REKHA Vs. M/S. VIJAYA BANK LTD., N.S. PURAM BRANCH REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF MANAGER, MR. K. CHANDRASHEKARA SHETTY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complainant-Vijaya Bank had lent a sum of Rs. 7,27,93,585/- to the petitioner in Crl. RP. No. 385/ 2013 on the security of his house property. Petitioner in Crl. RP No. 384/2013 is the daughter of petitioner in Crl. RP No. 385/2013. The petitioner in Crl. RP No. 385/2013 did not repay the loan/installments. The complainant-bank took recourse to provisions of the Securitization And Reconstruction of Financial Assets And Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 ('the SARFAESI Act' for short). When the officials of the complainant bank had gone near the secured house property to take possession of house property, petitioner in Crl. RP No. 385/2013 gave a cheque for a sum of Rs. 85,00,000/- drawn in favour of complainant. Petitioner in Crl. RP No. 384/2013 (daughter of petitioner in Crl. RP No. 385/2013) also gave a cheque for a sum of Rs. 85,00,000/- drawn in favour of complainant and requested the complainant to postpone the process of taking possession of secured house property in terms of Sections 13(2) and 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act. The complainant with a fond hope of realizing the amount for which cheques were issued, went back. But on presentation of cheques, they were dishonoured for want of funds. Therefore, complainant lodged complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

(2.) On consideration of evidence, the learned trial Judge convicted the accused for offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The accused were before the first appellate Court, however, without success. Therefore, accused are before this Court.

(3.) Sri M.S. Rajendra Prasad, learned senior counsel for petitioners would submit that, petitioner in Crl. RP No. 384/2013 i.e., Dr. Rekha was neither a principal borrower nor a guarantor. The officials of bank took a 'cheque from her by holding out threat to dispossess her from the house. Therefore cheque was obtained under duress. The cheque was not issued to discharge legally recoverable debt or other liability. The officials of the complainant bank had gone to the house of petitioners on the date of engagement of second daughter of petitioner in Crl. RP No. 385/2013 and demanded to settle the amount at a stretch or to face consequences of dispossession from the house.