ORISSA HIGH COURT
S. Panda, J.
Govinda Charan Barik —Petitioner
versus
Suryakanta Barik —Opp. Party
Criminal Revision No. 44 of 2011
Decided on 8.8.2012
For the Petitioner:A. Das, G.P. Panda and A. Dass, Advocates.
For the Opposite Party:R.N. Prusty, A.N. Sahoo and C. Kar, Advocates.
Headnote:Negotiable Instruments Act, 188—Section 138—Complaint alleging dishonor of cheque—Conviction by Courts below—Revision thereagainst-Admission by Petitioner regarding issuance of cheque—Petitioner had also received notice issued by opposite party and within the statutory period, petitioner did not pay the amount and had not taken any step to pay the payment during trial also—The petitioner was also not able to substantiate his stand regarding payment of Rs. 10,000 by complainant and cheque was issued for the security of the said amount which was mis-utilised by opposite party—Both the Courts below rightly came to a conclusion that petitioner was guilty of committing an offence under Section 138 of N.I. Act— Taking into consideration the fact that opposite party had given Rs.1,00,000 for which cheque was issued to pay the debt, sentence of one year simple imprisonment modified to six months simple imprisonment—So far as imposition of compensation of Rs. 2,00,000 is concerned, same being at a higher side, reduced from Rs. 2,00,000 to Rs. 1,25,000—Revision allowed in part. (Paras 5 to 7)
S. Panda, J.—In this criminal revision, the petitioner has challenged the judgment dated 16.11.2010 passed by the learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Rourkela in Criminal Appeal No. 54 of 2009 confirming the order dated 22.6.2009 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Rourkela in ICC No. 139 of 2008/Trial No. 741 of 2008.
2. Opposite party as complainant filed ICC No. 139 of 2008 as the cheque issued by the petitioner in his favour was dishonoured by the Bank. After obtaining the said intimation from the Bank, opposite party issued statutory notice to the petitioner but the petitioner did not respond to the said notice for which the complaint case was filed. The Court below took cognizance of the offence under Section 138 of the N.I. Act. After receiving notice, the present petitioner appeared before the Court below and took a plea that he had never taken any loan from the opposite party. However, he admitted that he had issued the cheque for the purpose of security for a sum of Rs. 10,000 which he had taken from the opposite party and requested him to return the cheque after the payment of the said amount. However, opposite party did not return the cheque on receiving the amount and filed a false case. In support of their respective pleas, the complainant and the petitioner adduced evidence. On analyzing the evidence, the Trial Court came to a finding that the complainant has proved that the accused had issued the cheque for payment of a debt. The cheque was dishonoured and the accused did not pay the amount to the complainant after receiving the statutory notice either during the stipulated period or subsequent thereto. Therefore, the complainant has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and the accused is liable under Section 138 of the N.I. Act. On such finding, the
Trial Court imposed the sentence on the accused to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of one year and to pay compensation of Rs. 2,00,000 to the complainant and in default of payment of compensation, . the accused shall undergo simple imprisonment for a further period of three months. Being aggrieved by the said judgment and sentence, the petitioner filed the Criminal Appeal No. 54 of’ 2009 before the learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Rourkela. The appellate Court taking into consideration the plea raised by the present petitioner and after going through the materials available on record confirmed the finding of the Trial Court regarding issuance of cheque and non-payment of demanded amount as per the notice and held that the rebuttal evidence adduced from the side of the accused is not upto the mark and there is nothing substantial from the side of the accused to differ with the opinion of the Trial Court.
3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that there is no materials available on record that the complainant was an income tax assessee or he had sufficient money with him at the relevant time to hand over such huge amount to the petitioner. Since it is improbable on the part of the complainant to give such a huge amount, the Courts below should have dismissed the complaint petition instead of convicting the petitioner. He further submitted that since the cheques are being misutilised and the persons are being harassed in order to wrecking vengeance now-a-days and the complainant filed a frivolous case as it would reveal from a bare reading of the complaint petition, the Court below should not have convicted the petitioner. Accordingly, the same is liable to be interfered with.
4. Learned counsel for the opposite party submitted that since this being the concurrent finding of facts arrived at by the Courts below convicting the accused and imposing compensation in the absence of any question of law, the interference of the impugned orders are not warranted.
5. From the rival submissions of the parties and after perusing the LCR, it appears that the petitioner has admitted regarding issuance of cheque. He has also receiv