Madras High Court
Mr.R.Santhanapandiyan vs Mr.R.Babu on 30 January, 2025
Author: N.Anand Venkatesh
Bench: N.Anand Venkatesh
Crl.OP(MD).No.19670 of 2022
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 30.01.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH
Crl.OP(MD).No.19670 of 2022
and
Crl.M.P.Nos.12676 & 13483 of 2022
Mr.R.Santhanapandiyan
S/o Ramaiah Thevar ..Petitioner/Accused
Vs.
Mr.R.Babu
S/oRamanathan ..Respondent/Complainant
Prayer:Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to call for the
records in connection with the impugned complaint in S.T.C.No.141 of 2022
pending on the file of the Learned Fast Track Court (Magisterial Level), Theni and
quash the same in so far as the petition is concerned.
For Petitioner : Mr.Sarvaganprabhu.S
Advocate
For Respondents : Mr.A.Robinson
ORDER
This Criminal Original Petition is filed seeking to quash the proceedings
pending in S.T.C.No.141 of 2022 on the file of the Learned Fast Track Court
(Magisterial Level), Theni.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
2. The Respondent filed a private complaint against the Petitioner for
offences under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 on the ground
that the Petitioner is a land broker and a total sum of Rs.6.3 Cr was given to the
Petitioner for purchase of land. The land was not purchased and hence, the
Respondent sought for repayment of the amount. Only a sum of Rs.1.82 Cr was
settled and for the remaining amount, cheques were issued. When the same was
presented, it was returned with an endorsement 'Insufficient Fund', thereafter a legal
notice dated 14.06.2022 was issued to the Petitioner calling upon the Petitioner to
pay the cheque amount. Since, the same was not complied with, the private
complaint came to be filed before the Court below.
3. When the matter was taken up for hearing on 24.01.2025, this Court
passed the following order:-
“The main ground that was urged by the learned counsel
for the petitioner is that the statutory notice dated 14.06.2022 is
not in compliance with the requirements under Section 138(b) of
the Negotiable Instruments Act. The learned counsel for the
petitioner submitted that the statutory notice neither makes any
reference to the particulars of the cheque given by the petitioner
nor there is any demand of the cheque amount from the petitioner.
2. The learned counsel for the respondent seeks for some
time to take instructions regarding the statutory notice that has
been filed in the typed set of papers and to verify as to whether this
was the statutory notice that was referred to in the complaint that
was filed by the respondent against the petitioner.
3. Post this case under the caption 'part heard cases' on
30.01.2025.”
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4. Heard Mr.Sarvaganprabhu.S, learned Counsel for the Petitioner and
Mr.A.Robinson, learned Counsel for the Respondent.
5. It is now too well settled that the notice that is issued before the
institution of the proceedings under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act,
1881 most specifically state the amount that is due under the dishonored cheque and
the period within which it must be paid failing which the notice itself will be
considered to be defective and consequently, the private complaint will not be
maintainable. Even though various judgments cover this issue, it will suffice to take
note of the latest judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case reported in [(2021)
(1) MLJ CR] page 612.
6. The statutory notice dated 14.06.2016 which was issued through an
Advocate speaks about the transaction between the parties and the amount that was
settled by the Petitioner and the balance amount that has to be settled by the
Petitioner. After extracting those facts, the Respondent/Complainant made a demand
in the following manner:-
Nkw;gb gj;jpuj;jpy; fz;lgb ek;
fl;rpf;fhuu;fSf;F juNtz;ba &.
3>60>00>000/-j;jpy; jq;fs; %yk; tuT te;j njhif &.
