2023 Supreme(Online)(Kar) 36553
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NC: 2023:KHC:33423
CRL.RP No. 1312 of 2015
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAJENDRA BADAMIKAR
CRIMINAL REVISION PETITION NO. 1312 OF 2015
BETWEEN:
O. HEMANNA,
S/O LATE OBALAPPA,
AGE ABOUT 55 YEARS,
R/AT 3RD CROSS,
AMBEDKAR KALYANA MANTAPA,
RAJENDRA NAGAR,
CHITRADURGA - 577 501.
…PETITIONER
(BY SRI. MOHAMMED TAHIR, ADVOCATE)
AND:
SHRI. RAMACHANDRAPPA,
S/O ERAPPA,
AGED 65 YEARS,
MILK VENDOR
R/O KARUVINATTE CIRCLE,
NEAR ESHWAR TEMPLE,
CHITRADURGA - 577 501.
…RESPONDENT
(RESPONDENT IS SERVED(ABSENT))
THIS CRL.RP IS FILED U/S.397 OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO
SET ASIDE THE CONVICTION ORDER DATED 12.06.2015
PASSED BY THE PRL. CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, CHITALDURGA
IN
C.C.NO.1314/2011
SUBSEQUENTLY
DISCHARGE
THE
ACCUSED/PETR. FROM THE CHARGE AND SET ASIDE THE
CONSEQUENT ORDER PASSED IN CRL.A.NO.30/2015 PASSED
BY THE II ADDL. DIST. AND S.J., CHITRADURGA DATED
06.10.2015.
THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, THE
COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
Digitally
signed by
RENUKAMBA
K G
Location:
High Court of
Karnataka
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NC: 2023:KHC:33423
CRL.RP No. 1312 of 2015
This revision is filed by the accused under Section 397
of Cr.P.C., challenging the judgment of conviction and order
of sentence passed by Principal Civil Judge & J.M.F.C.,
Chitradurga, in C.C.No.1314/2011 dated 12.06.2015 and
confirmed by 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Chitradurga, in
Crl.A.No.30/2015 vide judgment dated 06.10.2015.
2.
For the sake of convenience, the parties herein
are referred with the original ranks occupied by them before
the trial Court.
3.
The brief factual matrix leading to the case are as
under:
The accused has borrowed a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- from
complainant for his family necessities and issued a cheque
dated 05.02.2011, drawn on Nava Karnataka Bank Credit
Co-operative Society Ltd., Chitradurga Branch, Chitradurga,
in favour of the complainant. When the said cheque came to
be presented, it was bounced for insufficient of funds.
Thereafter, the complainant has got issued a legal notice
calling upon the accused to pay the cheque amount. In spite
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of service of legal notice, accused failed to repay the cheque
amount and hence, the complainant has filed a complaint.
4.
The learned Magistrate has taken cognizance of
the offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable
Instruments Act, 1881 (for short ‘N.I. Act) and issued
process. The accused has appeared through his counsel and
was enlarged on bail. The plea under Section 138 of the N.I.
Act was recorded and accused denied the same. Thereafter,
the statement of accused under Section 313 Cr.P.C. was
recorded to enable him to explain the incriminating evidence
appearing against him in the case of the prosecution. The
case of the accused is of total denial. Further, the accused
was also got examined one witness as DW1 and he himself
was got examined as DW2. He placed reliance on Ex.D1 to
Ex.D4.
5.
After
hearing
the
arguments
and
after
appreciating the oral and documentary evidence, the learned
Magistrate has convicted the accused for the offence
punishable under Section 138 of the N.I. Act by imposing a
sentence of imprisonment for a period of three months with
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a fine of Rs.1,00,000/- with a default clause of imprisonment
for a period of one month.
6.
Being aggrieved by this judgment of conviction
and order of sentence, the accused has approached the
learned II Additional Sessions Judge, in Crl.A.No.30/2015.
The learned Sessions Judge, after re-appreciating the oral
and documentary evidence, dismissed the appeal by
confirming the judgment of conviction and order of sentence
passed by the learned Magistrate. Being aggrieved by these
concurrent findings, the revision petitioner is before this
Court.
7.
Heard the arguments advanced by the learned
counsel for the revision petitioner. Learned counsel for the
respondent is absent. Perused the records.
8.
The learned counsel for the revision petitioner
would submit that after filing this revision, the insolvency
proceedings initiated by the revision petitioner in 2011 itself
were disposed of, declaring the revision petitioner as an
insolvent. He would contend that the liability to the tune of
Rs.1,00,000/- towards the complainant was admitted, but
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since, the revision petitioner was declared as insolvent, the
proceedings under Section 138 of the N.I. Act being quasi-
civil, the issue will be regarding whether criminal Court can
proceed with the matter and whether the accused can seek
discharge needs to be considered.
9.
There is no dispute of the fact that accused has
issued a cheque for Rs.1,00,000/- and accused who himself
claims to have filed the insolvency proceedings under Ex.D4,
admitted that his liability towards the present complainant
was to the tune of Rs.1,00,000/-. The allegations of the
complainant also disclose that accused has issued cheque
towards a liability of Rs.1,00,000/- only. The insolvency
proceedings filed before the Principal District Judge, the
complainant/respondent herein was added as respondent
No.1
therein.
The
‘schedule
A’
discloses
that
the
accus