Nagesh S G vs M/S Chemm Finance Ltd., Rep By … on 20 May, 2026

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    Bangalore District Court

    Nagesh S G vs M/S Chemm Finance Ltd., Rep By … on 20 May, 2026

    KABC0A0027942025
    
    
    
    
     IN THE COURT OF THE LXXII ADDL. CITY CIVIL
          & SESSIONS JUDGE AT MAYO HALL
               BENGALURU, (CCH-73)
                          Present:
                       Sri. Sreepada N,
                                   B.Com., L.L.M.,
     LXXII Addl. City Civil & Sessions Judge, Bengaluru.
           Dated this the 20th day of May 2026
              Crl. Appeal. No.25311/2025
    Appellant/     Sri. Nagesh.S.G,
    Accused:-      S/o Sri. Govindappa.M
                   Aged about 27 years,
                   R/at Shetty Kothnur Village & Post,
                   Vakkaleri Hobli,
                   Kolar Taluk & District-563130
    
                   (By Sri. Kishan Dutt Kalaskar - Adv.,)
                           V/s
    Respondent/ M/s Chemm Finance Limited,
    Complainant: No.19, 3rd Cross, K.C.D Complex,
                 Mission Road,
                 Bengaluru-560027.
                 Represented by its CEO,
                 Sri. Bhuvanendra Takoor,
    
                  (By Sri. S.D.N Prasad - Adv.,)
                         2          Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025
    
    
    
    
                            JUDGMENT
    

    This appeal is by the Accusedbefore the trial
    court, who suffered the judgment of conviction for the
    offence punishable U/Sec.138 of NI Act passed by
    XIV ACJM, Bengaluru, in CC.No.59207/2022, dtd.
    16.1.2025, challenging the validity of the judgment.

    2. For the sake of convenience the parties
    hereinafter will be referred to with their ranking
    assigned before the trial court.

    SPONSORED

    3. The facts of the case:-

    The Complainant initiated private complaint
    under Section 200 of Cr.P.C., against the Accused,
    alleging that the Complainant is a limited company
    incorporated under the provisions of Companies Act.
    The Accused was appointed as ‘Gold Loan Assistant’
    in Complainant’s Company. The job specification of
    the Accused is customer relationship management,
    business development, i.e., Gold Loans/Debentures,
    Back Office operation, other administrative day-to-
    day activities of the branch and such other duties
    assigned by the manager from time to time. The
    3 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    Accused was posted to the branch office of the
    complainant at Malur, Kolar District. When the
    Branch Manager of the Malur Branch of the
    Complainant was on leave, the Accused was acting
    as in-charge Branch Manager of the said branch.
    During that period, he had got pledged spurious gold
    ornaments in the fictitious names at Malur Branch of
    the Complainant worth Rs.5,61,500/-. During the
    course of periodical audit in the month of July 2019,
    it was found that the gold pledged by the so-called
    pledgors in the absence of branch manager are
    spurious in nature and the Accused got pledged the
    same in the names of the fictitious persons and had
    used the loan proceeds for his personal purpose. In
    fact, no such persons had visited the Malur Branch of
    the Complainant. In this regard, Accused had
    addressed a letter dated 13.07.2019 to the
    Complainant. The Complainant in turn lodged a
    complaint against the Accused at Malur police Station
    and the same has been registered as NCR
    No.87/2020. The Accused has admitted the guilt and
    offered to clear the entire sum of Rs.5,61,500/-
    within a period a two weeks and requested not to
    take any legal action. In token of his promise, he had
    4 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    paid a sum of Rs.50,000/- to the complainant
    towards the credit of the said loan accounts. For
    balance sum of Rs.5,11,500/-, he had issued a
    cheque bearing No.503686 dtd 10.05.2020, drawn
    on State Bank of India, Malur Branch, Kolar District.
    When the Complainant presented the said cheque for
    encashment, it was returned unpaid on 15.05.2020
    with an endorsement ‘funds insufficient’. Thereafter,
    the Complainant got issued a legal notice to the
    Accused on 26.05.2020 calling upon him to pay the
    amount covered under the dishonored cheque. The
    said notice duly served on the Accused. Instead of
    complying with the demands made in the notice, the
    Accused sent an untenable reply dtd. 6.6.2020 and
    thereby, the Appellant has committed the offense
    punishable under Sec.138 of Negotiable Instruments
    Act. Thereafter the Complainant approached the Trial
    Court for appropriate legal action against the
    Accused.

