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Bangalore District Court

Ms Varun Souharda Credit vs K. Mamatha And Others on 11 March, 2026

                            1
                                                C.C.No.32580/2014
KABC030839002014




    IN THE COURT OF THE XXXVII ADDL.CHIEF JUDICIAL
             MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU CITY.

           Dated this the 11th day of March, 2026.

    Present: Sri SYED ARFATH IBRAHIM M., B.A.L, L.L.B.,
                    XXXVII ACJM., BENGALURU.

                    C.C. No.32580/2014

           JUDGMENT UNDER SEC.355 OF CR.P.C.,

    Complainant          : Varun Souhardha Co-operative
                           Society Ltd.,
                           No.617, 4th Cross, 5th Main,
                           Hanumanthanagar,
                           Bangalore - 560 019.
                           Rep. By Sri Nagendra Kumar
                            Vs/-
    Accused              : 1. Ms. K.Mamatha
                           M/s. Balaji Garments
                           No.15A/16, 16th Main Road
                           Behind Cauvery Garden
                           Srigandakaval
                           Sunkadakatte
                           Magadi Main Road,
                           Bangalore - 560 091.

                           2. Sri N. Govindappa
                           Major, R/at No.G-1038, 7th Cross
                            HAL colony
                           Bangalore 560 037.
                                 2
                                                        C.C.No.32580/2014
                               3. Sri Thimmaiah
                               Major, R/at No.13/14, 6th Cross, 8th
                               F Cross, Lakshman nagar
                               Hegganahalli Cross, Sunkadakatee,
                               Vishwaneedam post
                               Bangalore - 560 091.
                               Also at:
                               Sri Thimmaiah
                               The Karnataka State Co-Operative
                               Apex Bank Limited
                               No.1, Pampamahakavi Road
                               Chamarajpet,
                               BANGALORE - 560 018.

    Date of offence          : 11-06-2013
    Offences complained      : U/s.467,468,471,420 of IPC.
    of
    Plea                     : Accused No.1 to 3 Pleaded not guilty
    Final Order              : Accused No.1 to 3 Acquitted
    Date of Order            : 11-03-2026


                             *****

     The complainant has filed complaint U/s.200 of Cr.P.C.

against    the   accused   persons   for    the   offences   punishable

467,468,471,420 of IPC.



     2.The brief facts of the case of complainant is as under:-

     The accused No.1 approached the complainant for loan to

purchase a Site stating that she is proceeding to        purchase the

property on the Market value of Rs.30,00,000/- and she has an
                                3
                                                   C.C.No.32580/2014
average monthly expenses of Rs.20,000/- . Thereafter she applied

for loan of Rs.15,00,000-00 on security of site bearing house plot

No.57, formed out of Sy.No.105/1, Kacharakanahalli, Kasaba hobli,

Bangalore, North Tq., the accused No.2 stood as a co-obligant and

accused No.3 joined as guarantor for the purpose of entering into a

loan transaction. On 22-02-2012 they have executed a loan

agreement wherein it is categorically stated that the accused No.1

intended to enter into a loan transaction by creating an equitable

mortgage by depositing of title document pertaining to the

immovable property. While executing the registered deed of

memorandum of deposit of title deeds the accused persons have

given attested true copies of the re-survey map pertaining to

Sy.No.105/1 issued by ADLR and while accepting the documents it

was found that there is no existence of plot at all and the

documents did not pertain to the property in respect of which

equitable mortgage has been created.       It is noticed that the

absolute sale deed under which the     accused are stated to have

purchased the property is a non-existing property and thereby

accused have committed fraud misrepresentation and concealment

of true facts from the complainant. The documents produced by

the accused are created documents and while inspection of the spot
                                    4
                                                         C.C.No.32580/2014
it was noticed that the property was not available so it is nothing

but fraud, played upon the complainant for acceptance of title

documents which does not relate to the property. That on 11-06-

2013 the complainant issued a notice to the accused, which is

received by the accused but they failed to rectify or remedy the

fraud committed by them.          The fraud has been played by the

accused by creating concocted, created and fabricated documents.

Hence, this complaint.

