IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
Inderjit Singh, J.
Ravi Raj - Appellant
Versus
Satpal - Respondent
CRM No. A-1775-MA of 2014 (O&M)
Decided On : 25-07-2019
Leave to Appeal - Negotiable Instruments Act - The court found that the complainant failed to provide specific details and documentation regarding the loan transaction, and the accused raised a probable defense supported by evidence, leading to the acquittal of the accused.
Fact of the Case:
The complainant filed a complaint against the accused under the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a cheque with insufficient funds. The accused denied the allegations and raised a defense.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the complainant's evidence was insufficient to prove the loan transaction, and the accused's defense was supported by evidence, leading to the acquittal of the accused.
Issues: Dispute over loan transaction and issuance of a cheque with insufficient funds.
Ratio Decidendi: The complainant's failure to provide specific details and documentation regarding the loan transaction, coupled with the accused's probable defense supported by evidence, led to the acquittal.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the application for leave to appeal, upholding the acquittal of the accused.
JUDGMENT
Inderjit Singh, J. - Applicant-Ravi Raj has filed this application under Section 378 (4) Cr.P.C. seeking permission for leave to appeal against respondent Satpal, challenging the impugned judgment dated 20.08.2014 passed by learned Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Karnal, vide which the accused-respondent was acquitted.
2. It is mainly stated in the application that accompanying appeal is being filed which is likely to succeed on the grounds taken therein. It is, therefore, prayed that leave to appeal be granted.
3. As per the record, complainant Ravi Raj filed a complaint against accused Satpal under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. As per complainant's version, accused borrowed an amount of Rs.3 lakhs from the complainant as a friendly loan. In discharge of this liability, the accused issued a cheque bearing No.925482 dated 15.02.2010 forRs.3 lakhs, in favour of the complainant, which on presentation for encashment was returned back with the remarks 'Insufficient Funds'. Legal notice was served. When the amount was not paid, then the complaint was filed within time.
4. The complainant examined CW-1 Sandeep Kumar, Official of Canara Bank and examined himself as CW-2 and tendered documents; cheque, memo, legal notice, postal receipt and Regd. Envelop.
5. At the close of complainant evidence, accused was examined under Section 313 Cr.P.C. He was confronted with the evidence of the complainant and he denied all the incriminating evidence against him and pleaded his innocence and false implication.
6. Learned JMIC, Karnal, after appreciating the evidence, acquitted the accused-respondent vide impugned judgment dated 20.08.2014.
7. Aggrieved from the above-said judgment, present appeal along with application for grant of leave to appeal has been filed.
8. Notice of the application was issued. Learned counsel for the respondent appeared and contested the application.
9. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the record.
10. The perusal of the findings given by learned Magistrate shows that these have been given as per evidence and law. In no way, the findings can be held as perverse or against the evidence and law. At the time of arguments, 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. Nothing has been pointed out as to how the findings are perverse or against the law and what illegality has been committed by learned Court below.
11. From the perusal of the record, I find that the complainant has not mentioned any date, month, year as to when the loan was advanced to the accused. No other particulars of any type have been mentioned in the complaint. No receipt or security document was got executed while lending huge amount of Rs.3 lakhs to the accused. There is no document on record to show the loan transaction. No income tax return has been shown to prove the transaction. All these facts are fatal to the case of the complainant in view of the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Vijay vs. Laxman and another, 2013(1) RCR (Criminal) 1028 .
12. The defence of the accused in this case is that complainant is his commission agent. Blank signed cheque was given as security to the complainant, which has been misused. No such amount has been taken.
13. Learned Magistrate, on the basis of evidence, held that complainant tendered the certified copy of the statement of account issued by Manager, Canara Bank, Karnal, wherein, it is mentioned that amount of Rs.3 lakhs was credited in the account of accused on 03.11.2006. Firstly, in the complaint, it is nowhere the case of the complainant that he gave money on 03.11.2006 through cheque. Rather, the case of the complainant is that accused promised to repay the amount shortly, which means that the loan might have been advanced in the end of year 2009 or early 2010. There is no other document to show any transaction of this amount on 03.11.2
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.