    4. Pursuant to summons the Accused entered
    appearance through her Counsel before the Trial
    Court. The substance of the accusation was read
    over and explained to the Accused in the language
    5 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    known to her. The Accused pleaded not guilty and
    claimed to be tried. The Complainant got examined
    herself as PW.1 and got marked Ex.P.1 to Ex.P.16
    documents and closed his side. The Accused got
    examined himself as DW.1 and got marked Ex.D.1 to
    Ex.D.10 and closed his side.

    5. The trial court after hearing the counsel for
    Complainant, convicted the Accused for the offence
    punishable U/Sec.138 of NI Act vide Judgment dtd.
    16.1.2025.

    6. Feeling aggrieved by the said judgment of
    conviction, the Accused is in appeal on the following
    grounds:

    1. The Trial Court failed to appreciate that
    the Ex.P.1 Cheque was taken as
    security at the time of appoint (2015)
    and was not issued towards any legally
    enforceable debt. The statutory
    presumption under Section 118 & 139 of
    Negotiable Instruments Act stood
    rebutted.

    2. The Complainant did not produce any
    spurious gold ornaments as allegedly
    claimed by the Complainant, loan
    documents, account statements or proof
    6 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    of disbursement to establish liability of
    Rs.5,11,500/- and repayment made by
    Appellant amounting to Rs.6,00,000/-

    mere possession of a Cheque cannot
    constitute liability without proof of debt.

    3. The Trial Court erred in relying on
    Ex.P.10. Both documents were obtained
    under coercion and threat. No
    independent witness or corroborative
    materials was produced to prove
    voluntary execution.

    4. The Trial Court failed to assess the
    document produced by the Accused.

    5. The findings arrived by the Trial Court
    are against the laws of the land.

    6. The Trial Court should not have accepted
    the case of the Complainant.

    7. The Trial Court should have accepted the
    defense of the Appellant.

    8. The observations made by the Trial Court
    in the impugned judgment is perverse,
    arbitrary and liable to be set aside.

    9. The observations made by the Trial Court
    in its order dtd: 27.7.2024 dismissing
    7 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    the IA filed by the Accused under
    Section 91 of Cr.P.C.

    10. The impugned judgment passed by the
    Trial Court is not in accordance with
    provisions of Cr.P.C., as such the
    impugned judgment is to be set aside.

    11. The Trial Court did not consider its
    observation while convicting the
    Accused regarding dismissal of IA dtd:

    27.7.2024, which was filed by the
    Accused under Section 91 of Cr.P.C., for
    impounding of documents from the
    Complainant Company the Trial Court
    stated that the burden rests on the
    Complainant to prove pledging of
    duplicate gold ornaments as alleged
    against the Accused hence it is not
    desirable to summon the documents as
    prayed by the Accused. Surprisingly the
    Complainant vehemently opposed to
    produce the documents as prayed for by
    the Appellant under Section 91 of
    Cr.P.C., by filing detail objections
    statement mainly contending that the
    documents sought to be summoned by
    the Accused are not required for
    adjudication of the complaint.

    8 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    12. Under the above grounds the Appellant
    sought for acquittal by allowing the appeal.

    7. Heard both sides. Perused the written
    arguments filed by the counsel for Appellant.

    8. Perused the evidence, documents on record
    and also impugned Judgment of conviction passed
    by the Trial Court.

    9. On re-appreciation of the evidence,
    documents on record, the following points would
    emerge for the consideration of this court.

    1. Whether the Appellant proves
    that the cheque in question
    was not issued towards any
    legally recoverable debt?

    2. Whether the Judgment of
    conviction passed by the Trial
    Court calls for interference by
    the hands of this court?

