Nagappa. T vs Bharath Gowda on 9 July, 2025

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Bangalore District Court

Nagappa. T vs Bharath Gowda on 9 July, 2025

KABC030212292024           1            CC.NO.12945/2024




     IN THE COURT OF XII ADDL. CHIEF JUDICIAL
             MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU.
           Dated this the 09th day of July, 2025.

                          :Present:
                   Smt. Smt. Dhanalakshmi.R.,
               XII Addl. Chief Judicial Magistrate,
                             Bangalore.

                   CC.No.12945/2024
1. Name of the        Mr.Nagappa.T.,
Complainant:          Aged about 55 years,
                      S/o. Late. Thimmaiah,
                      R/at: No.17, 10th Cross,
                      5th Main, 3rd Phase,
                      Nandini Layout,
                      Bengaluru-96.

                      (By Sri.R.G.N & anr., Advocate)
                               Vs.
2.Name of the         Mr.Bharath Gowda,
Accused               Aged about 31 years,
                      S/o. Venkatesh.G.,
                      R/at: No.3, Veerasagara,
                      Attur Post, Yelahanaka Hobli,
                      Bengaluru-64.

                      (By Sri.V.V & anrs., Advocate)


1. The date of                 : 15.11.2023
   commission of the
   offence
2. The offence                 : Under Section 138 of the
   complained of or              Negotiable Instrument
   proves                        Act.
 KABC030212292024            2             CC.NO.12945/2024




3. Date of               : 27.11.2024
   commencement of
   recording of evidence
4. Date of closing of            : 24.01.2025
   evidence

5. Opinion of judge               Found not guilty

6. Date of                       : 08.07.2025
   pronouncement of
   judgment

                        JUDGMENT

1. This case is registered U/sec. 200 of

Cr.P.C based on the written complaint given by

the complainant against the accused for the

offence punishable under Section 138 of

Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 (hereinafter

called as NI Act for the purpose of brevity).

02. The case of the complainant in brief is

as follows:-

It is the case of the complainant that the

accused is his son-in-law and he was carrying

the business in the name and style as M/s.

Preksha Enterprises and he was manufacturing
KABC030212292024 3 CC.NO.12945/2024

P.S.Doors. For the improvement of said business

the accused has borrowed the sum of

Rs.9,00,000/- from the complainant on

13.06.2022. The complainant has transferred the

said amount by way of Bank transfer. As agreed

by the accused, he has failed to pay the interest

at rate of 24% p.a. and also failed to pay the

principle amount. Further the accused has

neglected his wife and divorce her. On

persuasion, the accused has paid only

Rs.3,00,000/- interest for clearance of the loan

and the accused issued cheque bearing

No.000040 dated: 15.11.2023 for sum of

Rs.3,75,000/- and another bearing No.000039

dt: 20.11.2023 for Rs.3,75,000/- both are drawn

on Bank of Baroda, Yelahanka New Town

Branch, Bengaluru. When the complainant

presented the said cheques for encashment

through his Banker at Bank of Baroda, APMC
KABC030212292024 4 CC.NO.12945/2024

yard Branch, Bengaluru, the cheques were

dishonoured on 17.01.2024 with an endorsement

as “Funds Insufficient”. As such the complainant

has issued demand notice dt: 23.01.2024 to the

accused calling upon the accused to repay the

cheques amount within 15 days from the date of

receipt of the said notice. Inspite of receiving the

said notice, the accused has not repaid amount.

Hence, the present complaint.

3. On filing of the complaint, recorded the

sworn statement of the complainant and marked

9 documents as per Ex.P.1 to Ex.P.9 and

cognizance of the offence is taken the

complainant has complied all the statutory

requirements under Sec.138 of N.I.Act.

Thereafter, the case is registered against the

accused and summons issued.

