PATNA, India, Oct. 28 -- Patna High Court issued the following judgment on Oct. 7:

Heard learned counsels appearing on behalf of the petitioners; learned counsel for the informant and the learned APP for the State.

2. At the very outset, it is informed that a counter affidavit has already been filed online. The office is directed to place the same on record.

3. The present quashing application was heard on 25.09.2025; on which date issue was raised by the learned Senior Advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner, as to whether the learned Magistrate, who has taken cognizance of the offence, can direct for re-investigation or further other unknown persons under Section 447, 341, 342, 323, 504 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

4. As per the allegations made in the FIR on 08.04.2002, between 1:00 and 2:00 PM, the informant, Shri Dayanand Dwivedi, was sitting in his drawing room when the accused, Shri Purnmasi Ram, along with co-accused Jhotil Paswan, Amarnath Mukherjee, and several unknown persons, arrived at his residence in a Gypsy vehicle. The informant's son, Dhananjay Kumar Dwivedi, noticed their arrival, and the informant opened the door to greet them. The accused Purnmasi Ram questioned the informant regarding a scam case filed before the Hon'ble High Court at Patna, to which the informant replied that the responsible parties were ministers of the concerned department. Thereupon, the accused Purnmasi Ram forcibly grabbed the informant's forearm, while the other accused pushed him from behind, compelled him to enter the Gypsy vehicle, and assaulted him en route as well as at the Bagaha assembly premises, causing serious injuries. It is alleged that the accused acted in furtherance of a common intention motivated by ongoing opposition against them

related to scam cases and land disputes. The incident was witnessed by numerous persons both at the informant's residence and at the assembly hall in Bagaha. Consequently, Bagaha P.S. Case No. 66 of 2002 was registered under Sections 447, 341, 342, 323, 504, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code against the accused persons, and for the same occurrence petitioner has also lodged FIR against the opposite party no. 2 bearing Bagaha P.S. Case No. 65 of 2002 registered under sections 341,323,307,504 of Indian Penal Code and under sections 25(1-b)(A),26,27 of the SC/ST Act.

5. Today, Mr. Shailesh Kumar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Mr. Natraj Verma, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the informant inform that they are associated with the different political parties and due to political rivalries, each of them have lodged criminal case after criminal case against each other and now both of them seek to buy peace of mind. They are agreed to enter into a compromise outside court and settle their strained relationship.

6. It is jointly submitted by both the parties that around four months' time will be required to complete the entire process of settlement between the parties.

7. Heard the parties.

The rest of the document can be viewed at https://patnahighcourt.gov.in/viewjudgment/NiM2MjAxMyMyMDI1IzEjTg==-nJHcP5CEOuI=

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