2019 (2) TMI 1084
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....plainant before the Trial Court) is engaged in the business of advancing loans under various schemes for residential accommodation to individuals and groups/societies after entering into a written agreement/contract with the borrower. The petitioner herein, is a borrower who entered into a loan agreement with the respondent-Company. 3. The respondent-Company had disbursed two loans of Rs. 3,13,66,000/- and Rs. 86,34,000/- vide Loan Account Nos. 607962423 and 6075207703 respectively to the petitioner vide a written agreement dated 01.03.2013. 4. The petitioner had agreed to repay the said loan amount advanced by the respondent-Company with interest in Equated Monthly Installments (EMI). The petitioner for the part payment of the outstanding dues in respect of the two loans had issued four cheques in total, i.e. three cheques Nos.327979, 327980 and 327981 dated 31.01.2016 and another cheque No.683005 dated 31.03.2016 for an amount of Rs. 11,84,385/-, Rs. 7,89,590/-, 2,02,000/- and Rs. 6,00,000/- respectively, from the account of M/s Gold Field Shiksha Sanstha. On presentation of the said cheques, the same were dishonoured and returned to the respondent-Company with the endorsement ....
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....es, the petitioners do have genuine defence, but instead of following due procedure of law, as provided under the NI Act and the Cr.PC, and further, by misreading of the provisions, such parties consider that the only option available to them is to approach the High Court and on this, the High Court is made to step into the shoes of the Metropolitan Magistrate and examine their defence first and exonerate them. The High Court cannot usurp the powers of the Metropolitan Magistrate and entertain a plea of accused, as to why he should not be tried under Section 138 of the NI Act. This plea, as to why he should not be tried under Section 138 of the NI Act is to be raised by the accused before the Court of the Metropolitan Magistrate under Section 251 of the NI Act & under Section 263(g) of the Cr. PC. Along with this plea, he can file necessary documents and also make an application, if he is so advised, under Section 145(2) of the NI Act to recall the complainant to cross-examine him on his plea of defence. However, only after disclosing his plea of defence, he can make an application that the case should not be tried summarily but as a summons trial case. 10. An offence under Sectio....
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....the very first day of his appearance and file an affidavit in his defence evidence and if he is so advised, he can also file an application for recalling any of the witnesses for cross-examination on the defence taken by him. 13. In view of the procedure prescribed under the Cr.PC, if the accused appears after service of summons, the learned Metropolitan Magistrate shall ask him to furnish bail bond to ensure his appearance during trial and ask him to take notice under Section 251 Cr.PC and enter his plea of defence and fix the case for defence evidence, unless an application is made by an accused under Section 145(2) of NI Act for recalling a witness for cross-examination on plea of defence. If there is an application u/s 145(2) of N.I. Act for recalling a witness of complainant, the court shall decide the same, otherwise, it shall proceed to take defence evidence on record and allow cross examination of defence witnesses by complainant. Once the summoning orders in all these cases have been issued, it is now the obligation of the accused to take notice under Section 251 of Cr. PC., if not already taken, and enter his/her plea of defence before the concerned Metropolitan Magistra....
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.... a case where the prosecution/ complainant has levelled allegations bringing out all ingredients of the charge(s) levelled, and have placed material before the Court, prima facie evidencing the truthfulness of the allegations levelled, trial must be held. 29. The issue being examined in the instant case is the jurisdiction of the High Court under Section 482of the Cr.P.C., if it chooses to quash the initiation of the prosecution against an accused, at the stage of issuing process, or at the stage of committal, or even at the stage of framing of charges. These are all stages before the commencement of the actual trial. The same parameters would naturally be available for later stages as well. The power vested in the High Court under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C., at the stages referred to hereinabove, would have far reaching consequences, inasmuch as, it would negate the prosecution's/complainant's case without allowing the prosecution/complainant to lead evidence. Such a determination must always be rendered with caution, care and circumspection. To invoke its inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. the High Court has to be fully satisfied, that the material produced b....