HC refuses to quash FIR against man for dishonestly taking donations with picture, name of PM Modi
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court has refused to quash an FIR lodged against a man accused of dishonestly inducing the public in giving donations to his NGO by using the picture and surname of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The high court said the FIR discloses commission of cognisable offences and the police has a statutory right and duty to investigate all aspects.
It said the investigation is at a nascent stage and the court, while exercising power under Section 482 of the CrPC, ought not to thwart an investigation.
“The specific allegations have been made that the petitioner is collecting donations/ funds by using the surname of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. The picture of the Hon’ble Prime Minister has also been used whereas admittedly, the petitioner’s surname is not ‘MODI’," the court said.
“The advertisements have been broadcast on YouTube and other national news channels with the picture of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. The allegations, therefore, are that the petitioner is dishonestly inducing people to deliver the property in the form of donations. The FIR, therefore, discloses commission of cognisable offences,” Justice Amit Mahajan said in an order passed last month.
The high court said when the allegations disclose commission of a cognisable offence, the court is not required to consider on merits whether the allegations make out a cognisable offence or not at the initial stage and the court has to permit the investigating agency to investigate.
It said this was not a fit case for quashing of the FIR.
An FIR was lodged against Pawan Pandey in September 2023 by the special cell of Delhi Police for the alleged offences of cheating for personation and cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property under the IPC.
The FIR was lodged on a complaint by deputy secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs alleging that the petitioner was running an NGO in the name of Modi Charitable Trust and was misrepresenting in the name of Prime Minister Modi.
It was alleged that the man was using the picture of the PM along with his own photo on news channels for deceiving the public at large which was evidenced by an advertisement broadcasting his picture along with the PM and the name of the Trust run by the petitioner.
Pandey was arrested on February 9 and was granted bail on February 26.
He sought quashing of the FIR by arguing that ‘Modi Charitable Trust’ was registered with different social objectives and that the complaint did not disclose any criminal offence.
The prosecution opposed the plea, saying the man had cheated and dishonestly induced the public by running an NGO in the prime minister’s name. It also submitted that his surname ‘Pandey’ was not in any way connected with the surname ‘Modi’.
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Three private doctors arrested in illegal scanning case involving 31 minor pregnant girls in KR Pet
Mandya: Police on Tuesday arrested three private doctors in connection with a case involving alleged illegal scanning of 31 minor pregnant girls at a private diagnostic centre in KR Pet. The accused were later remanded to judicial custody.
The arrested doctors have been identified as Dr. Divyachetan of Chetana Maternity Centre, Dr. Harshit of Navi Diagnostic Centre, and Dr. Harish of Kushal Diagnostic Centre.
Police said Priyanka, a gynaecologist attached to a government hospital, is absconding and efforts are under way to trace her.
The case came to light after Karnataka Lokayukta Police recently conducted raids, during which illegal sex determination tests on minor pregnant girls were allegedly detected at two diagnostic centres in KR Pet town.
Following the raids, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Mohan, Deputy Director of the Women and Child Development Department P.S. Asha, and District Child Protection Officer Rashmi inspected several diagnostic centres and filed cases at KR Pet Town and Rural police stations.
According to the allegations, Navi Diagnostic Centre conducted scans on 24 minor pregnant girls, including 19 cases in 2024 and five in 2025. Kushal Diagnostic Centre is accused of conducting scans on seven minor pregnant girls.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kumar has directed taluk vigilance committees to inspect all 63 ultrasound scanning centres in the district and submit reports within 10 days.
Officials said the Tahsildar of each taluk has been appointed chairperson of the respective committee.
