Bombay High Court
Vinod Vyankat Narsaih Gannu vs Sunil Diwakar Poshettiwar And Anor on 16 January, 2020
Equivalent citations: AIRONLINE 2020 BOM 470
Author: S.M. Modak
Bench: S.M. Modak
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.636 OF 2006
Appellant : Vinod Vyankat Narsaih Gannu,
Original Complainant Aged about 45 years, Occupation : Business,
R/o 304, Deogiri, 37, Cement Road,
Shivaji Nagar, Nagpur
Duly represented through his constituted
Power of Attorney Holder - Prakash Sambashiv
Chepurwar, aged about 68 years,
R/o 772, Ramnagar, Telangkhedi, Nagpur.
-- Versus --
Respondents : 1] Sunil Diwakar Poshettiwar,
Original Accused Aged about 43 Years, Occupation - Business,
R/o 182, Gokulpeth, Nagpur.
2] The State of Maharashtra.
WITH
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.637 OF 2006
Appellant : Vinod Vyankat Narsaih Gannu,
Original Complainant Aged about 45 years, Occupation : Business,
R/o 304, Deogiri, 37, Cement Road,
Shivaji Nagar, Nagpur
Duly represented through his constituted
Power of Attorney Holder - Prakash Sambashiv
Chepurwar, aged about 68 years,
R/o 772, Ramnagar, Telangkhedi, Nagpur,
District Nagpur.
-- Versus --
Respondents : 1] Sunil Diwakar Poshettiwar,
Original Accused Aged about 43 Years, Occupation - Business,
R/o 182, Gokulpeth, Nagpur.
2] M/s. P.G. Pharma,
Registered Partnership Firm, 182,
Gokulpeth, Nagpur -
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duly represented through its Partner
Shri Sunil Diwakar Poshettiwar.
3] The State of Maharashtra.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Shri N.R. Saboo, Advocate for the Appellant.
Shri N.S. Badhe, Advocate for Respondent No.1.
Shri A.S. Ashirgade, A.P.P. for the State.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
CORAM : S.M. MODAK, J.
RESERVED ON : 22nd OCTOBER, 2019.
PRONOUNCED ON : 16th JANUARY, 2020.
COMMON JUDGMENT :
The issues involved in these two appeals are -
(1) Whether the accused has rebutted the presumption
under Section 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act?
(2) Whether on the basis of available evidence (without
producing any document/giving evidence), can it be said
that the accused has discharged his burden?
(3) Whether, five cheques in one case are said to be
defective for not having two signatures on behalf of the
firm?
02] The cases for failure to pay the amount of dishonoured
cheques have been dealt with by the trial Magistrate. The present
respondent-accused has been acquitted. Those cases have got a
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background. The complainant is a Non-Resident Indian (NRI). He has
formed a partnership in the year 2001 with the respondent-accused.
The business of the firm was of manufacturing, distributing and
marketing of Ayurvedic and other products. The firm's name was
M/s. P.G. Pharma.
03] The amount of ₹18.00 lakhs was brought into India in dollars
by the complainant and it was invested with the firm M/s. P.G. Pharma.
The firm was appointed as a Clearing and Forwarding Agent by three
companies. These three companies have accepted deposits from the
firm. The amount invested by the complainant to the tune of ₹18.00
lakhs was used towards the deposits kept with those three companies.
The business run well for two years.
04] When both the partners decided to discontinue the business
of two companies from 01/04/2003, accused - Sunil has undertaken
the responsibility to get refund of the deposits. In case of failure, he
has undertaken the responsibility to reimburse 50% from that amount
to the complainant. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was
executed on 7th April, 2003. There is a reference of giving cheques
drawn on personal account of accused - Sunil. These cheques have to
be utilized in case of failure of Sunil to get return of the deposits
amount from the companies.
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FILING OF COMPLAINT
05] The complainant filed S.C.C. No.853/2003 and S.C.C.
