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DELHI HIGH COURT
Vipin Sanghi, J.
Acura Glass Tiles Enterprises —Appellant
versus
S.S. Ray —Respondent
Crl.A.No.273 of 2010
Decided on 20.1.2015

IMPORTANT POINT
A witness cannot be permitted to resile from his admission upon re-examination being permitted by Court.

Headnote:Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 — Section 138 read with Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 378 — Acquittal — Appeal — Factum of issuance of four cheques in question by respondent/accused— Factum of said cheques being dishonoured upon presentation — Factum of complainant sending statutory notice of demand which received by accused — Factum of accused not making payment in terms of demand — Factum of complaint being preferred within statutory period of limitation of non-payment of demanded amount not in dispute — HELD — Re-examination of DW1 in relation to four cheques could not permitted and said re-examination cannot be read or looked into — Accused while claiming that four cheques not issued on dates that they bear —Thereby implying that dates filled up by complainant did not chose to lead any evidence — In respect neither report of handwriting expert produced nor accused sought reference of said cheques to CFSL for their report — Conduct of accused clearly militates against defence set up by accused — Complainant succeeded in establishing commission of offence under S. 138 of the Act by accused — In respect of four cheques beyond reasonable doubt. (Paras 23 & 24)

       (ii) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 311 — Interpretation of — Application under — Read along with S. 138 of Evidence Act — Following principles will have to be borne in mind by Courts — HELD — Discretion vested in Court to permit re-examination of witness under S. 311 Cr.PC to be exercised on broad principle — That same considered necessary to meet ends of justice and if not so permitted may lead to injustice. (Para 21)

       Result: Appeal allowed.

       

JUDGMENT (OPEN COURT)

Vipin Sanghi, J.—The present appeal under Section 378 Cr PC is directed against the judgment dated 02.06.2009 passed by Sh. Manoj Kumar, ASJ, New Delhi in CC No.399/2009 titled as Acura Glass Tiles Enterprises v. S.S. Ray, whereby the appellants complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (the Act) was dismissed, and the respondent/accused was acquitted.

2. The aforesaid complaint had been preferred by the appellant/ complainant in respect of four cheques, details whereof are as follows:

Cheque No.

& Date

Drawn on

Amount

Exhibit

609690

26.05.2006

The National Co-op Bank Ltd., Nerul Railway Station Branch, Mumbai

40, 000

CW-1/C

091605

05.06.2006

ICICI Bank Vashi Branch, Mumbai

27,500

CW-1/B

091628

10.06.2006

ICICI Bank Vashi Branch, Mumbai

80,000

CW-1/D

091629

02.10.2006

ICICI Bank Vashi Branch, Mumbai

50,000

CW-1/E

3. On the aspects not in dispute, and with regard to which no issue was raised or argued by either side, I do not consider it necessary to record the facts and the findings. The case of the complainant/appellant was that there were business transactions between the parties. This position is not disputed by the respondent. The parties entered into a settlement Exh.CW-1/A on 04.05.2006, which was executed on the letterhead of Sonifix Enterprises, which admittedly is a proprietary concern of the respondent. The same reads as follows:

“To

M/s Accura Glass Tiles Enterprises

Delhi.

This is to assure the discussion following are payment committed by me as under:

M/s Suyas Construction

Rs.2,42,000/-

M/s Prakruti Enterprises

Rs.55,000/-

371

Rs.35,000/-

Adhersi

Rs.40,000/-

 

Rs.3,72,000/-

Rs.3,50,000/- (Three lakh fifty thousand only) is lumpsum amount agreed & outstanding in front of Mr. Kumar and will cleared by latest by 4th June, 2006. The said amount is outstanding till date with me”.

4. The appellant claims that the aforesaid four cheques had been issued by the respondent in partial discharge of the admitted liability of Rs.3,50,000/-. On presentation, the said cheques had been dishonoured. Consequently, after issuance of legal notice for demand, the complaint had been preferred.

5. The notice was framed against the respondent, who pleaded not guilty. Thereafter the complainant led her evidence as CW-1. She was also cross examined by the respondent/accused. The statement of the respondent under Section 313 was recorded, whereafter he appeared as his own witness as DW-1. He was cross examined by the complainant.

6. On the application of the accused, the records of the appellant company were directed to be produced. They were so produced on record as Exh. X, Y, Z and ZA – which were the statement of accounts for the period 2006-07 and 2007-08. The production of the said document was sought by the accused to substantiate its defence that the accused did not owe the amount of either Rs. 3,72,000/- or Rs. 3,50,000/- as alleged by the complainant on the basis of Exh.CW-1/A. While dismissing the complaint, the Trial Court held as follows:

“24. From a reading of the complaint and the evidence led on behalf of the complainant it can be discerned that the whole edifice of the claim of the complainant is founded on the supply of the goods worth Rs.3,72,000/- by it and subsequent settlement on 04.05.2006.

25. During the evidence on behalf of the complainant, CW1 Smt. Savita Gupta tendered document Ex CW1/A which is claimed to be a document of settlement effected between complainant Acura Glass Enterprises and the accused. During his cross examination the accused admitted his signatures on Ex CW1/A but during arguments it is contended on his behalf that the document Ex CW1/A was not executed by him.

26. A perusal of Ex CW1/A reveals tha














































































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