A V BHASKARAN Vs. N MOHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner herein aggrieved over the issuance of Non Bailable Warrant has brought forth this petition seeking to set aside the same.

(2.) From the averments made by the learned Counsel Mr.A.Raghunathan, a private complaint was lodged by the respondent under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act. It was taken cognizance by the learned Judicial Magistrate, No.2, Coimbatore in C.C.No.585 of 2001 and the same is also pending. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, there were eight accused in this case. The petitioner herein was shown as A-6. The petitioner herein and the accused No.4 did not appear before the trial court on the first day and the counsel, who appeared for them, has filed an application under Section 317 of Cr.P.C. to condone their absence along with vakalat. Despite receipt of summons, he did not appear before the court on that day. The trial court instead of entertaining the application and condoning the delay, has dismissed the same and issued Non Bailable Warrant. Hence, aggrieved over the petitioner has brought forth this petition.

(3.) Added further the learned counsel that a similar O.P. was filed by A-4 in Crl.O.P.No.24774 of 2001, which came before this Court and this Court by an order dated 20.6.2003 set aside the issuance of Non bailable warrant. As could be seen from the materials available, it was a case filed under Section 138 of N.I. Act stating that a cheque was issued by the first accused Company, where the other accused are the Directors and when the cheque was placed for encashment, the same was dishonoured. A statutory notice was issued and the non compliance of the demand made therein led the complainant to lodge a private complaint, which was taken cognizance by the trial court as referred to above.