Delay Alone Not a Ground to Quash FIR for Offences With Over 3 Years Imprisonment: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court held that criminal cases involving offences punishable with imprisonment of more than three years cannot be quashed solely due to delay in filing.

Referring to Sections 468 and 469 of the CrPC, the Court clarified that these provisions do not restrict the prosecution of cognizable offences.

In this case, the complainant discovered the alleged fraud in December 2021 and filed the FIR within 15 days. The Court ruled the FIR was valid under Section 469.

The Supreme Court overturned the high court order, which quashed the FIR filed after 16 years, ruling that the delay is irrelevant if the FIR discloses cognizable offences.