2017 Supreme(Del) 341
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
I.S. MEHTA, J.
KIRTI PREMRAAJ JAIN – Petitioner
Versus
MOSER BAER CLEAN ENERGY LTD. & ANR – Respondents
CRL.M.C. 3462, 3465, 3569 of 2014 and Crl.M.A.No.11961, 11971, 12286 of 2014
Decided On : 31-01-2017
For the Petitioner: Ms. Geeta Luthra, with Mr. Jivesh Tiwari and Mr. Prateek Yadav, Mrs. Hurainn S. Dholkawalla and Mr. Virender Singh Hooda
For the Respondents: Mr. Vikas Pahwa, with Mr. Vineet Arora and Mr. Aditya Dogra, Mr. Kinnori Ghosh
Headnote:
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 - Sections 138, 141, 142 - Criminal Procedure Code, 1908 - Section 482 - Dishonour of cheque - Legally enforceable liability - Summoning orders - Quashing - Scope of - Complainant has filed complaints under Section 200 Cr.P.C - Offence committed under Sections 138/141/142 of the NI Act - Metropolitan Magistrate took cognizance - Summoning orders were passed - Notices was framed - Held, cheques were issued by the petitioner on the basis of the advances made in terms of the MoU - There was continuous liability qua against the petitioner - Petitioners failing to do the needful in accordance with the terms of the MoUs - Complainant demanded back the advance amount vide demand notice - Petitions are dismissed.
I.S. MEHTA, J.
1. Instant petitions are arising out of the summoning orders dated 10.04.2013 and its subsequent notices dated 05.04.2014 passed in:
i. C.C. No. 550/1
ii. C.C. No. 561/1
iii. C.C. No. 486/13
and the petitioners aggrieved from the aforesaid summoning orders and notices preferred the present petitions under Section 482 Cr.P.C. read with Article 227 of the Constitution of India for quashing and setting aside the aforesaid issuance of summons and notices.
2. The brief facts stated are that the respondent/complainant company, i.e., Moser Baer Clean Energy Ltd., filed three complaints, i.e., (i) C.C. No. 550/1, (ii) C.C. No. 561/1 and (iii) C.C. No. 486/13, qua against the petitioners under Section 200 Cr.P.C. before the Court of learned ACMM, Saket District Courts, New Delhi for the offence committed under Sections 138/141/142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 on dishonouring of the three cheques , i.e., (i) cheque no.069316 of Rs. 2,00,00,000/-, (ii) cheque no. 069318 of Rs. 1,00,00,000 and (iii) cheque no. 091922 of Rs. 2,00,00,000, drawn on Corporation Bank, Alkapuri Branch, Vadodara.
3. The petitioners entered into two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) dated 02.05.2011 and 28.06.2011 with the respondent/complainant company as Land Arranger and subsequently a Minutes of Meeting (MoM) dated 17.12.2011 was signed between the parties.
4. The first MoU was executed on 02.05.2011 for the purchase of 550 acres of land and the second MoU was executed on 28.06.2011 for the purchase of 300 acres of land between the parties. In consequence of the representation made by the petitioners the respondent/complainant company paid to the petitioners a total amount of Rs. 7,30,00,000/- as advances which were repayable if not adjusted from the deed amount proportionally.
5. The petitioner Mr. Kriti Premraaj Jain in his individual capacity being the guarantor for securing the advances paid to them by the respondent/complainant company, issued two undated cheques in favour of the respondent/complainant company, i.e., cheque no.069316 of Rs. 2,00,00,000/- and cheque no. 069318 of Rs. 1,00,00,000/- drawn on Corporation Bank, Alkapuri Branch, Vadodara in terms of MoU dated 02.05.2011 and further issued one cheque bearing cheque no. 091922 of Rs. 2,00,00,000/- drawn on Corporation Bank, Alkapuri Branch, Vadodara in favour of the respondent/complainant company in terms of the second MoU dated 28.06.2011.
6. Thereafter, when the petitioners failed to discharge their obligations for obtaining bonafide industrial use permission/Non Agricultural (NA) use permission as per the applicable provisions under law in terms of the MoUs dated 02.05.2011 and 28.06.2011, the respondent/complainant company started taking action against the petitioners, resultantly, a Minutes of Meeting (MoM) dated 17.12.2011 was signed between the parties and the said three cheques which were issued by the petitioners were presented for its encashment on 15th February, 2013 but the cheques were returned dishonoured vide dishonour memo dated 16.02.2013 with the remarks “Insufficient Funds” in cheque no. 069316 of Rs. 2,00,00,000/- and "Payment stopped by the drawer" in cheque no. 069318 of Rs. 1,00,00,000/- and cheque no. 091922 of Rs. 2,00,00,000/-.
7. Consequently, the respondent/complainant company issued legal demand notices dated 26.02.2013 which was duly served upon the petitioners. The petitioners replied to the said legal demand notice on 12.03.2013. However, when the petitioners failed to make the payment despite expiry of 15 days notice period, the respondent/complainant company was constrained to file three separate complaints under Section 138 read with Section 141 and Section 142 of the NI Act in the Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Saket District Court, New Delhi.
8. It is pertinent to mention here that vide orders dated 10.04.2013 the learned MM took cognizance of the offence punishable under Section 138 of NI Act against Mr. Kriti Pr