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CRL.A.No. 100114 of 2014
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
DHARWAD BENCH
DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAJENDRA BADAMIKAR
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 100114 OF 2014
BETWEEN
JADESHA REDDY S/O. M.RAM REDDY
AGE: MAJOR, OCC: TEACHER AND AGRICULTURE,
R/O. SUMA NILAY, BEHIND MBT PETROL BUNK,
J.P.NAGAR, HOSAPETE, DIST: BALARI.
.....APPELLANT.
(BY SRI SHRIHARSH A. NEELOPANT, ADVOCATE.)
AND
G.CHANDRANNA S/O.G.CHANNABASAPPA
AGE: 53 YEARS, OCC: LECTURER IN GOVERNMENT
JUNIIOR COLLEGE,
R/O. BESIDE GANDHI NAGAR POLICE STATION,
OPP. RAGHAVA KALA MANDIR,
ANANTAPUR ROAD, BALLARI.
…..RESPONDENT
(BY SRI B.G.INDI, ADVOCAE FOR SRI K.L.PATIL, ADVOCATE.)
THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 378(4) OF
THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROEDURE, 1973, SEEKING TO SET ASIDE
THE JUDGMENT DATED 03.09.2012, PASSED BY THE FAST TRACK
COURT-III, HOSAPETE, IN CRL.A.NO.49/2012, FOR THE OFFENCE
PUNISHABLE
UNDER
SECTION
138
OF
THE
NEGOTIABLE
INSTRUMENTS ACT, 1881, ETC.,.
THIS APPEAL HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR
JUDGMENT ON 14.02.2023, COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT OF
JUDGMENT THIS DAY, THE COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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CRL.A.No. 100114 of 2014
This appeal is filed by the complainant-appellant
challenging the judgment of acquittal dated 03.09.2012,
passed by the Addl. Sessions Judge and Presiding Officer,
Fast Track Court-III, Hosapete, in Crl.A.No.49/2012,
whereby the learned Sessions Judge has set aside the
judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated
21.03.2012, passed by the Prl. Senior Civil Judge and
JMFC, Hosapete, in C.C.No.288/2011, against the accused-
respondent herein for the offence punishable under section
138 of the of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, by
acquitting him.
2.
For the sake of convenience, the parties herein
are referred with the original rankings occupied by them
before the Trial Court.
3.
The brief factual matrix leading to the case are
as under:
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a)
The complainant is a Government Teacher and
an agriculturist. The accused is also a Lecturer in
Government Junior College, Ballari. According to the
complainant, on 19.06.2009 accused borrowed a sum of
Rs.6,00,000/- from the complainant and issued a post
dated
cheque
for
a
sum
of
Rs.6,00,000/-
dated
19.08.2009 towards repayment of the said debt. On
presentation of the said chqeque, it came to be
dishonoured for insufficiency of funds and the complainant
has got issued a legal notice, but the accused replied with
false grounds and failed to make repayment. Hence, he
filed a complaint under section 200 of Cr.P.C. against the
accused for the offence punishable under section 138 of
the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
b)
After the complaint being lodged, the learned
Magistrate
has
recorded
the
sworn
statement
of
complainant and issued process against the accused by
taking cognizance. The accused has appeared and was
enlarged on bail. The accusation was read over and
explained to the accused and he pleaded not guilty. The
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complainant was examined himself as PW.1 and placed
reliance on seven documents marked at Exs.P.1 to P.7.
Then the statement of accused under section 313 of
Cr.P.C. was recorded and the accused denied the
incriminating evidence appearing against him. Further, the
accused got examined himself as DW.1 and his wife was
examined as DW.2. Two witnesses were also examined as
DW.3 and DW.4. He placed reliance on two documents at
Ex.D.1 and D.2.
c)
After hearing the arguments and appreciating
the
oral
and
documentary
evidence,
the
learned
Magistrate has convicted the accused by imposing fine of
Rs.10,000/-
and
in
default
to
undergo
simple
imprisonment for a period of six months and also directed
him to pay the compensation of Rs.6,00,000/- to the
complainant.
Being
aggrieved
by
the
judgment
of
conviction and order of sentence, the accused has
preferred Crl.A.No.49/2012, on the file of Fast Track
Court-III, Hosapete and the learned Sessions Judge after
re-appreciating the oral and documentary evidence,
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allowed the criminal appeal by setting aside the impugned
judgment of conviction passed by the learned Magistrate
and acquitted the accused of the charge under section 138
of the of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Being
aggrieved by this judgment, the complainant is before this
Court by way of this appeal.
4.
Heard the arguments advanced by the learned
counsel for appellant-complainant and learned counsel for
respondent-accused. Perused the records.
5.
Learned counsel for appellant would contend
that the First Appellate Court has erred in reversing the
judgment of conviction without assigning proper reasons.
He would also contend that there is admission by DW.2
regarding receipt of Rs.6,00,000/- by accused and the said
admission came to be ignored. It is further urged that the
complainant was a Government servant and he was also
having agricultural income and there is no question of
disputing his financial status. He would also assert that the
signature on the cheque came to be admitted and hence
the burden is on the accused to rebut the presumption
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under section 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act,
1881, which he failed. Hence he would contend th