No.854/2003. The first case is for dishonour of five cheques. Those
cheques were drawn on the account maintained by the firm in Union
Bank of India and signed by accused - Sunil. He is accused No.1,
whereas, firm has been impleaded as accused No.2. These cheques are
issued in view of the commitment given by the accused Sunil. There is
no reference in the MoU about issuance of these cheques. Whereas,
S.C.C. No.854/2003 was filed for dishonour of a single cheque drawn
by accused on his personal account maintained in Union Bank of India.
He is the sole accused therein.
06] The complainant deposited all the six cheques. The five
cheques involved in S.C.C. No.853/2003 were dishonoured for the
reason "funds insufficient". Their total amount is ₹18.00 lakhs.
Whereas, a single cheque involved in S.C.C. No.854/2003 was
dishonoured for the reason "stop payment". Notices were issued. In
spite of the receipt, there was a failure to pay the amount and that is
why the complainant filed two separate cases before the Court of
Judicial Magistrate First Class at Nagpur.
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EVIDENCE
07] The complainant gave evidence separately in both these
cases. Whereas, accused examined one Janardhan Gajbhiye, Assistant
Manager from Union Bank of India in both these cases. The learned
Magistrate was pleased to acquit the accused in both the cases.
DEFENCE OF ACCUSED
08] The defence of the accused was multifold. It is as follows :-
(a) The complainant received 10 cheques of ₹1.00 lakh each
from M/s. Triveni Pharma, so also the complainant received
two cheques of ₹3.50 lakhs from M/s. Himtaj Ayurved Pvt. Ltd .
Those cheques were for discharge of liability towards return
of deposits.
(b) He has further contended that the complainant has not
returned the cheques issued by him and has misused them.
(c) According to him, he has fulfilled his responsibility thereby
arranging for return of deposits and is not concerned with the
fate of those cheques issued by two companies.
(d) He has further pleaded that ₹4.00 lakhs are transferred from
the account of the firm to the complainant and in this way,
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the liability arising out of his personal cheque for ₹5.00 lakhs
does not remain.
DECISION
09] Trial Court has accepted the defence put forth by the accused
and has concluded that the presumption is rebutted. Finally, it has
resulted into acquittal of the accused in both the cases. The
complainant has approached this Court thereby challenging decision
dated 19/08/2006.
10] At great length, I have heard learned Advocate Shri Saboo
and learned Advocate Shri Badhe for the complainant-appellant and
the accused respectively in both these appeals. Criminal Appeal
No.637/2006 and Criminal Appeal 636/2006 are preferred against the
decisions in S.C.C. No.853/2003 and S.C.C. No.854/2003 respectively.
COMMON JUDGMENT
11] I have perused the record with their assistance and also the
judgments relied upon by them. The trial Court has delivered a
common judgment in both the cases. I have tried to understand the
facts and the evidence from the said judgment. But, the learned trial
Judge has mixed up the facts in both the cases and made the
discussions very clumsy.
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PRECAUTION
12] The complainant and the defence witness viz. Shri Gajbhiye
gave evidence separately in both these cases. If the trial Court has
decided to give a common judgment, it ought to have taken more
precautions in discussing the evidence separately. I am not criticizing
the trial Court for giving a common judgment. The background and
the foundation for filing two separate cases is the same and that is the
liability arising out of the MoU. Though there is a separate cross-
examination and some of the defences are separate. So to say reasons
for dishonour are different and in S.C.C. No.854/2003, the accused has
taken additional defence of payment of ₹4.00 lakhs out of liability of
₹5.00 lakhs from the single cheque. For these reasons, I say that in a
common judgment, the trial Court has made it complicated for a
reader to understand the discussions and the reasonings.
REASONINGS BY THE TRIAL COURT
13] The learned Advocate Shri Saboo for the complainant has
helped a lot to this Court while understanding the evidence. When,
this Court has culled out the reasonings from the common judgment,
they are as follows :
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(a) The complainant has admitted receipt of ten cheques of
₹1.00 lakh each from M/s. Triveni Pharma (in the cross-
examination conducted in S.C.C. No.854/2003).
