PAWAN BEDI Vs. GAURAV JAIN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE present petition has been filed against the order dated 28.2.2007 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Hissar whereby revision petition against the order dated 21.9.2006 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Hissar has been dismissed. By the impugned orders the application filed by the accused/petitioner under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure ('Cr.P.C for short) for examining a handwriting expert has been declined. The examination of the expert was sought so as to show that the cheque which is subject matter of dispute is not in the handwriting of the petitioner and nor does it bear her signature.

(2.) THE accused/petitioner is being proceeded against for having committed an offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 ('N.I. Act' for short). After the evidence of the complainant/respondent was over, the accused/ petitioner produced defence evidence. In her defence she examined one handwriting expert with regard to the signature of the complainant on the General Power of Attorney executed by him. Thereafter, she has filed the application for comparing of the signatures and her handwriting on the cheque which is the basis of the complaint filed by the respondent.

(3.) AFTER giving my thoughtful consideration to the matter and perusing the paper book, I find no merit in the submissions made by the learned Counsel for the petitioner. The learned trial Magistrate while considering the matter has observed that the complaint under Section 138 of the N.I. Act was filed on 15.10.1999. Thereafter seven years have lapsed and the complaint has not been disposed of. Besides, after completion of the complainant's evidence, the statement of the accused/petitioner was recorded and she had taken the stand that the general power of attorney is forged. The complainant, it was further stated, had stolen the blank cheque in dispute as the complainant was residing in the neighbourhood. During her statement, the accused/petitioner did not take the stand that she had not signed the cheque. Rather she had taken the stand that the complainant had stolen the disputed blank cheque as he was residing in the neighbourhood. It was also noticed that the accused had already examined a handwriting expert Devender Parshad as PW1 who was examined to establish that the power of attorney which had been placed on the file by the complainant did not bear the signature of the complainant. Against the order of the learned Trial Magistrate, accused/petitioner filed a revision petition before the learned Sessions Judge who again noticed that the accused/petitioner had stated that the general power of attorney was forged and that the complainant had stolen the blank cheque in dispute as he was residing in the neighbourhood. The accused in her statement did not state that the cheque had not been signed by her. It was also noticed that the accused/petitioner had already examined a handwriting expert.