     3.   After   filing   the   private   complaint   this   court   took

cognizance for the alleged offences and posted the matter for sworn

statement. Later on after recording the sworn statement, this court

has passed order on 28-11-2014 and ordered to register a criminal

case against the accused to proceed against the accused and

issued process. In response to the process, the accused No.1 to 3

appeared through the counsel and they were enlarged on bail.



     4. Before framing charge, an opportunity of being heard was

provided to the accused No.1 to 3 and after hearing them and the

complainant and as there were sufficient materials, the charge for

the aforesaid offences were framed and same was read over to the

accused No.1 to 3 in the language known to them, to which, the
                                5
                                                     C.C.No.32580/2014
accused pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. Thereafter, the

matter was set down for prosecution evidence.



     5. In order to prove the charges, the Secretary of the Society

has examined himself as PW-1 and got marked           Ex.P1 to P33

documents. The statement of accused       as required U/s. 313 of

Cr.P.C. is recorded. In which the accused have           denied the

incriminating circumstances appeared against them. The accused

No.1 to 3 have been examined as DW 1 to 3 and            got marked

Ex.D.1 to Ex.D9 documents in support of their defence.

     6. Heard    arguments on both sides. I have Perused the

materials on record. The learned counsel for accused No. 1 to 3

has submitted written arguments and also additional written

arguments praying to acquit the accused since accused have not

committed any of the alleged offences.

     7. The following point arise for my determination :-

     1) Whether the complainant proves beyond all
     reasonable doubt that the Accused No.1 to 3 with a
     common intention to cheat the complainant society had
     applied and taken loan of Rs.15,00,000/- from the
     society and created a equitable mortgage on a non
     existing property, created and forged documents in
     respect of the property and failed to repay the loan
     amount and thereby the accused has committed the
     offences punishable u/s. 467,468,471,420 of IPC?
                                     6
                                                          C.C.No.32580/2014

        2) What Order?

        8. My finding to the above points are as under:-

        Point No.1.......In the Negative.

        Point No.2.......As per final Order, for the following :-



                                  REASONS

        9. POINT No.1:- It is the fundamental principle of criminal

jurisprudence that the prosecution will have to establish its case

beyond all reasonable doubt. In order to prove the same,              S.J.

Nagendrakumar, Secretary has been examined as PW-1 and got

marked Ex.P.1 to Ex.P33 documents.



        10.P.W.1      Nagendra Kumar S G, Secretary of Varun

Souhardha Credit Co operative society limited has deposed in his

examination in chief that he knows the accused No.1 to 3. The

accused No.1 had applied for loan of Rs.15 lakhs with Varun

Souhardha Credit Co operative society limited to purchase site.

Along     with     application,   she   submitted   related      documents

concerning to plot No.57 and executed Loan Agreement. Accused

No.1    Mortgaged      the   documents    and   entered   into    Mortgage

agreement. Accused No.2 stood as Co-obligant and Accused No.3
                                 7
                                                      C.C.No.32580/2014
stood as guarantor. PW-1 further deposed that after verifying the

documents as per accused No.1 request          he sanctioned Rs.15

lakhs, but the accused No.1 did not repay the same. Later they

came to know that the accused have taken loan on a non existing

property by cheating the Bank. As accused have cheated the

Society, he has issued notice to accused but the accused did not

reply. During his cross examination he admits that the accused are

the members of his society. He also admits that they had visited the

spot and Anand engineering and Consultancy had also submitted

the valuation report to the property. To a suggestion that in the

event of default there is provision to take possession of the property

the PW1 deposed that such provision is there but the accused had

submitted false documents.



     11. To rebut the evidence of complainant the accused No.1

examined herself as DW1 and deposed in her chief examination

that Shankarlingaiah had told her that he would get her a site. She

has deposed that she does not know the owner of the site

purchased by her. She has deposed that she had paid installments

towards the loan for a period of 1 year. She deposed that in respect

of the loan she has paid Rs.3 lakhs to Naveen and another Rs. 2
                                    8
                                                       C.C.No.32580/2014
lakhs through others. After taking the loan Naveen showed her the

site. When she saw the site there was a shed in the site. Later she

stopped paying the loan amount. During her cross examination she

admits that she had taken a loan of Rs. 15 lakhs from the society.