(b) The complainant has admitted about receipt of two cheques
of ₹3.50 lakhs from M/s. Soumya Trade Links around March,
2003. (in the cross-examination conducted in S.C.C. No.
854/2003).
(c) The liability as per the MoU of accused Sunil will arise only
in case of failure on the part of Sunil to recover the amount
deposited with those two companies.
(d) In view of the admissions mentioned above, the liability of
Sunil had not arisen.
14] It is difficult to understand that the reasonings are given in
which case. The background and foundation for both the cases is one
and the same and i.e. MoU (only difference is in S.C.C. No.853/2003,
there are five cheques issued on the bank account of the firm, whereas
in S.C.C. No.854/2003, the cheque was issued by the accused on his
personal account). So, we have to consider the reasonings reproduced
above as reasonings given for both the cases. I will have to test the
correctness of those reasonings. The arguments of both the learned
Advocates are useful in this regard.
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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
15] There are ways and means to prove a document. The
complainant is a signatory to the said MoU, dated 07/04/2003.
Another signatory is the accused. At some places, the accused tried to
raise a dispute about voluntary execution of the said MoU. But, if the
tenor of the cross-examination is read, we can find that the accused
had also formed his defence on the basis of the contents of the MoU
only. So, we can read it's contents. Broadly, the MoU contains the
following provisions :
(a) Decision to stop business of the firm as Clearing and
Forwarding Agent (CFA) of two companies viz. M/s. Triveni
Pharma and M/s. Himtaj Ayurved Pvt. Ltd. It is from 1 st April,
2003.
(b) Decision was agreed to be communicated to these two
companies. The amount recoverable from -
[i] M/s. Triveni Pharma is ₹10.00 lakhs (deposit), ₹1.08
lakh (interest), ₹0.97 lakh (commission) and ₹0.25 lakh
(for TDS);
[ii] M/s. Himtaj Ayurved Pvt. Ltd., the amount recoverable
was ₹58,473/- (interest), ₹99,875/- (commission) and
₹11,148/- (TDS) and
[iii] the amount paid to M/s. S.P. Pharma was paid by the
complainant and it be paid from the account of the firm
and it will be shared by both the partners.
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(c) Within two weeks from closing the operation, the accused
Sunil has agreed to bring back the dues from M/s. Triveni
Pharma and from M/s. Himtaj Ayurved Pvt. Ltd.
(d) In case of failure to repay by the two companies , the accused
agrees to pay half of the total amount and full amount of
interest to the complainant.
(e) Issuance of cheque - In case of non-receipt from the two
companies, accused had given his personal cheque to the
complainant with authority to lodge the cheque for
encashment, if the payment is not received within 15 days
from expiry of two weeks.
(f) Handing over the control of the firm's business to the
complainant - This will happen, if the payment will not be
received from two companies.
(g) Business restraint clause - There was restriction on the
accused to do the business in any manner with the two
companies till the account is settled with the firm.
SUBMISSION
16] Both the learned Advocates for the parties have argued much
on the issue of creation of the liability of the accused and the
circumstances in which the liability will be created. According to
learned Advocate Shri Saboo for the appellant, the liability of accused
had arisen :
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(a) as he has failed to recover the deposit from the two
companies within two weeks from 01/04/2003;
(b) the accused cannot be exonerated from this liability merely
because the complainant has admitted about receipt of
certain cheques from these two companies;
(c) the trial Court has misunderstood the liability accrual clause in
the MoU and
(d) once the signature is admitted, presumption under Section
139 of the N.I. Act comes into picture.
For that purpose, he relied upon the judgment in the case of
K. Bhaskaran vs. Sankaran Vaidhyan Balan & another reported
in AIR 1999 SC 3762. There cannot be any dispute about the said
proposition. At the same time, it is true that such presumption can be
rebutted by the accused in a different manner.
17] He also relied upon the judgment in the case of P.