KABC030212292024 5 CC.NO.12945/2024

4. On service of summons, the accused

appeared through his counsel and he was

enlarged on bail. The substance of accusation was

read over and explained to the accused in the

language known to him. As per the directions of

Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in ” Indian Bank

Association V/s Union of India & Others reported

in (2014) 5 SCC 590, this court has treated the

sworn statement of the complainant as his

evidence and in compliance with the direction of

Hon’ble Apex Court in the aforesaid citation the

statement of the accused was also recorded under

section 313 of Cr.P.C. On application filed by the

counsel for the accused under section 145 Act,

permission was accorded to cross examine PW1.

Accordingly, PW.1 was cross examined by learned

counsel for the accused and confronted four

documents as Ex.D1 to Ex.D4. The Accused

examined himself as DW1 and got marked
KABC030212292024 6 CC.NO.12945/2024

documents as Ex.D5 to Ex.D10. DW1 was cross

examined by the learned counsel for the

complainant.

5. Heard the learned counsel for both sides.

Perused the records. The counsel for accused filed

memo with citation and also filed written

arguments.

6. The following points arise for

consideration:

Point No.1: Whether the
complainant proves that the
accused has issued the cheques
for the legally recoverable debt as
alleged by him?

Point No.2: Whether the accused
has committed the offence
punishable under section 138
Act?

                   Point  No.3:           What       Order        or
                   Sentence?
 KABC030212292024             7              CC.NO.12945/2024




       7.          The above points are           answered as

under:

                   Point No.1: In the Negative,

                   Point No.2: In the Negative,

                   Point No.3: As per the final

                                  order for the following:

                         REASONS

8. POINT No.1 and 2: It is the case of the

complainant that, towards the discharge of the

hand loan, the accused has issued the disputed

cheques and when the same was presented, it got

dishonored for the reason “Funds Insufficient”.

Though the said fact was brought to the notice of

accused by issuing demand notice he has failed to

repay the cheques amount.

9. In order to prove his case, the

complainant got examined himself as PW1 and got

marked the Cheques as Ex.P1 & Ex.P2. There is
KABC030212292024 8 CC.NO.12945/2024

no dispute that the cheques are belonging to the

Account maintained by the Accused. The Accused

has also not disputed his signature found in the

Cheques. Bank challan & counter files are

marked at Ex.P3, the cheques are dishonoured for

the reasons Funds insufficient. The said

endorsements of the Bank is marked as Ex.P4.

The accused has also not disputed with regard to

the service of demand notice on him. The copy of

the demand notice is marked as Ex.P5. The

complainant has produced the postal receipt at

Ex.P6, U/sec.65(B) of Indian Evidence Act along

with postal track report is marked at Ex.P7, Letter

Dt: 15.04.2023 at Ex.P8, Bank Statement of

Account is marked at Ex.P9.Admittedly the

accused has not given any reply to the demand

notice nor he has paid the amount covered under

Ex.P1 & Ex.P2 cheques.

KABC030212292024 9 CC.NO.12945/2024

10. In order to bring home a liability under

Section 138 of NI Act, 1881, following elements

must spring out from the averments in the

complaint and the evidence adduced by the

complainant, viz.

1. A person must have drawn a cheque on
an account maintained by him in a bank
for payment of a certain sum of money to
another person from out of that account
for the discharge of any legally enforceable
debt or liability;

2. The cheque has been presented to the
bank within a period of three months from
the date mentioned on the cheque or
within the period of its validity, whichever
is earlier;

3. The cheque is returned by the bank
unpaid either because the amount of
money standing to the credit of the
account is insufficient to honour the
cheque or that it exceeds the amount
arranged to be paid from that account by
an agreement made with the bank;

4. The payee or the holder in due course of
the cheque makes a demand for the
payment of the said amount of money by
giving a notice in writing to the drawer of
the cheque within 40 days of the receipt of
information by him from the bank
KABC030212292024 10 CC.NO.12945/2024

regarding the return of the cheque as
unpaid;

5. The drawer of such cheque fails to make
the payment to the payee or the holder in
due course of the cheque within 15 days of
the receipt of the notice.

