DAMANJIT SINGH SON OF AJIT SINGH Vs. STATE OF BIHAR AND UMA SHANKAR BHAGAT SON OF LATE BASUDEO PRASAD, PROPRIETOR, SANDAR PAIN INDUSTRIES

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE sole accused of Complaint Case No. 304(C) of 2006 has prayed for the quashing of the order dated 10.5.2006 passed therein by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jamui, whereby he has taken cognizance of offences under Sections 406 and 420 I.P.C. as also Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act (hereinafter referred to as "the N.I. Act"). One Uma Shankar Bhagat, the complainant, impleaded herein as Opp. Party No. 2, filed the aforesaid complaint inter alia stating that he is the proprietor of Shaandar Paint Industries and the Managing Director of Shalimar Colours(India) Pvt. Ltd. at Maharajganj in the district of Jamui and in order to expand his business, he was in need of a house at Delhi.

(2.) On receiving information that the house of the accused in Rajauri Gardens, New Delhi, was vacant, he took the same on rent @ Rs. 11,500/ - per month and, accordingly, an agreement dated 17.12.2003 was signed and executed by both the parties. It is alleged that as per the terms and conditions of the agreement, the complainant deposited a sum of Rs. 40,000/ - as advance which was refundable at the time of handing over vacant possession of the rented premises. It is further alleged that when the complainant vacated the rented premises and demanded return of the sum of Rs. 40,000/ - given as advance, the accused handed over a cheque bearing No. 697452 dated 31.10.2005 to the complainant, which the complainant deposited in the Khaira Branch of Canara Bank on 15.11.2005 and the same was returned dishonoured on 12.12.2005 as the accused reportedly did not have sufficient fund in his account. The complainant claims to have given information of the dishonoured cheque to the accused, whereupon the accused requested the complainant to re - deposit the cheque and take encashment as he had deposited the required amount in his account. Accordingly, the complainant on the assurance of the accused re -deposited the cheque in the Khaira Branch of Canara Bank on 5.1.2006 which was again dishonoured and returned to the complainant on 30.1.2006 due to insufficiency of fund. It is further alleged that the complainant in person and through staff went to the house of the accused for refund of the aforesaid amount and on failing to recover the amount, a legal notice was sent which evinced no response. Hence the complaint on the presumption that the accused had misappropriated the sum of Rs. 40,000/ -

(3.) IT has been submitted on behalf of the petitioner that it would appear from perusal of the cheque in question, which was issued in favour of the complainant that it had not been issued under the signature of the petitioner but was signed by one Ranjit Singh as a partner of "Woolen Emporium", and as such, the entire case is false so far as the petitioner is concerned in respect of the cheque. It was further submitted that this fact is further corroborated by the fact that certificate issued by the Fatehpuri, Delhi Branch of Punjab and Sind Bank would show that the petitioner was not a partner of the "Firm Woolen Emporium".