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2015 Supreme(P&H) 1577

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
Before
The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Inderjit Singh
CRM No.A-461-MA of 2015 (O&M)
Sukhdev Singh
v.
Baldev Singh
{Decided on 03/11/2015}

Advocates:
For the Applicant:Mr.Kanwal Goyal, Advocate.

Headnote:Dishonour of Cheque--Complainant failed to prove source of amount which was allegedly given as loan to accused--Accused acquitted.

       (A) Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, S.138 & S.139--Dishonour of Cheque--Acquittal--Presumption rebutted--In complaint it was claimed that amount of Rs.3 Lacs was given from time to time but in cross-examination complainant admitted that amount was given by way of cheque--Complainant neither mentioned any date, month and year when amount was given nor has been able to prove cheque entry in his or accused’s bank account--Complainant also failed to prove source of such amount--Accused held to be rightly acquitted. (Paras 6 & 7)

       (B) Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, S.138--Dishonour of Cheque--Acquittal--Complainant failed to prove source of amount which was allegedly given as loan to accused--Accused acquitted.

       

JUDGMENT

Mr. Inderjit Singh, J.:- Applicant-Sukhdev Singh has filed this application under Section 378(4) Cr.P.C. seeking permission for leave to appeal against respondent Baldev Singh, challenging the judgment dated 16.12.2014 passed by learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Jalandhar, whereby the accused-respondent was acquitted.

2. It is mainly stated in the application that accompanying appeal is likely to succeed on the grounds taken therein. It is further stated that learned JMIC, Jalandhar has wrongly acquitted the abovesaid accused against law and evidence on record, so his acquittal be set aside and he be punished in accordance with provisions of law.

3. I have heard learned counsel for the applicant and have gone through the record, especially the judgment passed by learned JMIC, Jalandhar.

4. As per the record, the complainant Sukhdev Singh filed a complaint against Baldev Singh under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. As per complainant’s version, the accused has taken a sum of Rs.3 lacs from him as a friendly loan from time to time for his household needs with the promise to return the same on demand and in order to discharge this liability, accused issued a cheque bearing No.018208 dated 01.02.2012 for Rs.3 lacs drawn on State Bank of Patiala, Kapurthala in favour of the complainant, which on presentation, was dishonoured with the remarks ‘funds insufficient’. Legal notice was issued and then on non-payment of amount, the complaint was filed.

5. Learned JMIC, Jalandhar, after appreciating the evidence, acquitted the accused of the charges framed against him vide impugned judgment dated 16.12.2014.

6. From the record, I find that learned JMIC, Jalandhar has discussed the evidence in right perspective. Nothing has been pointed out as to which material evidence has been misread and which material evidence has not been considered by the Court below. The perusal of the findings given by the Court below show that it cannot be held as perverse or against the law. In the complaint, it is the case of the complainant that loan was given from time to time but no particulars were given as to when and how much amount has been given. No dates, months and years have been mentioned in the complaint. Neither any specific date on which amount has been given nor any other fact has been mentioned as to whether the amount has been given on the basis of documents etc. There is nothing that in whose presence and at which place the amount was given. When the complainant came into witness box, he took totally different stand by stating that the amount has been given to the accused by way of cheque of Rs.3 lacs drawn on State Bank of India and he also got examined CW-2 Assistant-cum-Cashier, State Bank of India. The Court after appreciating the evidence and specially the statement of accounts Ex.CW2/2, held that no such entry regarding the withdrawl of sum of Rs.3 lacs by way of cheque has been specifically pointed out by the complainant. The Court also held that nothing has been stated by the complainant as to on which date, said amount of Rs.3 lacs has been given to the accused. The Court held that no specific entry has been proved on record by the complainant to establish the fact that alleged amount of Rs.3 lacs has been given to the accused by way of particular cheque number. The Court below also held that no corroborative entry regarding the encashment of cheque was shown in the statement of accounts of the accused. The Court further held that it cannot be believed that Rs.3 lacs has been given to the accused by way of cheque.

7. The complainant also failed to prove source of such a huge amount. Furthermore, the Court also held that statement of complainant is contradictory to the version given in the complaint. The complainant is working as commission agent. He has not produced on record his account books to show entry regarding advancement of loan to the accused. Rather, in cross-examination, he has stated that he has n






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