11. Let us discuss the provisions of Section

118(a) and Section 139 of the Negotiable

Instruments Act, which read as follows:

Section 118. Presumptions as to negotiable
instruments – Until the contrary is proved,
the following presumptions shall be made:(a)
of consideration – that every negotiable
instrument was consideration, instrument,
indorsed, made and when it negotiated or
that has or drawn every been for such
accepted, transferred, was accepted,
indorsed, negotiated or transferred for
consideration.”

Section 139. Presumption in favour of holder
It shall be presumed, unless the contrary is
proved, that the holder of a cheque received
the cheque of the nature referred to in
section 138 for the discharge, in whole or in
part, of any debt or other liability.”
Presumptions both under Sections 118(a)
and 139 of the Act are rebuttable in nature.

KABC030212292024 11 CC.NO.12945/2024

12. In light of the arguments presented by

both sides, let us discuss whether the aforesaid

presumptions truly aid the Complainant in

proving the guilt of the Accused. According to

Sections 118 and 139 of the Negotiable

Instruments Act, the initial presumption is in

favour of the Complainant regarding the

consideration mentioned in Ex.P.1 cheque and the

fact that the cheque was issued in favor of the

Complainant to discharge a debt or other liability.

13. As per the scheme of Section 118 and

139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, once the

presumption is drawn in favor of the

Complainant, the burden shifts to the Accused to

present rebuttal evidence that undermines the

Complainant’s case, showing that the Accused

was not obliged to pay the amount and that a

false case was filed against him. According to this
KABC030212292024 12 CC.NO.12945/2024

scheme, once the Accused has rebutted the

presumption available under Sections 118 and

139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the onus

then shifts back to the Complainant to prove its

case in accordance with Section 102 of the Indian

Evidence Act.

14. It is relevant to refer the ratio laid down

by the Hon’ble Apex Court in Bharat Barrel &

Drum Mfg. Co. v. Amin Chand Payrelal, reported

in (1993) 3 SCC 35, wherein at page no.50-51,

para 12, it was held as under:

“Upon consideration of various judgments as
noted hereinabove, the position of law which
emerges is that once execution of the
promissory note is admitted, the
presumption under Section 118(a) would
arise that it is supported by consideration.
Such a presumption is rebuttable. The
defendant can prove the non-existence of
consideration by raising a probable defence.
If the defendant is proved to have discharged
the initial onus of proof showing that the
existence of consideration was improbable or
doubtful or the same was illegal, the onus
KABC030212292024 13 CC.NO.12945/2024

would shift to the plaintiff who will be
obliged to prove it as a matter of fact and
upon its failure to prove would dis-entitle
him to the grant of relief on the basis of the
negotiable instrument. The burden upon the
defendant of proving the non-existence of
the consideration can be either direct or by
bringing on record the preponderance of
probabilities by reference to the
circumstances upon which he relies. In such
an event the plaintiff is entitled under law to
rely upon all the evidence led in the case
including that of the plaintiff as well. In
case, where the defendant fails to discharge
the showing the initial onus of non-
existence proofby of the consideration, the
plaintiff would invariably be held entitled to
the benefit of presumption arising under
Section 118(a) in his favour. The court may
not insist upon the defendant to disprove
the existence of consideration by leading
direct evidence as existence of negative
evidence is neither possible nor
contemplated and even if led is to be seen
with a doubt”.

15. It is relevant to refer to the ratio laid

down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in S. Narayana

Menon vs. State of Kerala, reported in (2006) 6

SCC 39, wherein the Apex Court has held that for

rebutting the presumptions available under
KABC030212292024 14 CC.NO.12945/2024

Sections 118 and 139 of the Negotiable

Instruments Act, the accused needs to raise a

probable defense. For this purpose, the accused

can rely upon the evidence adduced by the

Complainant. It is further held that the standard

of proof for the accused is preponderance of

probabilities and not beyond reasonable doubt.