Lakshmanapillai vs. A. Elangovan & another reported in 2012
SCC ONLINE MAD 521. It was on the point of rebutting the
presumption by the accused and how the defence of the accused can
be negated. In that case, the issue was whether the cheque was
issued as a security. Through the accused, the complainant lent
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amount to various persons. The accused stood surety for repayment of
those amounts. The accused took a defence that cheques issued by
him were duly cancelled by the complainant when he received the
amount from his borrowers. This theory was not accepted by the trial
Court and by the appellate Court and even it does not appeal to the
conscious of the High Court. In that case, even the accused entered
into the witness-box.
18] The complainant also relied upon the judgment in the case of
Dr. Kailash Madanlal Charkha vs. Sayyad Khwaja s/o Sayyad
Noor & another in Criminal Appeal No.66 of 2006, this Court set
aside the judgment of acquittal and convicted the accused. The
complainant's evidence was challenged on so many factors including
his financial capacity and misusing the blank cheque. The accused
examined his father. This Court discussed about rebuttal of
presumption by the accused on facts, but the Court did not accept
rebuttal of presumption by the accused.
Whereas, according to the learned Advocate Shri Badhe for the
respondent-accused -
(a) The creation of a liability on the basis of happening of an
event is not contemplated under the provisions of the
Indian Contract Act.
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(b)Receipt of cheques from the two companies (as admitted by
the complainant) has exonerated the accused.
(c) The accused cannot be fastened with the liability, if the
cheques issued to the complainant are dishonoured.
19] On the point of scope of interference by the appellate Court,
learned Advocate Shri Badhe for the respondent - accused relied upon
the judgment in the case of K. Prakashan vs. P.K. Surenderan
reported in 2007 CJ (SC) 546. The Hon'ble Apex Court observed that
if two views are possible, the appellate Court should not reverse the
judgment of acquittal only because another view is possible. The
jurisdiction of the appellate Court is limited.
CONCLUSION
20] I reject the contention of learned Advocate Shri Badhe for the
respondent-accused that liability on the basis of such clause will not
accrue. There may be uncertainty about when the payment can be
recovered. But, the person from whom the money is to be recovered
has been specified. So, the uncertainty as echoed by learned Advocate
Shri Badhe does not fall within the uncertainty recognized by law. But,
for different reasons, I agree with learned Advocate Shri Badhe for the
accused and with the reasonings given by the trial Court. The
complainant was cross-examined at length in S.C.C. No.854/2003.
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There were certain questions put about interconnection in between
M/s. Triveni Pharma and M/s. Universal Medikit. They were denied.
Finally, the complainant accepted the receipt of 10 cheques of ₹1.00
lakh each. The complainant, has expressed ignorance about details
including cheque numbers and drawee bank of those cheques.
21] The learned trial Judge has emphasized on this admission of
the complainant. There is one more admission given by the
complainant that M/s. Soumya Trade Links had issued two cheques of
₹3.50 lakhs each to the firm in which the complainant is a partner. It is
around March, 2003. On presentation, they were dishonoured. M/s.
Soumya Trade Links is connected to M/s. Himtaj Ayurved Pvt. Ltd.
There is an attempt to point out the copy of evidence given by the
complainant in a case instituted in respect of those cheques by M/s.
Soumya Trade Links. The trial Court has referred to the said evidence.
I am not considering the evidence for the reason that it was not shown
to the complainant during cross-examination. But, receipt of two
cheques is admitted by the complainant.
22] It is not clear as to, whether the cheques from these two
companies were issued within 15 days of the MoU and due to
persuasion by the accused. Be that as it may, the clause about
compliance in 15 days is not strictly adhered to. Though there may not
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be a strict compliance, but, if there is a substantial compliance, I do
not think that the liability as per the MoU can be fastened on the
accused. There are also several reasons why I have taken this view
thereby confirming the trial Court's view.
23] There are no documents to show about settlement of the
dues in between these two partners except the MoU. So also, no
accounts statements have been filed. If they are with the accused, the
complainant has not taken any steps before the trial Court asking the
accused to produce them. No one from the side of these two
companies was examined before the trial Court. It is even not made
clear, what has happened about those ten cheques issued by the M/s.
