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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
G. JAYACHANDRAN, J.
R. Munirathinam – Appellant
Versus
Rajam – Respondent
Crl. O.P. Nos. 25391 of 2023
Decided On : 25-04-2024
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. overview of complaints against munirathinam (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4) |
| 2. defense claims and admission of signatures (Para 5 , 6) |
| 3. petition for recalling witnesses and producing documents (Para 7 , 8) |
| 4. arguments against recall of witnesses and document production (Para 9 , 10 , 11) |
| 5. defense claims of prejudice if recall denied (Para 12 , 13) |
| 6. court's acknowledgment of right to cross-examine (Para 14 , 15 , 16) |
| 7. court's stance on document production and bank witnesses (Para 17 , 18) |
| 8. court allows petitions under sections 311 and 91 (Para 19 , 21) |
| 9. confirmation of trial court's dismissal of certain petitions (Para 22) |
ORDER :
1. These three batches of Criminal Original Petitions filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C, arise from the orders passed by the Trial Court dismissing petitions filed by the accused under Section 91 Cr.P.C, Section 311 Cr.P.C and Section 254(2) Cr.P.C respectively.
2. Twenty private complaints under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 against the petitioner/Munirathinam either in his individual capacity or/and as Managing Partner of M/s Everest Blue Metals have been taken cognizance by the Fast Track Court-II, Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Egmore. The complainants are either Mr.M.Gajendran [8 cheques totally for Rs.9,05,00,000/-, (Rupees Nine Crores and Five Lakhs only)] or his family members, such as, his wife Mrs.G.Rajam [2 cheques totally for Rs.5,57,00,000/- (Rupees Five Crores and Fifty Seven Lakhs only)] and 3 sons Mr.G.Ramachandran [5 cheques totally for Rs.7,12,00,000/- (Rupees Seven Crores and Twelve Lakhs only)], Mr.G.Vasanthakumar [3 cheques totally for Rs.3,95,00,000/- (Rupees Three Crores and Ninty five Lakhs only)] and Mr.M.G.Sureshkumar [2 cheques totally for Rs.4,35,00,000/- (Rupees Four Crores and Thirty Five Lakhs only)]. The sum total of 20 cheques is Rs.30,04,00,000/- (Rupees Thirty Crores and Four Lakhs only).
3. For easy reference, the details of the calender case number, name of the complainant, name of the accused and the cheque amount is tabulated below:-
| S. No. | C.C. Nos. | Petitioner/Accused | Complainant | Cheque No. and Date | Cheque Amount |
| 1 | 9167/19 | Everest Blue Metals R.Munirathinam | M.Gajedran | 476823, Canara Bank, Bommidi dated 09.09.2019 | Rs. 7,75,00,000 |
| 2 | 9233/19 | R.Munirathinam | M.Gajedran | 572724, Indian Bank, Kadathur Branch, dated 13.08.2019 | Rs. 58,00,000 |
| 3 | 616/20 | R.Munirathinam | M.Gajedran | 572725, Indian Bank, Kadathur Branch, dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 15,00,000 |
| 4 | 623/20 | Everest Blue Metals M.Raja | M.Gajedran | 476827,Canara Bank, Bommidi dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 10,00,000 |
| 5 | 624/20 | Everest Blue Metals M.Raja | M.Gajedran | 476826,Canara Bank, Bommidi dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 10,00,000 |
| 6 | 625/20 | Everest Blue Metals M.Raja | M.Gajedran | 476824,Canara Bank, Bommidi dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 10,00,000 |
| 7 | 626/20 | Everest Blue Metals R.Munirathinam M.Raja | M.Gajedran | 476825,Canara Bank, Bommidi dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 15,00,000 |
| 8 | 627/20 | R.Munirathinam | M.Gajedran | 938773, Indian bank, Kadathur Branch dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 12,00,000 |
| 9 | 9166/19 | R.Munirathinam | G.Rajam | 698499, Indian Bank Sillarahalli Branch, dated 09.09.2019 | Rs. 5,50,00,000 |
| 10 | 572/20 | R.Munirathinam | G.Rajam | 938776, State Bank of India, Kadathur Branch, dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 7,00,000 |
| 11 | 9240/19 | R.Munirathinam | G. Ramachandran | 009615, Canara Bank, Bommidi, dated 09.09.2019 | Rs. 6,75,00,000 |
| 12 | 619/20 | R.Munirathinam | G. Ramachandran | 698498, Indian Bank, Sillarahalli Branch, dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 10,00,000 |
| 13 | 620/20 | R.Munirathinam | G.Ramachandran | 698500, Indian Bank, Sillarahalli Branch, dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 10,00,000 |
| 14 | 621/20 | R.Munirathinam | G.Ramachandran | 009618, Canara Bank, Bommidi, dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 10,00,000 |
| 15 | 622/20 | R.Munirathinam | G.Ramachandran | 938772, State Bank of India, Kadathur Branch, dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 7,00,000 |
| 16 | 9234/19 | R.Munirathinam | M.G. Vasantha Kumar | 698502, Indian Bank, Sillarahalli Branch, dated 09.09.2019 | Rs. 3,80,00,000 |
| 17 | 617/20 | R.Munirathinam | M.G. Vasantha Kumar | 938774, State Bank of India, Kadathur Branch, dated 03.10.2019 | Rs. 5,00,000 |
| 18 | 618/20 | R.Munirathinam | M.G. Vasantha Kumar | 009619, Canara Bank, Bommidi dated 03.10.2 | |
Accused incheque dishonor cases must be allowed fair opportunities to challenge complaints, including recalling witnesses and obtaining documents, to effectively rebut statutory presumptions.
Statutory notice for cheque dishonor must be issued within prescribed time; failure or competence of complaint representative are factual matters for trial, not grounds for quashing under Section 482....
The main legal point established is the presumption of legally enforceable debt under Section 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and the sufficiency of notice served to the accused.
The legal presumption of issue of cheque in discharge of liability can be rebutted only during the trial, and the Court should not quash a complaint at a pre-trial stage if the complaints are not pre....
The court affirmed that fair trial rights necessitate allowing re-examination of witnesses to ensure all relevant evidence is presented for a just decision, stressing judicious use of discretion unde....
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