Allahabad High Court Quashes FIR Lodged By A 'Ghost', Slams IO For Investigating, Filing Chargesheet In The Matter

Recently, the Allahabad High Court encountered an unusual case involving cheating and forgery, wherein an FIR was supposedly filed by a dead person in 2014, almost three years after his death. Expressing shock over the same, the Court observed thus: “It is very strange that a dead person has not only lodged an FIR, but has recorded his statement before Investigating Officer and thereafter a vakalatnama has also been filed on behalf of him in the present case. A copy of the order is sent to President Allahabad Bar Association to take note and to advice the Advocate concern to remain cautious in future.” The Court was essentially dealing with a petition filed by Purushottam Singh and 4 others seeking quashing of a criminal case filed by one Shabd Prakash concerning a land dispute. Against the backdrop of these facts and circumstances, the Court was surprised over the fact that a “dead person ” had lodged an FIR three years after his death and thereafter, not only did he record his statement, but a charge sheet was also filed by the police wherein the said dead person was proposed as one of the prosecution witnesses.