Triveni Pharma.
24] The complainant was also cross-examined on the point of
continuance of the business of company and dissolution of the firm (It
was in S.C.C. No.853/2003). Though he denied the dissolution of the
firm, he was not aware about completion of closing formalities and still
whether they continue to be the partners. It seems that the
complainant was only convinced up to execution of the MoU. It is also
true that there is a clause in the MoU about closing down the business,
if the dues are not recovered from two companies. But after the MoU,
there is no correspondence placed before the trial Court throwing light
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on protest about failure of commitment by the accused to arrange
return of deposits and continuance of the business.
25] Because, if at all the business is to be closed down, there has
to be settlement of accounts and there has to be arrangement of the
stock, which was procured as a Clearing & Forwarding Agent in an
ordinary course. Such kind of evidence is not there. An attempt was
made on behalf of the accused to put a suggestion that ₹4.00 lakhs
are transferred from the bank account of the firm to the individual
account of the complainant and it was in respect of fulfillment of the
liability of M/s. Triveni Pharma. However, it was denied by the
complainant (It is in cross-examination conducted in S.C.C.
No.853/2003). There was a further suggestion that out of remaining
amount of ₹6.00 lakhs with M/s. Triveni Pharma, this deposit will be
considered as a deposit for and on behalf of M/s. Dhanlaxmi Pharma.
M/s. Dhanlaxmi Pharma was permitted to carry on the same business
by the complainant. They are also denied.
26] Any business cannot be closed down easily. There are number
of formalities including reducing the terms into writing, informing the
creditors and depositors etc.. The tenor of the cross-examination shows
that there was deliberation and discussion amongst these two partners.
The complainant during his evidence has not brought them on record.
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Even he has not clarified about getting cheques from M/s. Triveni Pharma
and M/s. Soumya Trade Links. He admits it, when put during cross-
examination. It will also be material to look into the total amount of these
six cheques. It comes to ₹23.00 lakhs (₹18.00 lakhs in S.C.C.
No.853/2003 and ₹5.00 lakhs in S.C.C. No.854/2003). The accused has
undertaken the responsibility to pay 50%, if those two companies will not
return the deposits as per his follow up. If we consider the figures
mentioned in the MoU as an amount recoverable from these two
companies on one hand and the amount of ₹23.00 lakhs on the other, it
is not clear whether the amount of cheques is really 50%, less or more.
27] So, there is a reason to believe that the complainant has left
so many issues untouched while giving evidence. He simply relied on
the MoU and issuance of cheques. The accused has suggested the
complainant that the cheques given by him were agreed to be
returned, once the complainant will get the amount from these two
companies. It has been denied. It is true that MoU mentions about
issuance of cheque by the accused in his personal name. But, there is
no reference of the cheques issued by accused - Sunil on the bank
account of the firm. The complainant has also not produced any
additional documents. Hence, there is every reason to believe that the
accused has rebutted the presumption. He has done it on the basis of
the available material and by cross-examining the complainant. There
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is no reason to disagree with the reasonings given by the trial Court.
Though the complainant was punctual while forming the partnership
and registering it, it seems that for some reason or other, proper
documentation has not been done when both have decided to
discontinue the business with the two companies. Ultimately, the
Court is concerned with the evidence which has been brought before
the Court and not to the evidence which has not produced before the
Court.
REASONS FOR DISHONOUR OF CHEQUES
28] In both the cases, reasons for dishonour are different.
S.C.C. NO.854/2003
29] The complainant relied upon the judgment in the case of
NEPC Micon Limited & others vs. Magma Leasing Limited
reported in 1999(3) SCALE 67. It was on the point of attracting the
provisions of Section 138 of the N.I. Act, even though cheque is
dishonoured for the reason "account closed". In S.C.C. No.854/2003,
the cheque was issued by the accused on a personal account. The
memo at Exh.26 mentions the reason 18 on page 1, whereas on the
back side reasons 18 & 23 are encircled. The reason 18 says about
"stopping the payment", whereas reason 23 says about "insufficient
funds". Witness Janardhan Gajbhiye was examined by the accused.