1>82>00>000/- Nghf kPjp njhif &.1>78>00>000/-j;ij jpUg;gp
nrYj;Jk; nghUl;L 30.04.2022-k; Njjpapl;L &.25>00>000/-
j;jpw;F ek; fl;rpf;fhuu;fspy; xUtuhd ghG vd;gtu;
ngaUf;F fhNrhiy %yk; gzk; ngw;Wnfhs;SkhWk; kPjp
njhifia mLj;j xU khj fhyj;jpw;Fs; jpUg;gp
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
nfhLj;JtpLtjhfTk; cWjp mspj;jpUe;jPu;fs; vd;Wk;>
jhq;fs; nfhLj;j fhNrhiyia tR+Yf;F Nghl;ljpy;>
Nkw;gb fhNrhiyAk; Nghjpa gzk; ,d;wp fle;j
02.05.2022y; jpUk;gp te;J tpl;lJ vd;Wk;> mjd;tpguk;
jq;fsplk; njupag;gLj;jpajpy; jhq;fs; kPz;Lk; 17.05.2022
fhNrhiyia tR+Yf;F Nghl;L gzk; vLj;Jf;nfhs;Sq;fs;
vd;W $wpajpd; Ngupy; md;iwa jpdKk; fhNrhiyia ek;
fl;rpf;fhuu; tR+Yf;F Nghl;ljpy; mJTk; fle;j 18.05.2022-
y; Nghjpa gzk; ,y;iy vd;W jpUk;gp tpl;lJ vd;Wk;>
Nghjpa gzk; ,y;iy vd;w tpguk; jq;fSf;F ed;F
njupe;jpUe;Jk; ek; fl;rpf;fhuhiu Nkhrb nra;J Vkhw;Wk;
Nehf;fj;Jld; jpl;lkpl;L ePq;fs; nray;gl;Ls;sPu;fs; vd;Wk;>
mjd; Ngupy; jq;fs; ngaupy; eltbf;if vLf;fTk; ek;
fl;rpf;fhuu;fs; jahuhf cs;shu;fs; vd;Wk;> jq;fspd;
nra;if ek; fl;rpf;fhuu;fis NkYk;> NkYk;
Vkhw;WtjhfNt njupatUfpwJ vd;Wk;> NkYk; ek;
fl;rpf;fhuuplk; ngw;w njhiffis nfhz;L> jq;fs;
NgupYk; jq;fs; FLk;gj;jhu;fs; kw;Wk; cwtpdu;fs; Ngupy;
cs;SupYk;> ntspA+u;fspYk; nrhj;Jf;ffs; thq;fp
kiwj;J itj;Js;sjhf ek; fl;rpf;fhuUf;F njupatUfpwJ
vd;Wk;> vdNt jhq;fs; ek; fl;rpf;fhuu;fis NkYk;>
NkYk; Vkhw;w Ntz;Lnkd;w vz;zj;ij iftpl;L ek;
fl;rpf;fhuu;fSf;F nrYj;jp jPu;f;f Ntz;ba kPj njhif
&.1>78>00>000/-j;ij KOtJkhf ,e;j Nehl;B]; fz;l 15
jpd fhyj;jpw;Fs; nrYj;jp ePq;fSk; ek; fl;rpf;fhuu;fSk;
Nru;e;J vOjp nfhz;l xg;ge;j gj;jpuj;ij thg]; ngw;W
nfhs;s Ntz;Lnkd;Wk;> jtwpdhy; jq;fsplkpUe;J ek;
fl;rpf;fhuu;fSf;F tuNtz;ba kPj njhifia
tug;gw;wTk;> ek; fl;rpf;fhuu;fis Nkhrb Mtzq;fs;
%yk; Vkhw;wp Nkhrb nra;a Ntz;Lk; vd;w vz;zj;jpy;
nray;gl;Lk; Nghypahd Mtzq;fis jhq;fshfNt
cw;gj;jp nra;J> mjpy; Nghyp ifnaOj;Jf;fs; nra;Jk;
Nghypahd Mtzq;fs; jhd; vd jq;fSf;F ed;F
njupe;jpUe;Jk;> mitjhd; cz;ikahd Mtzq;fs; vd
ek; fl;rpf;fhuiu ek;gitj;J ek; fl;rpf;fhuiu Nkhrb
nra;J Vkhw;wp gzj;ij mgfupj;j jq;fs; Ngupy; rptpy;>
fpupkpdy; tof;Ffs; njhlug;gLnkd;Wk;> mjdhy; Vw;gLk;
rfy nrytpw;Fk; e~;bf;Fk; jhq;fNs KO nghWg;ghf
NeupLk; vd;Wk;. ,jd; %yk; mwptpf;fyhapw;W.
7. It is clear from the above that in the statutory notice, there is not even a
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
reference of the cheque number and the details of the cheque and the amount that is
to be paid under the dishonoured cheque. The Act mandates the statutory notice to
be given in a particular manner since a criminal offence is involved and if the same
is not satisfied, the notice itself will be considered as defective and consequently the
complaint also becomes not maintainable.
8. In the light of the above discussion, the continuation of the criminal
proceedings as against the petitioner will amount to abuse of process of law which
requires the interference of this Court. Hence, the proceedings pending in S.T.C.No.
141 of 2022 pending on the file of the Learned Fast Track Court (Magisterial Level),
Theni, is liable to be interfered with by this Court. In the result, the proceedings
pending in S.T.C.No.141 of 2022 pending on the file of the Learned Fast Track
Court (Magisterial Level),Theni stands quashed, and this Criminal Original Petition
stands allowed. Consequently, connected criminal miscellaneous petitions are
closed.
10.12.2024
Index : Yes / No
Internet : Yes / No
Speaking Order/Non Speaking Order
nst
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
To
1.The Fast Track Court
Magisterial Level,
Theni.
2.The Inspector of Police,
Theni Town,
Theni Taluk,
Theni District.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor,
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Madurai.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
N.ANAND VENKATESH, J.
nst
and
Crl.M.P.Nos.12676 & 13483 of 2022
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
Dated: 30.01.2025
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
