In Brief
The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted petrol pump operators for short delivery of petroleum products (200 ml short per 5-litre sale) under multiple IPC provisions and the Legal Metrology Act. The Supreme Court held that Section 51 of the Legal Metrology Act excludes only IPC Chapter XIII offences (Sections 265–267) concerning weights and measures. Offences for cheating (Section 420), forgery (Sections 467–468, 471), common intention (Section 34), and criminal conspiracy (Section 120-B) remain maintainable under IPC. The Court quashed the IPC Sections 265–267 charges but upheld other IPC prosecutions. It also held that the High Court cannot issue investigative directions under Section 482 CrPC, as these fall within the exclusive domain of investigating agencies.
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