Territorial jurisdiction challenge to FIR leads to interim protection, while investigation continues and quashment remains undecided.

A territorial-jurisdiction challenge to an FIR was raised on the footing that no cause of action arose within Gautam Budh Nagar. Pending the State's response, the HC granted interim protection by directing that no coercive action be taken against the petitioners, while allowing the investigation to continue and requiring their cooperation. The order does not finally decide whether the FIR is liable to be quashed or whether territorial jurisdiction is lacking; it operates only as a temporary restraint pending further hearing.

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Issues: Whether the FIR and consequential proceedings were liable to be quashed for want of territorial jurisdiction, and whether interim protection against coercive action should be granted pending further hearing.

Analysis: The petition challenged the FIR on the ground that no cause of action arose within the territorial jurisdiction of Gautam Budh Nagar. The State indicated that the complainant's statement did not show occurrence of the incident at Gautam Budh Nagar and sought time to file a counter. Pending further consideration, the Court directed that no coercive action be taken against the petitioners, while expressly permitting investigation to continue and requiring the petitioners to cooperate.

Conclusion: Interim protection was granted in favour of the petitioners, but the question of quashment was not finally decided.

Final Conclusion: The order operates only as an interim restraint against coercive action and does not determine the merits of territorial jurisdiction or the validity of the FIR.

Ratio Decidendi: Where a challenge to an FIR raises a territorial-jurisdiction objection, the Court may grant interim protection while leaving the investigation to proceed, without finally adjudicating the merits of quashment.

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