Bombay High Court: S.S Shinde, J. dismissed a criminal application filed against the order of a Judicial Magistrate thereby issuing process against the applicant for an offence punishable under Section 138 (dishonour of cheque) of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
The complainant-respondent had alleged that he advanced a loan of Rs 30 lakhs to the applicant, for the repayment of which, the applicant had issued a cheque in his name. However, on presenting the cheque for encashment, it was returned unpaid due to insufficiency of funds. Pursuant thereto, after complying with codal formalities, the complainant filed a complaint against the applicant for the commission of an offence under Section 138 of NI Act. Consequently, the Magistrate issued a process. Aggrieved thereby, the applicant filed the present application under Section 438 CrPC.
The applicant, represented by S.V. Marwadi, Advocate, inter alia, contended that the complaint was filed after the statutory period of limitation has ended. Per contra, S.V. Marwadi, Advocate representing the complainant contended otherwise and supported the impugned order.
The High Court was of the view that to find out whether the complaint filed by the complainant was within the period of limitation or otherwise, appreciation of documents was necessary. Prima Facie, it appeared that the complaint was within limitation, and therefore it could not be concluded at the threshold that the complaint was not maintainable. Similarly, it was held that the other contentions made on behalf of the applicant also required to be appreciated at the trial. In such view of the matter, the Court held that the present application was liable to be dismissed. Orders were made accordingly. [Amit Digvijay Singh v. Gokuldas Jagannath Bhutada, 2019 SCC OnLine Bom 1350, decided on 19-07-2019]