    3. What Order?

    10. My finding on the above points are as
    under:

    Point No.1 : In the Negative.

    9 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    Point No.2 : In the Negative.

    Point No.3 : As per final order for
    the following :

    REASONS

    11. POINT NOs.1 and 2:-

    Since the above two points are interlinked, in
    order to avoid repetition of facts the above points
    have been taken up together for consideration.

    12. Before re-appreciating the evidence on
    record, it is necessary to refer some of the latest
    rulings of the Hon’ble Apex Court reported in 2019
    (3) KCCR 2473 (SC) (Basalingappa V/s
    Mudibasappa), the Hon’ble Apex Court while
    considering several earlier rulings on the offence
    U/Sec.138 of NI Act and also on the presumption
    U/Sec.118 and 139 of NI Act, at Para 23 was
    pleased to observe as follows:

    23. We having noticed the ratio
    laid down by this Court in above cases
    on Sections 118(a) and 139, we now
    summarise the principles enumerated
    by this Court in following manner:-

    (i) Once the execution of cheque is
    admitted Section 139 of the Act
    mandates a presumption that the
    10 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    cheque was for the discharge of any
    debt or other liability.

             (ii)  The   presumption    under
        Section     139   is    a   rebuttable
        presumption and the onus is on the
    

    Accused to raise the probable defence.

    The standard of proof for rebutting
    the presumption is that of
    preponderance of probabilities.

    (iii) To rebut the presumption, it
    is open for the Accused to rely on
    evidence led by him or Accused can
    also rely on the materials submitted
    by the Complainant in order to raise a
    probable defence. Inference of
    preponderance of probabilities can be
    drawn not only from the materials
    brought on record by the parties but
    also by reference to the circumstances
    upon which they rely.

    (iv) That it is not necessary for the
    Accused to come in the witness box in
    support of his defence, Sec.139
    imposed an evidentiary burden and
    not a persuasive burden.

    (v) It is not necessary for the
    Accused to come in the witness box to
    support his defence.

    13. In another ruling reported in AIR 2010 SC
    1898 (Rangappa V/s Mohan), observed as under:-

    11 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    “Existence of legally recoverable
    debt or liability- The presumption
    mandated by Section 139 of the Act
    does indeed include the existence of a
    legally enforceable debt or liability.
    This is of course in the nature of a
    rebuttable presumption and it is open
    to the Accused to raise a defence
    wherein the existence of a legally
    enforceable debt or liability can be
    contested. However, there can be no
    doubt that there is an initial
    presumption which favours the
    Complainant. Section 139 of the Act is
    an example of a reverse onus clause
    that has been included in furtherance
    of the legislative objective of
    improving the credibility of negotiable
    instruments. While Section 138 of the
    Act specifies a strong criminal remedy
    in relation to the dishonour of
    cheques, the rebuttable presumption
    under Section 139, is a device to
    prevent undue delay in the course of
    litigation. However, it must be
    remembered that the offence made
    punishable by Section 138 can be
    better described as a regulatory
    offence since the bouncing of a cheque
    is largely in the nature of a civil
    wrong whose impact is usually
    confined to the private parties
    involved in commercial transactions.
    In such a scenario, the test of
    proportionality should guide the
    construction and interpretation of
    reverse onus clauses and the Accused/
    defendant cannot be expected to
    12 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    discharge an unduly high standard or
    proof. In the absence of compelling
    justifications, reverse onus clauses
    usually impose an evidentiary burden
    and not a persuasive burden. Keeping
    this in view, it is a settled position
    that when an Accused has to rebut the
    presumption under Section 139, the
    standard of proof for doing so is that
    of ‘preponderance of probabilities’.
    Therefore, if the Accused is able to
    raise a probable defence which creates
    doubts about the existence of a legally
    enforceable debt or liability, the
    prosecution can fail. The Accused can
    rely on the materials submitted by the
    Complainant and it is conceivable that
    in some cases the Accused may not
    need to adduce evidence of his/her
    own.”

