JUDGMENT

Santosh Hegde, J.-This appeal is preferred by accused No. 4 in Criminal Complaint Case No. 2209/S/1997 pending before the Metropolitan Magistrate, 33rd Court at Ballard Pier, Bombay challenging an order made by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay in a revision petition filed by the 2nd respondent herein whereby the High Court allowed the revision petition and set aside the order of discharge made by the trial court.

2. The facts necessary for the disposal of this appeal are as follows :

The 2nd respondent herein lodged a complaint before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate for offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against the appellant herein and four others which included a Company and its Directors. It is not disputed that the appellant herein was one of the Directors of the Company. The complaint in question was filed in December, 1996 and after following the procedure laid down in Chapter XV and XVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the trial court issued summons to the named accused in the complaint. On receipt of the complaint, the 1st accused Company challenged the same before the very same Magistrate on the ground th