The necessity to prove fraudulent or dishonest intention at the beginning of a transaction to establish the offence of cheating and criminal breach of trust.

1. The present appeal has been filed under Section 378(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure in pursuance of the leave granted by this Court in S.L.A. No. 69 of 2001. The appeal is directed against the judgment and order of acquittal dated 10.8.2001 passed by Sri S.S. Giri, learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Patna City in C.A. Case No. 18 of 1997, corresponding to T.R. Case No. 204 of 2001.

2. The appellant had filed the aforesaid Complaint on 13.01.1997 against respondent Nos. 2 & 3. In the complaint, the appellant has alleged that he is a farmer and produces potatoes and onions. The respondent No. 2 has a business of selling and buying potatoes and onions and works as an agent on commission. The respondent No. 3 is an employee of respondent No. 2. The appellant and the accused persons were having business relationship since long. On 1.11.1994, the accused persons came to the house of the appellant and placed order for supply of one truck of potato seeds, for which, they did not give any advance but, promised to make payment subsequently. On the basis of the order placed by the accused persons, the appellant sent 251 bags of potato seeds on 2.11.1994. The potato seeds so sent were sold between 4.11.1994 to 7.11.1994. The accused persons were liable to make payment of the sale proceeds amounting to Rs. 59,044/-. Similarly, on the assurance of the accused persons, the appellant sent 239 packets of potato seeds worth Rs. 62,695.44/- to the accused persons. Thus, the accused persons became liable to make payment of Rs. 1,15,103/- to the appellant. Out of that, the accused persons paid Rs. 61,980/- by way of bank drafts on different dates. The balance amount totalling Rs. 53,123/-, is still due to the appellant. Even after several reminders, the due amount was not paid by the accused persons. On 23.8.1995, a legal notice was sent to the accused persons. The accused persons promised to pay the due amount. However, on 23.11.1996 when the appellant went to the house of respondent No. 2, he and his wife Nirmala Devi misbehaved with him. It has also been stated in the complaint that on 17.12.1996 another legal notice was sent by the appellant which was received by the accused, but, respondent No. 3, in collusion with the postman, got an endorsement made that the accused was absent. Hence, the appellant suspected that the accused persons have cheated him.

3. The appellant was examined on oath and witnesses were also examined in course of inquiry under Section 201 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the said complaint case. The learned Magistrate took cognizance of the offence and summoned the accused persons to face trial. On appearance of the accused persons, charges under Sections 406, 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code were framed, to which, the accused persons pleaded not guilty.

4. In course of trial, altogether four witnesses including the complainant were examined in support of the prosecution case. The witnesses have, more or less repeated the things, stated in the complaint petition.

5. The trial court, after hearing the parties, held that the prosecution has failed to prove its case. It has recorded that witnesses have stated in course of trial that there was business relationship since last ten years between the appellant and the accused persons. There was no dispute between them for over a decade. The witnesses have also admitted in course of trial that there was no intention of cheating right from the beginning. Thus, the trial court came to the conclusion that there is some dispute between the parties, which arose subsequently, in course of transaction of business. There was no mens rea on the part of the accused persons and the dispute was purely of civil nature. The trial court has also come to the conclusion that the criminal prosecution had been launched in order to realize an amount which according to the appellant fell due against the accused persons.

6. The offence of cheating has been defined under Sect