    14. Keeping in view the broad principles laid
    down by the Hon’ble Apex Court, let me re-appreciate
    the evidence and documents on record.

    15. The definite case of the
    Complainant/Respondent is that the Complainant is
    a limited company and the Accused was appointed
    as ‘Gold Loan Assistant’ in Complainant’s Company.
    When the Branch Manager of the Malur Branch of the
    Complainant was on leave, the Accused was acting
    as in-charge Branch Manager of the said branch and
    13 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    during that period, the Accused got pledged spurious
    gold ornaments in the fictitious names at Malur
    Branch of the Complainant worth Rs.5,61,500/-.
    During the course of periodical audit in the month of
    July 2019, it was found that the gold pledged by the
    pledgers in the absence of Branch Manager are
    spurious in nature and the Accused got pledged the
    same in the names of the fictitious persons and no
    such persons have visited the Malur Branch of the
    Complainant for pledging gold which are supported
    by CCTV footage. In this regard, Accused had
    addressed a letter dtd. 13.07.2019 to the
    Complainant. Even the Complainant lodged
    complaint against the Accused at Malur police Station
    and the said fact was brought to the notice of the
    Accused, he has admitted the guilt and offered to
    clear the entire sum of Rs.5,61,500/- within a period
    a two weeks and requested not to take any legal
    action. As token of his promise, he had paid a sum of
    Rs.50,000/- to the Complainant and for discharge of
    balance amount of Rs.5,11,500/-, he had issued
    cheque and promised that it would be honoured on
    its presentation. On the said assurance and promise
    the Complainant presented the said cheque for
    14 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    encashment, but, it came to be dishonoured as
    ‘funds insufficient’. Therefore, the Complainant got
    issued legal notice to the Accused on 26.05.2020
    calling upon him to pay the amount. Even though the
    said notice duly served upon the Accused, instead of
    complying the said notice, he has sent untenable
    reply by taking false contentions. Therefore, the
    Complainant constrained to file the complaint under
    Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

    16. The Chief Executive Officer of the
    Complainant in order to prove the averments of
    complaint got examined as PW.1 and got marked
    documents at Ex.P.1 to Ex.P.12 and even during the
    course of cross of DW.1 also Ex.P.13 to Ex.P.16 were
    got marked on confrontation. On the other hand, the
    Accused examined himself as DW.1 and got marked
    documents at Ex.D.1 to Ex.D.10.

    17. Let me go through the documentary
    evidence produced by the Complainant before the
    Trial Court. Ex.P.1 is the Cheque issued by the
    Accused dtd: 10.5.2020. Ex.P.2 is the Cheque return
    memo dtd: 15.5.2020. Ex.P.3 is the Office copy of
    Legal Notice dtd: 26.5.2020. Ex.P.4 is the RPAD
    15 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    Receipt. Ex.P.5 is the Reply Notice issued by the
    Accused. Ex.P.6 is the Letter addressed to the
    Postmaster for not receiving acknowledgment. Ex.P.7
    is the Letter issued by the Inspector of Posts,
    Customer Care Centre. Ex.P.8 is the Letter addressed
    by Senior Superintendent of Post Officer with regard
    to delivery of notice which sent by the Complainant.
    Ex.P.9 is the Board Resolution of the Complainant.
    Ex.P.10 is the Letter dtd: 13.7.2019 which allegedly
    written by the Accused to the Complainant. Ex.P.11
    is the copy of Police Complaint lodged by the
    Complainant against the Accused. Ex.P.12 is the
    Endorsement given by the Police. Ex.P.13 is the
    document pertaining to one Thimmanna Bhat, who
    was the then Manager of the Complainant. Ex.P.14 is
    the Bio-Data of the said Thimmanna Bhat. Ex.P.15 &
    Ex.P.16 are the copies of Aadhar Card and PAN Card
    of the said Thimmanna Bhat. The present complaint
    has been filed before the Trial Court on 26.6.2020.
    On perusal of all the above documents with date of
    filing of the complaint and dates of documents, it is
    clear that before filing of the complaint the
    Complainant has complied with all the requirements
    of Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and
    16 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    the present complaint is filed well within the period
    of limitation and it is in accordance with the
    provisions of Negotiable Instruments Act.