She states that after taking loan she had paid installments for a

year.    She   admits    that   believing   Shankarlingaiah   she   had

purchased the site. She admits that before purchasing the site she

had not seen the site.



        12. Further Accused No.2 was examined as DW2. He in his

chief examination has deposed that Ramesh Babu had taken him

and got his signatures on a document as guarantor. During his

cross examination he admits that the signature in Ex-P3 is his

signature. He admits that he had signed to the loan taken by

Accused No.1.



        13. Further Accused No.3 was examined as DW3. He in his

chief examination has deposed that he had not stood as guarantor

to any loan in the society. He had received notice from the court of

Assistant Registrar.
                                9
                                                    C.C.No.32580/2014
The above being the evidence on record it would be appropriate to

go through the entire material on record to see whether the

complainant has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.



     14. In this case before going into the crux of the matter it

would be appropriate to cull out some admitted facts in order to

focus on the real crux of the case. In this case the Accused No.1

admits that she had applied for a loan and also admits that she

was sanctioned loan of Rs. 15 lakhs. She also admits that after the

loan being sanctioned she purchased the property as per sale deed

marked as Ex-P11. She in her chief examination admits that she

has paid installments for a year towards the loan. Though the

accused have taken contention that they had not applied for loan

and that they were cheated by Shankarlingaiah, but the admission

of the Accused No.1 regarding taking loan and repaying the loan

installments for a year clearly shows that she had voluntarily taken

loan and was paying the loan amount as per agreement. If at all

she was cheated by Shankarlingaiah she would not have paid the

installments. Hence, the contentions of the accused in respect of

applying for loan, taking loan, getting sale deed registered and

repaying of loan cannot be considered as the accused have failed to
                                10
                                                    C.C.No.32580/2014
show that they were cheated by Shankarlingaiah. Further the

documents produced by the PW1 clearly establishes that the

Accused No.1 to 3 jointly applied for a loan and have taken loan in

the name of the Accused No.1 and utilized the loan amount to

purchased a site.



     15. Now coming to the crux of the case is concerned, the

counsel for the complainant has argued that the accused No.1 to 3

with an intention to cheat the society had applied and taken loan

on a non existing site by creating and forging documents.



     16. On the other hand the learned counsel has argued that

the accused herein a real victims of real estate fraud which is

prevalent in the society werein innocent persons as targeted and

cheated. It is also argued that the accused herein cannot be

convicted in this case as per Sec. 300 of Cr.P.C as the accused No.1

is already convicted in cheque bounce case on the same facts and

documents which are before this court. On this point he has relied

on a judgment reported in (2011) 2 SCC 703 Kolla Veera Raghav

Rao vs Gorantla Venkateswara Rao and another. It was argued

that in order to attract the offence of cheating there should be
                               11
                                                   C.C.No.32580/2014
intention to defraud the complainant from the inception i.e., from

the date of applying for loan by the accused persons. As the

accused No.1 was paying amount as per the agreement for a period

of 1 year there was no intention for the accused to cheat the

complainant. It was argued that only after coming to know that

they have been cheated into buying a non existing site the accused

No.1 had stopped to pay the amount. In this regard the counsel for

the accused has relied on judgment in Crl Ptn No. 4346/2022

D.D. dated 15-07-2022 Sri. Vilas Deore vs State of Karnataka

and another.



     17. Now let me analyze each of the contention taken by the

accused separately to come to a fair conclusion. It is argued that

the accused herein cannot be convicted in this case as per Sec.

300 of Cr.P.C as the accused No.1 is already convicted in cheque

bounce case on the same facts and documents which are before

this court. On this point he has relied on a judgment reported in

(2011) 2 SCC 703 Kolla Veera Raghav Rao vs Gorantla

Venkateswara Rao and another. It was contended that Accused

No.1 is already convicted in C C No. 2145/2014 for the offence

punishable U/Sec. 138 of N.I.Act. I have gone through the above
                                12
                                                    C.C.No.32580/2014
judgment produced by the learned counsel for the accused. As the

document is a certified copy of the judgment passed by a

competent court this court can take Judicial Notice of the same

and rely on the same. In fact the complainant also admits about

the conviction order. On going through the judgment it can be seen

that the complainant had filed the above case based on the same

facts and same documents and got the accused No.1 convicted. In

the above judgment relied by the accused it is held as hereunder;

     "Thus, it can be seen that Section 300(1) of Cr.P.C.
     is wider than Article 20(2) of the Constitution.
     While, Article 20(2) of the Constitution only states
     that 'no one can be prosecuted and punished for
     the same offence more than once', Section 300(1) of
     Cr.P.C. states that no one can be tried and
     convicted for the same offence or even for a
     different offence but on the same facts."



