DELHI HIGH COURT
K.S. Gupta, J.
D.R. Gupta - Petitioner
versus
State and Anr. - Respondents
Crl. M. (M) 1014/2001
Decided on 4-12-2001
Counsel for the parties:
For the Petitioner: Sh. Suman Kapoor, Advocate.
For the Respondent No. 1: Sh. S.K. Khurana, Advocate.
For the Respondent No. 2: In person.
Headnote:Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 - Sections 138 and 141 Dishonour of cheque - Complaint against company and its two directors accused Nos. 2 and 3 Quashing petition by accused No. 3, on plea that cheque in question was issued by accused No.2 from his personal account - Amount, subject matter of cheque, was towards refund of money which complainant had deposited with company towards purchase of flat - Receipt and allotment letter had been signed by accused No. 2 as director of accused No. 1 - Cheque in question, though issued by accused No. 2 from his personal account but was towards refund of amount received on account of the flat to be allotted to complainant - Contention raised in quashing petition could be gone into only during trial and not in a petition under Section 482 Cr. P.C. (Para 4)
Result: Petition dismissed.
K.S. Gupta, J. - In this petition under section 482 Cr. P.C. the petitioner seeks setting aside of summoning order dated 29th January 2000 and quashing of complaint case No. 174/1/99. S.K. Khurana v. Singhal Holdings Pvt. Ltd., and others pending before a Metropolitan Magistrate.
2. Said complaint (No. 174/1/99) under section 138 read with section 141 the of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (for short the 'Act') and section 420 IPC was filed by S.K Khurana, respondent No. 2 herein alleging that Singhal Holdings Pvt. Ltd., accused No.1 is a company incorporated and registered under the Companies Act, 1956. R.P. Gupta, accused No. 2 and D.R. Gupta, accused No. 3/petitioner are the directors of accused No. 1 and 'are responsible for the day to day running of company. Accused No. I company invited applications for allotment of residential flats to be constructed at village Bijwasan. Complainant applied for allotment of a two bed room flat having a covered area of 900 sq. yds. and he was allotted Flat No. B-203 on the first floor at a cost of Rs. 150/- per sq. ft. It is further alleged that complainant paid Rs. 1 lac through cheque No. 410558 dated 5th March 1988. Amounts of Rs. 10,200/- on 19th October 1990, Rs. 20,000/- on 22nd October 1990, Rs. 12,750/- on 6th March 1990 and Rs. 10,000/- on September 1994 were further' paid by complainant against receipts issued by accused No. 2. After the complainant failed to receive possession of flat despite repeated requests, he sent a letter dated 4th June 1998 requiring the accused to deliver possession of flat to him. In response to this letter the accused No. 3 sent reply dated 17th July 1998 alleging that no money had been deposited in the Company's account by the complainant. Stand taken in the reply is totally false. It is also alleged that cheque bearing No. 230018 dated 15th January 1999 for Rs. 60,000/was thereafter issued by the accused towards part refund of money received from the complainant. On presentation this cheque was received back unpaid with the remark-Account closed on 27th May, 1998. Complainant thereafter sent a notice through counsel as required by section 138 of the Act on 1st February 1999 to the accused who despite service thereof, failed to make payment of the amount of said cheque.
It was prayed that accused be prosecuted and punished for the offences under section 138 of the section 420, IPC.
3. In terms of order dated 29th January 2000 the petitioner-accused No.3 who is yet to appear before trial court, was summoned to face trial for the offence under said section 138.
4. Submission advanced by Sh. Suman Kapoor for petitioner was that cheque for Rs. 60,000/- was issued by accused No. 2 in his individual capacity from his bank account; Singhal Holding Pvt. Ltd/accused No. 1 had not received any money from respondent No. 2/complainant. Therefore, the trial court was not at all justified in summoning the petitioner in terms of the impugned order. In support of submission, he invited my attention to the receipts dated, 19th October 1990 for Rs. 10,200/-, dated 22nd October 1990 for Rs. 20,000, dated 6th March 1990 for Rs. 12.750/ -, dated 19th September 1994 for Rs. 10,000/-, cheque in question placed on the file of trial court, copies of the letter dated 25th June 1998 sent by respondent No. 2 as also reply dated 17th July 1998 sent on behalf of accused No. 1 company to respondent No. 2 filed alongwith the present petition. On the other hand, contention of respondent No. 2 complainant was that he is not concerned about internal arrangement between the accused regarding adjustment of the amount received from him. Admittedly, accused No. 2 has not been arrayed as a respondent in this petition. Respondent No. 2 has filed on record receipt dated 5th March 1988 which was issued in token of receipt of aforesaid cheque No. 410558 for Rs. 1 lac towards part payment of flat No. B-203 to be allotted as also allotment letter dated 5th March, 1988 pertaining to this fl