Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has quashed criminal proceedings initiated against the wife of a junior motor vehicle inspector (MVI) in a two-decade-old disproportionate assets case registered against him.
The single judge bench of Justice AK Mohapatra observed that implicating spouses in vigilance cases without proof is an abuse of the process of law. “More often than not, the Vigilance department mechanically adds spouses or dependants, who are mere name lenders, to acquire the property. Most of the times it is because of the relationship, trust or love and affection without there being any intention to participate in the crime. Arraying the spouse, who is a housewife, in the absence of any specific material with regard to her involvement in the crime would be an abuse of the process of law,” Justice Mohapatra ruled.
In 2004, the Odisha Vigilance had registered a case against Chittaranjan Senapati, a junior motor vehicle inspector (MVI), under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets worth Rs 29.65 lakh. While the charge sheet was filed with Senapati as principal accused, his wife Sasmita Pradhan was implicated as an abettor in the case.
In 2024, Sasmita challenged the criminal proceedings against her in HC.
Further taking note that no charge has been framed and no trial has commenced till date in the case, the court directed that “every endeavour should be made to conclude the trial in respect of the other accused as expeditiously as possible”.
