JUDGMENT - Tulpule R.D. J. -The petitioner was an employee in the State Bank of India, branch at Wardha and was working as a clerk in the said branch. One Meshram was also an employee of the said bank and Meshram and the petitioner were occupying seats side by side at a table in the bank.

2. Between 27th February 1967 and 3rd March 1967 it was discovered that a blank form of bank drafts which were being handled by Meshram was lost bearing No. J. 942980. The said bank draft found its way to the Katol Branch of State Bank of India and was encashed on the 3rd March 1967. The draft was drawn in the name of one M. R. Joshi. The petitioner had taken leave on 2nd and 3rd March 1967 from his office at Wardha. He extended that leave up to 4th March 1967.

3. The fact of the draft forms being missing was notified by the Bank authorities to its branches and on the 29th March 1967, it was discovered that this bank draft was encashed at the Katol Branch. Enquiries were then made and suspicion gravitated towards the petitioner. The petitioner was then arrested and was subsequently charged with having committed the offences under sections 380, 381, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 420-of the Indian Penal Cod

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