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He admits that payment was stopped by the drawer. He was also
cross-examined on the point of his knowledge about the account of the
firm. In the statement under Section 313 of Cr.P.C., the accused has
answered that he gave 'stop payment' instruction when the cheque
was lost. The theory of losing the cheque is after thought and not
suggested to any of the witnesses. Stop payment instruction can
absolve the drawer of the cheque only when he can show that there is
a bona fide dispute with the payee and in addition to that there is a
sufficient balance in the account. So, 'stop payment instruction' has to
be believed as the only reason for dishonour. It certainly come with
the purview of Section 138 of the N.I. Act. I agree with the reasonings
given by the trial Court in its judgment at paragraph 35. However,
accused succeeded in showing bona fide dispute about liability.
S.C.C. NO.853/2003
30] There is a different reason for dishonour of five cheques in
S.C.C. No.853/2003. It was due to insufficient funds. But, accused
made all attempts to bring on record that the cheques were defective
and at the material time, it require two signatures. As they were not
there, cheques were defective. He tried at his level best first to
examine witness Janardhan Gajbhiye, then recalling him and then
cross-examining him. Through him, the Specimen Card of the Bank
Account at Exh.65 was produced. It was dated 04/04/2002. The
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cheques were dishonoured in the month of July, 2003. Initially when
the account was opened on 16/10/2000, instructions were given for
handling the account by any one. The witness admits that Specimen
Card contains the instructions "operation joint" from 04/04/2002.
However, when Exh.65 is produced, we will not find such endorsement.
It is not clearly legible, but the instruction says that any one can
operate the account. So, his evidence is not helpful to the accused.
The learned Magistrate has not discussed this aspect while answering
issue No.3. We have to presume that these five cheques are
dishonoured for the reason "funds Insufficient".
31] The judgment in the case of Vinod Tanna & another vs.
Zaheer Siddiqui & others reported in 2001(2) Mh.L.J. 714 was
relied upon by the complainant. There is an instruction about
operating the bank accounts jointly, Section 138 of the N.I. Act is
attracted even though single director has signed. In this case, I have
already observed that instruction to operate the accounts jointly is not
proved by the accused.
CONCLUSION
32] I have already discussed the evidence about rebuttal of
presumption. I am not inclined to accept the theory of receipt of ₹4.00
lakhs by the complainant from the account of the firm. It is no doubt
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true that witness Janardhan Gajbhiye has admitted about transfer of
₹4.00 lakhs on 24/05/2003. The statement of account was filed at
Exh.51 through him in S.C.C. No.854/2003. The accused cannot pick
up one entry to show that this was towards the repayment of the
liability arising out of the cheque for ₹5.00 lakhs drawn by him on his
personal account. The accused needs to have produced evidence to
substantiate this payment. Unfortunately, the trial Court has accepted
this. As I have rejected the theory of the complainant, I am also
rejecting this theory.
FINAL CONCLUSION
33] I am upholding the findings of the trial Court partially, though
there is a reason to believe issuance of six cheques by the accused to
the complainant, on the basis of available evidence, there is a reason
to believe that accused is successful in bringing of lacunae in the
complainant's evidence on the point of debt or liability. So, I find no
reason to interfere in the trial Court's judgment. I am not considering
the copy of the judgment shown to me given by the Civil Court in
S.C.S. No.61/2004, dated 01/01/2011 in the recovery suit for ₹23.00
lakhs, which was dismissed by the Civil Court. It was not a certified
copy. There is a certain relevancy of the Civil Court's judgment. The
accused has not followed the procedure. For the above discussions,
the following order is passed.
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apeal.636.06.jud 22
ORDER
I. Both the appeals stand dismissed.
II. The parties to bear their own costs.
(S.M. MODAK, J.) *sandesh ::: Uploaded on - 16/01/2020 ::: Downloaded on - 17/01/2020 08:52:19 :::