16. It is also relevant to refer to the ratio

laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in Kamal A.S

vs. Vidhyadaran M.J and another, reported in

(2007) 5 SCC 264, wherein the Hon’ble Apex

Court has held that the burden on the accused to

rebut the presumptions can be discharged by

preponderance of probabilities. It was further held

that the court can draw inference from the

material brought on record as well as

circumstances relied upon by the accused. The

Apex Court further discussed that when the
KABC030212292024 15 CC.NO.12945/2024

accused has discharged the initial burden, the

onus shifts to the Complainant, and if the

Complainant fails to prove his case beyond

reasonable doubt without the help of the

presumption, the Complainant is not entitled to

the relief sought under the complaint.

17. It is relevant to refer to the ratio laid

down by the Apex Court in Basalingappa vs.

Mudibasappa, reported in (2019) 5 SCC 418,

wherein the Hon’ble Apex Court has discussed

Sections 3 and 4 of the Evidence Act in

connection with Sections 118(a) and 139 of the

Negotiable Instruments Act. It held that as soon

as the Complainant discharges the burden to

prove that the cheque was executed by the

accused, the rules of presumption under Sections

118 and 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act

help the Complainant to shift the burden to the
KABC030212292024 16 CC.NO.12945/2024

accused. It was further held that the

presumptions will live, exist, and survive, and

shall end only when the contrary is proved by the

accused, i.e., the cheque was not issued for

consideration and in discharge of any debt or

liability. It was further held that a presumption is

not in itself evidence but only makes a prima facie

case for the party for whose benefit it exists. It

was further held that the accused may adduce

direct evidence to prove that the cheque in

question was not supported by consideration and

that there was no debt or liability to be discharged

by him. It was further held that the courts need

not insist in every case that the accused should

disprove the non-existence of consideration and

debt by leading direct evidence because the

existence of negative evidence is neither possible

nor contemplated.

KABC030212292024 17 CC.NO.12945/2024

18. It is also relevant to refer to the ratio laid

down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in Uttam Ram vs.

Devinder Singh Hudan and another, reported in

(2019) 10 SCC 287, wherein the Hon’ble Apex

Court has discussed the presumption under

Sections 118 and 139 of the Negotiable

Instruments Act and the burden of rebuttal of

presumption under these sections. It was further

held by the Hon’ble Apex Court that to rebut the

statutory presumption, an accused is not

expected to prove his defense beyond reasonable

doubt as is expected of the Complainant in a

criminal case. It was further held that the accused

has to bring something probable on record to get

the burden of proof shifted to the Complainant. It

was further held that to disprove the

presumption, the accused should bring on record

such facts and circumstances, upon consideration

of which, the court may either believe that the
KABC030212292024 18 CC.NO.12945/2024

consideration and the debt did not exist, or their

non-existence was so probable that a prudent

man would, under the circumstances of the case,

act upon the plea that they did not exist. It was

further held that the accused, apart from

adducing direct evidence to prove that the

consideration did not exist or that he had not

incurred any debt or liability, may also rely upon

circumstantial evidence, and if the circumstances

so relied upon are compelling, the burden may

likewise shift again to the Complainant.

19. This court has carefully perused the

ratios laid down in the aforementioned cases by

the Hon’ble Apex Court and applied them to the

case at hand. According to the decisions of the

Apex Court, the burden on the Accused to prove

the non-existence of consideration can be

discharged either directly or by bringing on record
KABC030212292024 19 CC.NO.12945/2024

the preponderance of probabilities, referencing the

circumstances upon which he relies.

Furthermore, as per the dictum of the Hon’ble

Apex Court, the Accused is entitled under the law

to rely upon all the evidence presented in the

case, including that of the Complainant.

20. The Apex Court’s dictum clarifies that

the burden on the Accused to rebut the

presumption is not as stringent as proving guilt

beyond a reasonable doubt but is instead based

on the preponderance of probabilities. This means

that the Accused must present evidence that,

when weighed against the evidence presented by

the Complainant, shows that it is more likely than

not that the Accused did not owe the alleged debt.