    18. On perusal of the evidence of the Accused it
    is clear that he has taken up contention that he had
    joined the Complainant Company in the year 2015
    and worked till 2019. At the time of joining the duty
    the Complainant had taken his SSCL Certificate and
    one blank Cheque as a security. He has tendered his
    resignation to the job and secured job in another
    company. After he tendered resignation he had been
    called for by the Complainant branch and told that
    duplicate ornaments were pledged during his tenure
    and he has been asked to confess the guilt and remit
    Rs.6,00,000/-. Even CEO of the Complainant
    threatened him to lodge complaint to the Police,
    saying that he has CCTV footage. Even CEO had
    managed to get letter from him. The CEO has scarred
    with his words, he has returned home and managed
    to arrange Rs.6,00,000/- and remitted the same to
    the Complainant. Inspite of repeated request with the
    Complainant to return his blank signed Cheque, they
    did not return the same. Even though he has been
    17 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    directed to furnish notarized affidavit. After receipt of
    the affidavit also they did not return the Cheque. The
    Police were called him and after enquiry they
    realized that it is a false complaint lodged by the
    Complainant. Further contended that by misusing his
    blank signed Cheque the Complainant has filed the
    present complaint.

    19. The Accused in support of his oral evidence
    has produced Ex.D.1 to Ex.D.10. Ex.D.1 is the copy
    of Letter dtd: 16.6.2020 alleged to be issued to the
    then Manager of the Complainant. Ex.D.2 to Ex.D.9
    are the Receipts which alleged to be issued by the
    Complainant after receiving Rs.6,00,000/- amount
    from the Accused. Ex.D.10 is the affidavit of the
    Accused.

    20. The Learned Counsel for the Appellant in
    his written arguments has mainly concentrated that
    there is no legally enforceable debt and the security
    Cheque has been misused by the Complainant.
    Further also contended that by way of coercion
    documents have been obtained from the Accused by
    the Complainant. Further also contended that even
    though the security Cheque had been issued in the
    18 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    year 2015 but the same has been misused in the
    year 2019-2020. Even though the Appellant has filed
    an application before the Trial Court to produce the
    necessary documents in connection with the loan
    accounts statement etc., but purposefully the
    Complainant has not produced the same. The Trial
    Court has not at all considered all these facts. Even
    in order to rebut the case of the Complainant
    sufficient oral and documentary evidence have been
    produced by the Accused before the Trial Court but
    the same are not at all properly considered by the
    Trial Court. Once the Accused produced probable
    defense, the burden shifted back to the Complainant
    and the burden is completely remained undischarged
    by the Complainant. The Trial Court without
    considering the oral and documentary evidence
    produced by the Accused in prospective manner has
    wrongly convicted the Accused etc.

    21. The Learned Counsel for the Respondent in
    his arguments submitted that the Trial Court after
    properly appreciating the oral and documentary
    evidence of both side had properly come to
    conclusion that the Cheque in question has been
    19 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    issued by the Accused for discharge of legally
    payable debt, but not for security as contended by
    the Appellant. There is no reason assigned in the
    appeal to interfere with the judgment of the Trial
    Court. The Accused by creating several documents
    led his evidence before the Trial Court, but the Trial
    Court has properly come to conclusion that all the
    documents produced by the Accused are created for
    the purpose of this case. Accordingly, he prayed to
    confirm the judgment of the Trial Court.

    22. On perusal of the case of the Complainant
    and the documents it is clear that when the Accused
    was acting as an incharge Branch Manager of
    Complainant Company, got pledged the duplicate
    gold ornaments in the name of fictitious persons and
    taken loan of Rs.5,61,500/-, the said fact came to
    the knowledge of the Complainant at the time of
    periodical audit conducted in the July 2019. Further
    according to Ex.P.10 the Accused has confessed the
    guilt by issuing his letter in which he has issued
    Ex.P.1 Cheque. Though the Accused contended that
    Ex.P.1 was duly issued at the time of joining his
    service, but as observed by the Trial Court in its
    20 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    judgment, on perusal of the Ex.P.1 it appears that the
    Banker had issued the Cheque leaves to the Accused
    on 23.12.2016 which is appearing on the left hand
    side of the Ex.P.1. Therefore, the contention of the
    Accused that he had issued Ex.P.1 in the year 2015
    cannot be believed. On the other hand, it has been
    issued along with Ex.P.10 on 13.7.2019.

