PRATAP SINGH J. - (1.) THE accused in C. C.No. 165 of 1993, on the file of the Judicial MagistrateNo. 6, Coimbatore, has filed this petition under section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, praying to call for the records in the above case and to quash the same. THE short facts are : THE respondent has filed a private complaint against the petitioner for an offence under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (which I shall hereafter refer to as "the Act"), THE allegations in it are briefly as follows : For the debt due, on September 15, 1992, the accused issued a cheque in favour of the complainant for Rs. 4, 00, 000 dated February 15, 1993. THE complainant presented the cheque on February 17, 1993, through Central Bank, Peelamedu. It was returned with a memo "payment countermanded" on February 18, 1993. Without providing sufficient funds, with a view to cheat, the accused had given instructions to countermand the payment. THE complainant sent the statutory notice on March 3, 1993. After giving the reasons that the accused was not available in his address, it was returned on March 13, 1993. THE accused had deliberately evaded the receipt of the notice.
(2.) HENCE the complaint. Mr. K. Mohanram, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, would submit that the complaint is liable to be quashed on the following grounds : 1. The cheque was returned with a memo, "payment countermanded" and it could not be an offence under section 138 of the Act, 2. The notice was returned and not served on the accused and only in a case where the notice was served on the accused, the requirements for making out an offence under section 138 would be completed. I have carefully considered the submissions made by learned, counsel to consider the first submission, the relevant allegations made in paragraph 8 of the complaint need be stated. In it, it is stated that the cheque was returned with a memo dated February 18, 1993, "payment countermanded". It is further alleged that sufficient funds were not deposited in the bank and with an intention to cheat, the instruction of payment "countermanded" was given. Thus, the allegations in the complaint are to the effect that there was no sufficiency of funds in the account of the accused and that the cheque was returned with a memo "payment countermanded". So, it can be seen only during the course of trial when the evidence is let in as to whether the cheque was returned for the reason funds were insufficient or because of the instruction "payment countermanded". That stage would come only at the time of the trial and on that submission, the complaint cannot be quashed at its threshold.To consider the second submission, the relevant allegations made in paragraph 9 of the complaint need be stated. In it, it is stated that the statutory notice was kept waiting in the office of the accused till March 12, 1993, by giving the reason that he was not available and it was returned to counsel for the complainant on March 13, 1993. It is further alleged that the accused had deliberately evaded receipt of the notice. It is to be seen whether on these allegations, it can be said that the requirements of section 138 of the Act are satisfied.
(3.) IN A. B. Steels v. Coromandel Steel Products [1992] 1 MWN (Crl) 55 a similar question was considered. IN that case, the allegations in the complaint are as follows (at page 764) : "The complainant states that, in order to circumvent and escape from the attraction of mischief under section 138 of the Negotiable INstruments Act, he managed to return the above-said notice with an endorsement 'not found'. The registered letter was received back by the complainant on January 19, 1991. Immediately after the return of the said notice, the complainant went to the business place of the accused wherein he is still doing business and asked him to take the notice which he refused. The complainant has sent the notice by registered post with the proper address and by paying postal charges, so it is deemed that the service of the notice is effected on the accused.";