Smt. Neema Mangal Vs State of U.P. and Another (Allahabad High Court)
The Allahabad High Court has stayed coercive action against Smt. Neema Mangal, the owner of a firm, in a criminal case related to alleged GST evasion. The case, Smt. Neema Mangal vs State of U.P. and Another, centers on a dumper truck that was seized by police in Agra on August 18, 2022. According to the police, the truck’s number plate was obscured with black grease, making it unreadable. Authorities suspected this was done to facilitate GST evasion. While the truck was empty at the time of seizure, the driver, Dharmendra, identified Smt. Neema Mangal’s firm, M/s Shakti India Traders, as the owner. The police subsequently filed a First Information Report (FIR) under sections related to cheating and forgery (Sections 420, 467, 468 of the Indian Penal Code).
Smt. Neema Mangal’s legal counsel argued that the allegations were unfounded, stating that the criminal sections do not apply to her as the truck was seized empty. They also claimed the police’s recovery and search were falsified and intended for extortion. The applicant’s counsel pointed out that she has no prior criminal history and that no witnesses were present during the alleged arrest and recovery. The counsel also contended that the truck’s number plate was not intentionally obscured.
