant has strenuously urged that the land of the

society was being sold by unauthorized person on the basis of forged

documents, and in this regard, various FIRs were registered

including the present FIR, i.e. FIR No. 642 of 2025 in the Police

Station Noida Sector 39, of which quashment is sought before the

High Court by respondent No. 2.

10. After perusal of the contents of the present FIR, it is clear that

the earlier two FIR Nos. 294 of 2023 and 152 of 2025 were also

registered at the same Police Station against Akash Malviya and G.

Ram Chandramohan, even then they disposed the property of the

society taking the law in their hand, to M/s Singhvahini Infraprojects

Private Limited through its directors Pradip Singh and Raghvendra

Pratap Singh (respondent No. 2). It was indicated in the said FIR that

they are further selling the property of society without any permission

of the society by using the forged documents.

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11. The High Court in the impugned order referred to the judgment

of Mohd. Imbrahim and Anr. v. State of Bihar

2 and Jit Vinayak

Arolkar v. State of Goa and others

3 to say that where there is a

civil dispute there cannot be any criminality and the FIR can be

quashed. While issuing notice, arrest was stayed and the

investigation was directed to be continued but filing of the charge-

sheet was restrained relying upon the judgment of Pradnya Pranjal

Kulkarni (supra). However, in the facts where the land of the society

is being sold repeatedly, how far the recourse as taken by the High

Court is justified is an issue to consider.

12. We have heard the counsel appearing for the parties at length

and found that society belonging to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, holds a

huge chunk of land at various places, management of which is in

dispute as reflected from the report of Office of Registrar of Society

filed by the State in its affidavit. For reference, relevant part of the

report is quoted hereunder:

“As per the records available in the file, there seems to be

a dispute among two groups of the management of the

society namely “The Spiritual Regeneration Movement of

India”; one group includes Sh. Ajay Prakash Srivastava

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(2009) 8 SCC 751

3

(2025 INSC 31)

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while the other includes Sh. Chandra Mohan and others.

Hence, as per the records available with this office, the

society has two different list of office bearers.”

13. It is further indicated in the affidavit that the matter concerning

the said society is currently pending before the High Court of Delhi

in W.P.(C) No. 8525/2024. It is a matter of concern to this Court in

particular when number of criminal cases on account of selling of the

property of the society have been registered at various jurisdiction in

different States, and the orders have also been passed by the

respective Courts, but those orders are not being duly observed by

those groups who are selling the property. Therefore, in such a case

wherein by merely referring some judgments of this Court indicating

that there is no criminality, interference to what extent is justified by

the Court when the FIR is under challenge before it under Article

226.

14. As per the judgment of this Court in the case of Neeharika

Infrastructure (P) Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra

4, this Court has

categorically held in para 29 that: -

“29. Now so far as the legality of the impugned interim

order [P. Suresh Kumar v. State of Maharashtra, 2020

SCC OnLine Bom 1711] passed by the High Court

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(2021) 19 SCC 401

9

directing the investigating agency/police “not to adopt

any coercive steps” against the accused is concerned, for

the reasons stated hereinbelow, the same is

unsustainable:

29.1. That such a blanket interim order passed by the

High Court affects the powers of the investigating agency

to investigate into the cognizable offences, which

otherwise is a statutory right/duty of the police under the

relevant provisions of the CrPC.

29.2. That the interim order is a cryptic order.

29.3. That no reasons whatsoever have been assigned by

the High Court, while passing such a blanket order of “no

coercive steps to be adopted” by the police.

29.4. That it is not clear what the High Court meant by

passing the order [P. Suresh Kumar v. State of

Maharashtra, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 1711] of “not to

adopt any coercive steps”, as it is clear from the

impugned interim order that it was brought to the notice

of the High Court that so far as the accused are

concerned, they are already protected by the interim

protection granted by the learned Sessions Court, and

therefore there was no further reason and/or justification

for the High Court to pass such an interim order of “no

coercive steps to be adopted”. If the High Court meant by

passing such an interim order of “no coercive steps”

directing the investigating agency/police not to further

investigate, in that case, such a blanket order without

assigning any reasons whatsoever and without even

permitting the investigating agency to further investigate

into the allegations of the cognizable offence is otherwise

unsustainable. It has affected the right of the

investigating agency to investigate into the cognizable

offences. While passing such a blanket order, the High

Court has not indicated any reasons.

15. In our view, the Court can exercise the discretion for not taking

coercive steps till the matter is pending but the direction not to file

the charge sheet in reference of judgment in the case of Pradnya

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Pranjal Kulkarni (supra) is wholly unjust as the facts of the

judgment of Pradnya Pranjal Kulkarni (supra) are completely on

different footing wherein this Court has explained the scope of

jurisdiction of the High Court while entertaining the petition under

Article 226 of the Constitution. The Court has tried to make a

distinction from the fact that the FIR can be challenged under Article

226 in a writ petition but after taking cognizance of the case, the said

jurisdiction cannot be invoked though the recourse is permissible

under Section 482 of CrPC or 528 of BNSS. The said distinction has

been luculently explained thereof, particularly in paragraphs 8, 9, 10

and 11, which are reproduced as under :

“8. However, from the preamble of the writ petition filed

by the petitioner before the Bombay High Court, it is

evident that the same sought to invoke the twin

jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution and

Section 528 of the BNSS for having the FIR quashed. It is

true that the police report (charge-sheet) had been filed

on 14th May, 2025 upon completion of investigation of

the FIR, but whether or not cognizance had been taken

by the jurisdictional magistrate is not too clear from the

impugned order extracted above. So long cognisance of

the offence is not taken, a writ or order to quash the

FIR/charge-sheet could be issued under Article 226;

however, once a judicial order of taking cognisance

intervenes, the power under Article 226 though not

available to be exercised, power under Section 528, BNSS

was available to be exercised to quash not only the

FIR/charge-sheet but also the order taking cognisance,

provided the same is placed on record along with the

requisite pleadings to assail the same and a strong case

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for such quashing is set up. Significantly, it was reasoned

by us in Neeta Singh (supra) that a judicial order not

being amenable to challenge before a high court under

Article 226 of the Constitution and there being no prayer

either under Article 227 thereof or Section 482, Cr. PC,

the Allahabad High Court was right in holding the writ

petition under Article 226 to have been rendered

infructuous.