    23. Though the Accused contended that by
    putting him in fear, Ex.P.10 has been obtained by the
    Complainant. However, nobody had prevented the
    Accused to take suitable legal action against the
    Complainant. If really the Complainant had obtained
    the Ex.P.1 and Ex.P.10 by putting him in fear,
    definitely the Accused would have taken action
    against the Complainant, the non-taking of any
    action in this regard itself will clearly goes to show
    that in order to discharge the legally payable debt as
    stated in Ex.P.10 only he had issued Ex.P.1. Further
    on perusal of the cross-examination of DW.1 also it is
    clear that the Accused clearly admitted that he has
    not taken any legal action against the Complainant
    to get back his security Cheque.

    21 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    24. It is further argued by the Learned Counsel
    for the Appellant herein is that Ex.D.2 to Ex.D.9
    produced by the Accused reveals that, already the
    Accused has remitted a sum of Rs.6,00,000/- to the
    Complainant and the same were not properly
    considered by the Trial Court. This Court carefully
    perused the said documents and according to the
    Appellant those receipts were issued by the then
    Branch Manager of the Complainant. On the other
    hand, the Complainant contended that those
    documents have been created by the Accused for the
    purpose of this case. Admittedly, as pointed out by
    the Trial Court in its judgment the Accused has
    clearly admitted in his cross-examination that the
    signature of then Manager of Complainant by name
    T.N. Bhat appeared on Ex.P.13 to Ex.P.16 and the
    signature appeared on Ex.D.2 to Ex.D.9 are all
    together different. Moreover, Ex.P.13 to Ex.P.16 have
    been marked by way of confrontation during the
    course of cross-examination of DW.1 itself. So, this
    itself clearly goes to show that Ex.D.2 to Ex.D.9
    might have been created by the Accused for the
    purpose of this case. That apart, as pointed out by
    the Trial Court in its judgment, the Accused has
    22 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    clearly admitted his guilt in Ex.P.10 and as well as in
    Ex.D.10 and along with Ex.P.10 only he has issued
    Ex.P.1 in favour of the Complainant.

    25. Admittedly, the Ex.D.10 is the original
    Affidavit which is said to be given to the
    Complainant, wherein it is clearly admitted by the
    Accused himself that during his tenure as an
    incharge Manager of the Complainant Branch some
    golden ornaments have been pledged are worth of
    Rs.6,00,000/- and in order to release the ornaments
    and Cheques this affidavit is given, in this connection
    any dispute arose, he himself is liable etc. So, by
    reading the contents of this document coupled with
    the contents of Ex.P.10 it is clear that the Accused
    impliedly admitted his guilt and also impliedly
    admitted the misappropriation of money of
    Complainant. That apart, in Ex.D.10 he has clearly
    admitted that he has issued Ex.P.10 for discharge of
    the said amount. Therefore, this Court is of the
    opinion that that whatever contentions which are
    taken by the Accused and what are the documents
    produced by him are not proper and genuine
    documents. On the other hand, only to escape from
    23 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    liability to pay the Cheque amount he has taken such
    contention and produced those documents.

