MADAN MOHAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This revision petition has arisen out of an order dated 6.2.1980 passed by Shri K.S. Gupta, Additional Sessions Judge, Delhi dismissing the petitioner's appeal and thereby confirming the judgment dated 15.4.1978 passed by Shri O.P.Divedi, Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi and convicting the petitioner for an offence punishable under Sections 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (for short 'the Code') and the order dated 20.4.1978 sentencing the petitioner to undergo R.I. for two years and to pay a fine of Rs.500.00 each in regard to both the said offences.

(2.) The background of the case is that in September, 1968, the petitioner approached State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, Chandni Chowk, Delhi Crl.R.39/ 80 for being allowed Cash Credit Facility uptoRs.25,000.00 against pledge of stock of soap and soap oil with the bank. Necessary formalities were completed by executing loan documents. C.C. Limit was later on enhanced to Rs.50,000.00 .lnthe month of June, 1970 it came to the notice of the bank that M/s Raj Soap Mills of whom the petitioner-accused was one of the partners, had earlier been permitted to have credit facility with the State Bank of India, Shahdara and the godown, where the soap and soap oil were stated to be lying, was under the lock and key of the said State Bank of India. On this information officials of the State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur withdrew some samples from the soap oil contained indrums. On analysis it was found that most of the drums contained foam like coloured water of no value at all. The petitioner was thereafter asked to furnish alternate security of the value of the stock pledged by the petitioner with the bank. The petitioner deposited title deeds of his properties. On enquiry made by the bank's legal advisers it was found that the said property had also been sold the petitioner prior to offering the same to the bank as collateral security. The bank's officials thereafter are alleged to have checked various bills and invoices and it was found that even invoices and bills issued by M/s Standard Soap Mills and M/s Mohan Soap Mills were forged. In this background, after obtaining report from the C.F.S.L. and completing the investigation, challan was presented and the petitioner-accused was tried for offences under Section 420/468/471 of the Code.

(3.) During the course of trial,by virtue of an order dated 9.12.1975,offence under Section 420 of the Code was allowed to be compounded since in the meanwhile the petitioner and the bank had sorted out the matter and the petitioner had cleared all his outstandings. For the other two offences, which are not compoundable, the petitioner was tried and the trial court found Bill Ext.PW5/B to have been forged by changing figure of Rs.5,514.02 to Rs.15,515.02. Not only the figure of the amount was changed but also certain other corresponding figures were changed.