Court Cites Baseless Allegations and Abuse of Process in Case Involving Date of Birth Certificate Manipulation
In a significant legal development, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, under the bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, has quashed the FIR and related proceedings against former Ranji Trophy player Majid Yaqoob Dar. The court's decision, delivered on May 18, 2026, comes as a relief to Dar, who was embroiled in allegations of producing a manipulated date of birth certificate for his participation in the prestigious Ranji Trophy cricket tournament.
The case stemmed from a complaint lodged by the Chief Executive Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) back in September 2020. The complaint accused Dar of falsifying his date of birth to gain registration and benefits from the Ranji Trophy in 2013. However, upon thorough investigation and scrutiny by the Sub-Committee of JKCA, the allegations were deemed baseless, motivated, and unsupported by any official records.
In its analysis, the court highlighted that the continuation of such criminal proceedings would constitute an abuse of the legal process and lead to unnecessary harassment. The Sub-Committee of JKCA had already recommended the closure of the complaint, finding no substantial evidence to support the claims made against Dar. The court emphasized that criminal law should not be utilized as a tool for personal vendettas or institutional rivalries.
The court also considered statements from Brigadier Anil Gupta (Retd.), Member Administration of JKCA, who affirmed that the association did not wish to pursue the prosecution further, as the allegations were rooted in internal disputes rather than genuine criminal misconduct.
Justice Nargal invoked the inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, to quash the FIR and related proceedings, citing precedents from the Supreme Court, particularly the landmark case of State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal. The judgment reiterated the principle that proceedings manifestly attended with malice or instituted with an ulterior motive can be quashed to prevent misuse of the judicial system.
The quashing of the FIR underscores the court's commitment to ensuring that the criminal justice system is not misused and that justice is served without unwarranted prejudice or harassment. The decision marks the end of a prolonged legal battle for Majid Yaqoob Dar, restoring his reputation and affirming the court's role in safeguarding individual rights against baseless accusations.
Bottom line:-
The inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 CrPC can be exercised to prevent abuse of the process of law and secure the ends of justice when allegations in an FIR are baseless, motivated, and unsupported by official records.
Statutory provision(s):
- Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973
