In Brief
A non-resident Indian was declared a proclaimed offender in criminal proceedings for alleged cheating and breach of trust in connection with a foreign employment arrangement. The main accused (who directly received money from the complainant) settled with the complainant, and the offence was compounded, resulting in closure of proceedings against him. The High Court declined to quash the proceedings against the appellant solely because his name appeared in the FIR. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that where a criminal case has predominantly civil flavour (arising from commercial/mercantile transaction), all parties have settled the dispute, and the main accused's proceedings have been closed, continuation of proceedings against other accused without direct allegations against them constitutes abuse of process and continuation should be quashed to secure ends of justice.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.