2023 Supreme(Online)(KAR) 13811
- 1 -
NC: 2023:KHC:41773
CRL.A No. 2298 of 2018
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 2298 OF 2018
BETWEEN:
SURESH B.H,
S/O HUCHAPPA H.A,
R/AT 45/52/2, 1ST CROSS,
21ST MAIN, SIDDESHWARA NAGARA,
VIJAYANAGARA, BENGALURU - 560 040.
…APPELLANT
(BY SRI. H.B. RUDRESH, ADVOCATE)
AND:
M. DAYASAGAR,
S/O MANJUNATH,
AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS,
R/AT NO.39/133, BILIGIRI NILAYA,
1ST FLOOR, I 'D' CROSS,
REMCO LAYOUT, VIJAYANAGARA,
BENGALURU - 560 040.
…RESPONDENT
(BY SMT. MUSRATH TABASSUM, ADVOCATE)
THIS CRL.A IS FILED U/S.378(4) OF CR.P.C
PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT DATED 02.07.2018,
PASSED BY THE XXIII A.C.M.M., NRUPATHUNGA ROAD,
BANGALORE CITY IN C.C.NO.369/2018, ACQUITTING THE
RESPONDENTS/ACCUSED FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 138 OF THE
N.I. ACT.
Digitally
signed by
SANDHYA S
Location: High
Court of
Karnataka
- 2 -
NC: 2023:KHC:41773
CRL.A No. 2298 of 2018
THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS
DAY, THE COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
The complaint/Appellant has preferred this appeal against
the judgment of acquittal passed by the XXIII Additional
C.M.M., Bengaluru City in CC.No.369/2018 dated 02.07.2018.
2.
The rank of the parties in this appeal are referred in
the same rank as referred by the Trial court.
3.
Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
appellant has submitted his arguments that the trial Court has
not provided an opportunity to the complainant to prosecute
this case. The trial Court has passed this impugned judgment of
acquittal only on the ground that the complainant has not
turned up for cross-examination, which is not sustainable under
law. When the complainant remained absent, the trial Court
would have dismissed the complaint for non-prosecution.
Instead of that the trial Court has passed this impugned
judgment of acquittal. Hence, he sought to allow this appeal.
4.
As against this, the learned counsel for the
respondent has submitted that the trial Court has passed this
- 3 -
impugned judgment of acquittal in accordance with law and
facts and there are no grounds to interfere with the impugned
judgment. Hence, sought for dismissal of the appeal.
5.
Having heard the arguments on both sides, the
following points would arise for the consideration:
1) Whether the complainant/appellant has made out a
ground to allow this appeal?
2) What order?
My answer to the above points are as under:
Point No.(1) :
In the affirmative,
Point No.(2) :
As per final order.
6.
Reasons to issue No.1:
i.
I have carefully examined the impugned judgment in
para Nos.10 to 14. The trial Court has observed as under:
"10. On going through the materials available on record
coupled with order sheet in detail, it discloses that, on
22.12.2017 the complainant was examined as PW.1 and
got marked documents at Exs.Pl to P6(a). Thereafter,
the accused appeared before this court and obtained the
bail, and plea was recorded and he denied the same and
claimed to have the defence. The accused for cross of
PW.1 has not submitted the required application under
Section 145(2) of Negotiable Instruments Act. Hence,
the case stage is posted for defence evidence.
- 4 -
11.
On 16.03.2018 the complainant was present,
accused was also present, on the said day the accused
counsel filed applications under Section 311 of Cr.P.C
and 145(2) of Negotiable Instruments Act, seeking for
re-open the stage for cross of PW.1. The said
applications are came to be allowed with cost of Rs.200/-
and the case stage was reset for cross of PW.1 on
17.04.2018.
12.
It is significant fact to note that, from 17.04.2018
onwards, such as on 17.04.2018, 06.06.2018 and
28.06.2018 the PW.1 was remained absent knowingfully
well that, the case stage was re-opened for his
examination. Since, he not turned up; his cross-
examination was taken as nil. In view of the decision
reported in 2014 AIR SCW 3462, the accused statement
under Section 313 of Cr.P.C. was dispensed with and the
accused counsel submitted he has no defence evidence,
hence the case stage is set for arguments.
13.
On appraisal of materials, it is clearly discloses
that, the PW.1 despite known the date for him cross-
examination not come forward for tendering for cross-
examination.
Without
he
is
subjected
for
cross-
examination, the unilateral affidavit evidence is not at all
conclusive evidence and it is not fit or any appraisal.
Moreover, the evidence of PW.1 has to be no significant
role and the complainant himself fails to testify his case
by way of tendering cross- examination. Thereby, he ran
away from the proceedings without facing the defence of
the accused. Therefore, the very act of the complainant
is to be condemned and it is against the object of the
Act. Moreover, the alleged transaction put forth by the
complainant is fails to demonstrate that, he passed the
consideration of Rs.2,50,000/- to the accused, and in
turn, the accused handed over the cheque to him. When
he himself not tendered for cross-examination by the
accused, thereby a