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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
G.ILANGOVAN
C.Georland – Appellant
Versus
F.Franklin – Respondent
JUDGMENT :
G.ILANGOVAN, J.
1.This Criminal appeal is filed to call for the records and set aside the judgment passed in S.T.C.No.50 of 2015 dated 23.11.2022 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate No.1, Kuzhithurai and allow the Criminal Appeal.
2. The case of the prosecution in brief is that the accused is the friend of the complainant. On 24.11.2014, the accused borrowed a sum of Rs.3 Lakhs from him and issued a cheque drawn on Tamilnadu Mercantile Bank for the above said amount towards the discharge. It was presented for payment on 01.12.2014, which came to be returned due to account closed, on 02.12.2014. After completing the statutory formalities, the complaint was filed under Section 200 of Cr.P.C., to punish the accused for the offence under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act. At the conclusion of the trial process, the trial Court found that the complainant has not established guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubts and so it rendered a judgment of acquittal. Against which this appeal has been preferred by the complainant.
3. Since it is a case of acquittal, re-appreciation of evidence is required. Now we will go to the evidence on record in this regard. It is
A mere issuance of a cheque is insufficient to prove liability; the complainant must establish the existence of a legally enforceable debt.
The court ruled that the complainant's failure to provide sufficient evidence to support his claim led to the confirmation of the trial court's acquittal, underlining the importance of substantiating....
The burden of proof under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act lies on the accused to show that the cheque was not issued in discharge of any debt or liability.
The presumption of innocence strengthens upon acquittal, requiring substantial evidence of error for appellate intervention in criminal cases.
The presumption under Section 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act mandates that once a cheque's execution is admitted, it is presumed to be for a legally enforceable debt, and the burden to rebut t....
The burden of proof, legal presumptions, and the accused's admission of debt in the issuance of the cheque are crucial in determining liability under the Negotiable Instrument Act.
The presumption of a legally enforceable debt is rebuttable and the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, which was not met in this instance.
The presumption of consideration under Sections 118 and 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act applies unless disproven by the accused, and the burden cannot shift excessively onto the complainant.
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