     18. From the above judgment it is clear that once an accused

is convicted on similar facts and based upon same set of

documents then the bar U/Sec. 300 of Cr.P.C applies. Sec. 300 of

Cr.P.C clearly states that during a period in which a conviction or

acquittal is in force the same person cannot be tried for the same

offence nor on the same facts for any other offence for which a

different charge from the one made against him or her previously.

The above judgment is aptly applicable to facts and circumstances
                                 13
                                                     C.C.No.32580/2014
of this case. The accused No.1 is already convicted on the same set

of facts and documents and now again on same set of facts and

documents she cannot be convicted for a different charge. It can be

argued that the above judgment is not applicable to the accused

No.2 and 3 as no previous conviction is recorded against them. But

the fact remains that they are only co-obligant and guarantor to the

loan and they were never beneficiaries of the loan amount. The

contract between the accused No.2 and 3 was purely in the nature

of civil and not does not give rise to criminal proceedings. Hence,

this court holds that the above judgment is aptly applicable to the

facts and circumstance of this case.



     19. It was argued that in order to attract the offence of

cheating there should be intention to defraud the complainant from

the inception i.e., from the date of applying for loan by the accused

persons. As the accused No.1 was paying amount as per the

agreement for a period of 1 year there was no intention for the

accused to cheat the complainant. It was argued that only after

coming to know that they have been cheated into buying a non

existing site the accused No.1 had stopped to pay the amount. In

this regard the counsel for the accused has relied on judgment in
                                 14
                                                     C.C.No.32580/2014
Crl Ptn No. 4346/2022 D.D. dated 15-07-2022 Sri. Vilas Deore

vs State of Karnataka and another.        I have gone through the

above judgment. There are two aspects which are concentrated in

the judgment referred by the learned counsel for the accused

herein. First is when a breach of civil agreement happens only civil

liability arises and not criminal liability and second is that the

basic ingredient for offence of cheating is the intention of the

accused to cheat a person from the inception. In respect of the first

aspect is concerned, from the averments it is clear that the accused

had taken loan and agreed to repay the loan in EMI's. The accused

later defaulted in payment. This clearly shows that there was just a

breach of terms and conditions of a loan agreement. Such breach

only gives rise to civil liability and does not make the accused

persons liable for criminal liability. Now coming to the second

aspect is concerned the accused No.1 had availed the loan and paid

the installments as per schedule for a period of 1 year. Only after

she coming to know that the property which she purchased with

great hopes was a non existing property she stopped paying the

loan as per the loan agreement. This shows that the accused No.1

was not having any intention to cheat the society from the day she

borrowed the loan. Only once she came to now that she was duped
                                 15
                                                     C.C.No.32580/2014
by the real estate mafia she stopped the payment to the society. In

fact the PW1 admits that before the loan they had visited the site

and also prepared valuation for the same. This shows that the

documents were prima facie perfect to give loan. Such being the

case when the accused No.1 never had intention to cheat the

complainant society from the inception then the above judgment is

aptly applicable to the facts and circumstances of this case. It can

be argued that the above judgment is not applicable to the accused

No.2 and 3 as no previous conviction is recorded against them. But

the fact remains that they are only co-obligant and guarantor to the

loan and they were never beneficiaries of the loan amount. The

contract between the accused No.2 and 3 was purely in the nature

of civil and not does not give rise to criminal proceedings. Hence,

this court holds that the above judgment is aptly applicable to the

facts and circumstance of this case.



