PHILIP SIMON KALLATH Vs. RAJESHKUMAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal has been preferred by one Phillip Simon Kallath (original accused) against his conviction under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and sentence of six month rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1,000 imposed by him by the learned Presidency Magistrate, 28th Court, Esplanade, Bombay on 23rd July, 1973 in Criminal Case No. 313/P/72.

(2.) The charge against the appellant---accused was that in the month of May 1970, at Greater Bombay he induced the complainant Rajeshkumar P. Dave to part with a cash of Rs. 98,000 under the false pretext of producing a picture styled as "Asha" and on further representation that actress Saguna and actor Biswajeet were acting in the said film and that the complainant would be taken as an associate producer of the film and thereby the appellant-accused has committed an offence punishable under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code.

(3.) The prosecution was instituted by the complainant by lodging a complaint dated 25th March, 1971 with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, General Branch, C.I.D. Bombay and the complainants case was that prior to May, 1970 he was residing at Vidhyanagar Anand and was carrying on business of palmistry and astrology there. But from the very beginning he was interested in production of movies, particularly producing a Gujarati movies. His case further was that in the first week of May, 1970 after coming to Bombay he contacted one Devendra Prasad Singh whom he knew for the past about 15 years and to whom during the latters visit at Anand he had told about his ambition to produce a Gujarati picture. Devendra Prasad Singh told him that he (Devendra Prasad Singh) was then engaged as a Director of a certain film inoculated Asha produced by one P.S. Kallath (accused under the banner of Vivia Arts (Madras) and that he would introduce him (complainant) to the accused. Accordingly, Devendra Prasad Singh arranged the meeting between the complainant and the accused at the latters residence near Bandstand at Bandra. During this meeting a general talk took place about the movies and production thereof and Devendra Prasad Singh told the accused about his (complainants) desire and ambition to produce Gujarati picture. There were further meetings at the residence of the accused and according to the complainant, the accused suggested to him that if he was really interested in producing a picture with limited finance he (complainant) should join him as an associate producer in the production of his movie initiated Asha whereupon he enquired of the accused as to how much investment would be required. He further told the accused that he had made arrangements for Rs. 30,000/- and could further arrange for a total amount of Rs. 50,000/-. In yet another meeting which took place on 9th May, 1970 according to the complainant the accused made certain representations which were as follows:---