In Brief
A complainant lodged an FIR against respondents alleging forgery and criminal breach of trust relating to agricultural land. After the police filed a charge-sheet and trial commenced, the informant applied at the trial's closing stage for further investigation by the Forensic Science Laboratory. The trial court granted this request, but the High Court set it aside, holding that only the investigating agency—not the trial court or informant—can direct further investigation after cognizance is taken and the accused appears. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court, holding that once cognizance is taken and an accused appears, a Magistrate has no power to direct further investigation suo motu or on an informant's request; such power is exclusively vested in the investigating agency. The appeal was dismissed.
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