     20. From the above discussion it is clear the Accused No.1 is

also a victim of real estate fraud. She has already been convicted in

a cheque bounce case and she is liable for the consequences which

would follow if she refuses to pay the compensation as per the

judgment. However, in this case there are no materials on record to
                                16
                                                    C.C.No.32580/2014
show that the accused No.1 to 3 ever had any malafide intention to

cheat the society. Though the prosecution argued that the

documents which were submitted were forged, but the same were

not created by the accused herein. They fell prey to the real estate

mafia who had played fraud upon the accused herein. It is clear

from the evidence of PW1 that they had also found the documents

in order and later sanctioned the loan. This shows that the

documents were in order but the property was not corresponding to

the documents based on which the loan was granted. Hence, this

court holds that the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond

all reasonable doubts. Accordingly I answer point No.1 in the

Negative.

      21. POINT No.2:- In the result, I proceed to pass the

following:-

                              ORDER

In exercise of power conferred U/s.248(1) of Cr.P.C., Accused No.1 to 3 are acquitted of the offences punishable U/s.467,468,471,420 of IPC. 17

C.C.No.32580/2014 The bail bond and surety bonds executed by the accused shall remain in force for 6 months. (Dictated to the Stenographer directly on the computer, typed by her, print out taken by her is verified, corrected & then pronounced by me in the Open Court dated this the 11-03-2026 ).

(SYED ARFATH IBRAHIM M.,) XXXVII ADDL.C.J.M., BENGALURU.

ANNEXURE LIST OF WITNESSES EXAMINED ON BEHALF OF THE PROSECUTION:

PW-1 : Nagendra Kumar S.J. LIST OF DOCUMENTS MARKED ON BEHALF OF THE PROSECUTION:-
Ex.P.1 : Loan application Ex.P.2 : Loan Agreement.
Ex.P.3      :    On demand
Ex.P.4      :    Authorization letter
Ex.P.5      :    Memorandum of title deed
Ex.P.6      :    Original sale deed
Ex.P.7      :    Sale Agreement
Ex.P.8      :    Property tax
Ex.P.9      :    copy of Book volume of records
Ex.P.10     :    BBMP certificate
Ex.P.11     :    Kandayam receipt.
Ex.P.12     :    Ge neological tree
Ex.P.13     :    Certified copy of G.Tree
Ex.P.14     :    Original sale deed
Ex.P.15     :    Copy of death certificate
                                18
                                                   C.C.No.32580/2014
Ex.P.16    :     Survey sketch
Ex.P.17    :     Notice
Ex.P.18    :     Report of Spot verification
Ex.P.19 & 20:    Two certificates
Ex.P.21    :     Letter of Loan sanctioned
Ex.P.22    :     Valuation report
Ex.P.23    :     Report of Legal scrutiny
Ex.P.24    :     Notice
Ex.P.25 to 32: Eight Encumbrance certificates Ex.P.33 : Copy of Khatha extract.
LIST OF MATERIAL OBJECTS MARKED ON BEHALF OF THE PROSECUTION:-
NIL LIST OF WITNESSES EXAMINED ON BEHALF OF THE DEFENCE:-
DW-1       :     Mamatha K.
DW-2       :     Govindappa N.
DW-3       :     Thimmaiah

LIST OF DOCUMENTS AND MATERIALS MARKED ON BEHALF OF THE DEFENCE .
Ex.D1      :     Notice
Ex.D.2     :     Notice to accused No.3
Ex.D3      :     Notice from Director of Co-operative society.
Ex.D4      :     Letterdtd 7-5-2014 to the Police Commissioner
Ex.D.5     :     Acknowledgement
Ex.D6      :     Police notice
Ex.D7      :     Letter to the Asst.Police commissioner Crimes
                 Dvn.
Ex.D.8     :     Affidavit
Ex.D9      :     Affidavit.


XXXVII ACJM., BENGALURU.
19
C.C.No.32580/2014 11-03-2026 Judgment pronounced in open court vide separately.
ORDER In exercise of power conferred U/s.248(1) of Cr.P.C., Accused No.1 to 3 are acquitted of the offences punishable U/s.467,468,471,420 of IPC.
The bail bond and surety bonds executed by the accused shall remain in force for 6 months.
XXXVII ACJM., BENGALURU. 20 C.C.No.32580/2014