9. However, in the present case, certainly the Division

Bench could have examined the grievance of the

petitioner for quashing of the FIR together with the

charge-sheet following it, as well as the cognisance taking

order, if any, since its jurisdiction under Section 528 of

the BNSS was also invoked and the relief claimed could

have been suitably moulded subject, of course, to the

requisite satisfaction of the court that an order of

quashing is warranted on facts and in the circumstances.

We have no hesitation to hold that the Division Bench did

have the jurisdiction to pass such an order as per the

“Sitting List”.

10. Therefore, in our considered opinion, the Division

Bench of the Bombay High Court misread Neeta Singh

(supra), inadvertently omitted to notice the factual

dissimilarity as indicated above and consequently,

misapplied the ratio of such decision to spurn the

challenge laid by the petitioner resulting in a failure of

justice.

11. For the reasons aforesaid, the order impugned stands

set aside. The special leave petition is disposed of at the

admission stage, even without notice to the respondents,

by ordering a remand.”

16. However, from the reading of judgment of Pradnya Pranjal

Kulkarni (supra), we do not find any reason to direct stay on filing

of the chargesheet under Section 193(3) of the BNSS. Therefore, such

direction deserves to be set aside, and the Investigating Officer is

directed to complete the investigation and file its report under section

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193(3) of the BNSS in connection with FIR No. 642 of 2025 dated

20.12.2025 registered under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) of

BNS at Police Station Noida Sector 39, District Gautam Budh Nagar.

17. Considering the fact that various FIR have been registered and

the land belonging to society has been sold without the permission

of the society frustrating the object and purpose of society, we feel it

appropriate that in light of the judgment in the case of Pratibha

Manchanda & Anr. Vs. State of Haryana & Anr.

5 to appoint an

SIT for unimpaired and unobstructed investigation and to save the

land of society from the clutches of those who are acting contrary to

the object and purpose of society for their own benefit. This Court in

Pratibha Manchanda (supra) has observed thus:

“29. Land scams in India have been a persistent issue,

involving fraudulent practices and illegal activities related

to land acquisition, ownership, and transactions.

Scammers often create fake land titles, forge sale deeds,

or manipulate land records to show false ownership or an

encumbrance-free status. Organised criminal networks

often plan and execute these intricate scams, exploiting

vulnerable individuals and communities, and resorting to

intimidation or threats to force them to vacate their

properties. These land scams not only result in financial

losses for individuals and investors but also disrupt

development projects, erode public trust, and hinder

socio-economic progress.

5

(2023) 8 SCC 181

13

30. While we do not wish to comment further on this

issue, we believe it is necessary to foil any trace of

organised crime perpetrated by land mafia, through an

unimpaired and unobstructed investigation.

35. Given the facts and circumstances of this case, we

expand the scope of inquiry in these proceedings and

direct the Commissioner of Police, Gurugram to

constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be headed

by an officer not below the rank of Dy. Superintendent of

Police along with two Inspectors as its members. The SIT

shall take over the investigation forthwith. The SIT shall

have the liberty to subject Respondent 2, the vendee(s),

the Sub-Registrar/officials, or other suspects to custodial

interrogation to arrive at a definite conclusion, strictly in

accordance with law.”

18. Therefore, we deem it appropriate to direct under the

supervision of Chief Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh an SIT to be

constituted wherein the Registrar of Societies shall be made one of

its members who can disclose the lands belonging to the society

concerned and thereafter it should be found out that how the lands

belonging to the society have been alienated or transferred to any

third party without the permission of the society. The fact-finding

enquiry be conducted with respect to the lands already sold by any

person other than the original office bearers of the society and the

report be handed over to the Police concerned within a period of three

months on the basis of which cognizance be taken by the concerned

Police Station, if the act of the persons involving is found to be

fraudulent involving mens rea committing offence. Till the SIT

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submits its report and the investigation is completed by the Police no

coercive action shall be taken against respondent No. 2, but it is

directed that all the accused persons shall cooperate in SIT as well

as in investigation. It is made clear that the SIT shall deal with all

the people at par uninfluenced by unknown force and to maintain

the rule of law.

19. Before parting, it is necessary to observe that Spiritual

Regeneration Movement Foundation of India was registered as a

society for the development of the society at large. After the death of

its founder, it was not intended by him that the friction within groups

shall lead to fights and the property which was quite valuable, shall

be sold for their own interest contrary to the purpose and object. It

was also not intended by him that despite pendency of litigation on

civil and criminal side, the office bearers of the society shall not have

any fear and will continuously involve in selling the property. In our

view, the SIT shall look into all aspects and take a holistic view and

submit its report, thereby further action of forgery and cheating, if

any, be stopped. It is needless to observe that the SIT is at liberty to

give an opportunity to the stakeholders prior to submitting the

report. The said report be made available to the High Court for its

15

decision in the pending matter after asking the objection and

affording an opportunity to the parties. We are not embarking upon

the merits of the case since the present appeal is arising out of an

interim order.

20. With the above directions, the present appeal is disposed of

accordingly. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

….…….…………….…………J.

(J.K. MAHESHWARI)

….…….…………….…………J.

(ATUL S. CHANDURKAR)

NEW DELHI;

MAY 12, 2026.