    26. As discussed above, the Accused has not at
    all denied about issuance of Cheque in favour of the
    Complainant and also not at all denied his signature
    found on the Cheque. As aforesaid, Ex.P.1 Cheque
    has been issued for payment of jewelry loan that
    was borrowed by him in the name of fictitious
    persons by pledging golden ornaments. The Cheque
    has been dishonoured on the ground of “Funds
    Insufficient”. After dishonor of the Cheque the
    Complainant has rightly issued legal notice to the
    Accused calling upon him to repay the Cheque
    amount. Instead of paying the Cheque amount he
    has issued untenable reply and taken up so many
    contentions, but in order to prove the contents of
    reply notice he has not placed any reliable materials.
    As aforesaid, though he has produced Ex.D.1 to
    Ex.D.10, but prima-facie those documents have been
    created for the purpose of this case. Even though he
    contended that he has given Ex.D.10 to the
    Complainant, after clearing the due amount,
    interestingly original Affidavit itself produced before
    24 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    the Court. So, producing the Affidavit and copy of
    this affidavit to the Complainant by clearing the dues
    to the Complainant is concerned, no materials have
    been placed. That apart, Ex.D.2 to Ex.D.9 are prima-
    facie fabricated documents as contended by the
    Complainant, because the signatures on Ex.D.2 to
    Ex.D.9 are all together different from the signature of
    then Manager appearing on Ex.P.13 to Ex.P.16 which
    has been clearly admitted by the Accused in his
    cross-examination. Even there is no materials has
    been elicited from the mouth of PW.1 about the
    defense taken by the Accused in this case. When the
    Accused failed to rebut the case of the Complainant
    by placing sufficient materials, the contention of the
    Complainant that the Cheque in question has been
    issued by the Accused for legally payable debt is
    proper and correct.

    27. In view of the discussions made above and
    also on careful perusal of the oral and documentary
    evidence placed by both parties and as well as
    admission given by DW.1 in his cross-examination
    and facts and circumstances of this case it is clear
    that the Trial Court after properly appreciating the
    25 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    oral and documentary evidence placed by both
    parties by applying the principles of the decisions of
    the Hon’ble Apex Court has properly convicted the
    Accused for the offence punishable under Section
    138
    of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Therefore,
    there is no reason to interfere with the judgment
    passed by the Trial Court.

    28. In so far as quantum of fine imposed by the
    trial court is concerned, the Trial Court has imposed
    total fine of Rs.7,00,000/- as against the Cheque
    amount of Rs.5,11,500/-, keeping in view the year of
    transaction, duration of litigation, cost of litigation
    and interest on the outstanding amount etc. Since the
    transaction between the parties was of the year
    2018 and the above case was disposed of by the
    Trial Court on 16.1.2025 and keeping in view of the
    duration of litigation and cost of litigation etc., the
    Trial Court has rightly awarded fine of
    Rs.7,00,000/-. Hence, there is no reason to interfere
    with the quantum of fine imposed by the trial court.

    29. Thus, looking from any angle, the Accused
    failed to establish any probable defence even on the
    26 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    materials produced by the Complainant. Having
    regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the
    Accused failed to substantiate his defence by
    producing cogent evidence before this court. The
    Trial Court by appreciating the evidence and
    documents in a proper perspective and while
    referring to the rulings of Hon’ble Apex Court has
    rightly convicted the Accused for the offence
    punishable U/Sec.138 of NI Act. In the absence of
    any perversity or capriciousness while convicting the
    Accused, there is no reason to interfere with the
    Judgment of the trial court. Therefore no grounds
    made out by the Accused to interfere with the
    Judgment of conviction passed by the trial court.
    Hence, Point Nos.1 and 2 are answered in the
    Negative.

    30. Point No.3:

    In view of the findings on the above points the
    appeal filed by the Appellant deserves to be
    dismissed. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the
    following:-

    27 Crl.Appeal No.25311/2025

    ORDER

    The appeal filed by the Appellant
    U/Sec.374 (3) of Cr.P.C., is hereby
    dismissed with costs.

    The Judgment of conviction passed
    by the Learned XIV ACJM, Bengaluru,
    in CC.No.59207/2022, dtd. 16.1.2025,
    is hereby confirmed.

    Send back the records with a copy
    of this Judgment to the Trial Court.

    (Dictated to the Stenographer, typed by her, corrected,
    signed and then pronounced by me, in the open court on this
    the 20th day of May 2026.)

    [Sri. Sreepada N]
    LXXII Addl.City Civil & Sessions
    Judge, Bengaluru. (CCH-73).

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