Kerala High Court: R. Narayana Pisharadi J., allowed a criminal revision petition in part in a matter relating to Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
In the present case, the accused had obtained an amount of Rs 5, 00,000 from the complainant on the promise that he would arrange a licence for the complainant for conducting petrol pump. Upon demanding the repayment of the amount the accused issued a cheque dated 05-02-2007 for Rs 5,00,000 in discharge of the liability. The cheque was dishonoured upon presenting it to the bank for the reason that there was no sufficient amount in the account of the accused.
The trial court had found the petitioner guilty of offence punishable under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 and sentenced him to simple imprisonment for a period of four months and to pay a fine of Rs 5,00,000. The appellate court had also affirmed the conviction and the sentence imposed on the petitioner and dismissed the appeal.
High Court upon perusal of the facts and circumstances allowed the revision petition in part. The Court affirmed the conviction passed by the trial court and affirmed by the appellate court thereafter but the sentence imposed upon the petitioner has been set aside. In supersession of the sentence, accused has been sentenced to pay a fine of Rs 5,10,000 and in default of payment of fine, to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of two months. [C.K. Mohini v. Varghese. M. Mathew, 2020 SCC OnLine Ker 492, decided on 05-02-2020]