ORDER

The present petition is filed u/S.482 Cr.P.C challenging the order dated 2.8.2022 passed by JMFC, Sendhwa, District Barwani in Case No.SCNIA 1053/2016 whereby the application filed by the applicant u/S.91 of Cr.P.C has been rejected.

2. The facts of the case are that the respondent/complainant filed a case against the applicant u/S.138 of Negotiable Instrument Act before JMFC, Sendhwa, district Barwani registered as SCNIA 1053/2016. The complainant has alleged in the pleading that the complainant took a loan for his personal business needs and from the loan amount complainant gave cash amount to the present petitioner. The petitioner filed an application u/S.91 Cr.P.C seeking production of statement of accounts and income tax return for the year 2014-15 to 2017-18. By the impugned order, the trial court has rejected the said application mainly on the ground that the application was filed after more than five years. The complaint case is pending since 2016 and the case is fixed for complainant's evidence since 8.11.2017. As per the provision of Section 138 of Negotiable Instrument Act, the complainant has to prove that there is a legally recoverable debt payable by the accused to him and the document sought by the petitioner accused is one of such ways where authenticity and veracity of the claim and counter claim can be tested. In support of his submission he has placed reliance on a judgment passed by the Co-ordinate bench in the case of Shivendra Dhakre Vs. Narendra Sharma 2017(3) JLJ 325 where the application u/s.91 of the accused was allowed.

3 . In connected main case M.Cr.C. No.2936/2023, the counsel for respondent submits that though the presumption is in favour of the complainant, but still the burden is on the complainant to prove that there is legally recoverable debt payable by the accused to him. Thus, the documents sought by the petitioner are not required for adjudication of the case. It is further submitted that the evidence has already been completed and the case has been heard finally and the judgment could not be delivered because of the interim order passed by this court.

4. After hearing learned counsel for petitioner and taking into consideration the provisions of Sec.138 of Negotiable Instrument Act, it emerged that the complainant has to prove that there is legally recoverable debt payable by the accused to him. The complaint case is pending since 2016 and the evidence of the complainant was commenced from 8.11.2017. The applicant filed application for production of document after more than five years. Apart from that, since the burden is on the complainant to prove that there is legally recoverable debt payable by the accused to him, the rejection of application for summoning document sought by the petitioner would not cause any prejudice to him. The judgment relied by the petitioner would not apply to the facts of the present case.

5. In view of the aforesaid, I do not find any illegality and perversity in the impugned order warranting any interference u/S.482 of Cr.P.C. The petition is accordingly dismissed. (VIJAY KUMAR SHUKLA) JUDGE VM