21. After comprehending the scheme of

Sections 118 and 139 of the Negotiable

Instruments Act and carefully considering the
KABC030212292024 20 CC.NO.12945/2024

precedents set by the Apex Court in the

aforementioned cases, let us discuss the materials

on record and ascertain whether the presumption

is indeed available to the Complainant under

Sections 118 and 139 of the Negotiable

Instruments Act. We also need to determine

whether the Accused has successfully rebutted

the presumption in favor of the omplainant under

Sections 118 and 139 of the Negotiable

Instruments Act, and whether the Complainant

has discharged its onus of proof under Section

102 of the Indian Evidence Act after the Accused

has raised doubts by presenting a preponderance

of probabilities to rebut the presumption.

22. The complainant has stated that the

accused for the improvement for his business has

borrowed a sum of Rs.9,00,000/- by him and he

has transferred the same through the Bank. Ii is
KABC030212292024 21 CC.NO.12945/2024

to be seen that the accused has admitted the 2

cheques at Ex.P1 & Ex.P2 that belongs to him and

he has signed the said cheques. Further during

the cross examination PW1 it is suggested to the

complainant that the accused has given the said

two cheques as security to the loan transaction of

Rs.7,00,000/- taken from the accused. Also the

accused examined himself as DW1. During his

chief examination also he stated that in the year

2022 when his wife has started the business in

the name and style as S.V.Enterprises, she has

taken two cheques from him as per Ex.P1 and

Ex.P2 respectively.

23. It is to be seen that though the accused

has taken dual stands regarding the cheques at

Ex.P1 and P2 that he has given as a security to

the loan transaction of Rs.7,00,000/- from the

complainant and another stand as he has given
KABC030212292024 22 CC.NO.12945/2024

the said cheques to his wife for the starting of

business at S.V.Enterprises, but it is not in

dispute that the cheques at Ex.P1 and P2 cheques

belongs to the accused and he has signed the said

cheques and given to the complainant. Hence, as

per Sec.118 & 139 of Act the presumption favours

the complainant. Hence, the burden shifts to the

accused to rebut the said presumption in favour

of the complainant under the provision of the Act.

The accused in order to rebut the said

presumption has cross examined the PW1 and

also examined himself as DW1 and produced the

documents at Ex.D1 to Ex.D10

24. The complainant during his cross-

examination has categorically admitted that he

has transferred an amount of Rs.9,00,000/- from

his account to the account of M/s.

S.V.Enterprises. Further he categorically admitted
KABC030212292024 23 CC.NO.12945/2024

that he has given said amount for the business of

M/s. S.V.Enterprises and he has not given said

amount to the accused for any interest. For the

sake of clarity of the said admission is extracted

as under:

“”ಮೇಲೆ ಹೇಳಿದ 9 ಲಕ್ಷ ರೂಪಾಯಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಾನು ನನ್ನ

ಖಾತೆಯಿಂದ ಎಸ್‍ ವಿ ಎಂಟರ್ ಪ್ರೆೃಸಸ್‍ ಖಾತೆಗೆ ವರ್ಗಾವಣೆ

ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಸರಿ. ಎಸ್‍ ವಿ ಎಂಟರ್ ಪ್ರೆೃಸಸ್‍ನ ಕರೆಂಟ್‍

ಅಕೌಂಟ್‍ ಖಾತೆ ಯಶ್ವಂತಪುರದಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಬ್ಯಾಂಕ್‍ ಖಾತೆ

ಇರುವಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಇದೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು 9 ಲಕ್ಷ

ರೂಪಾಯಿಗಳನ್ನು ಎಸ್‍ ವಿ ಎಂಟರ್ ಪ್ರೆೃಸಸ್‍ ಗೆ ವ್ಯವಹಾರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ

ಕೊಟ್ಟಿರುತ್ತೇನೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಸರಿ. ನಾನು ಬಡ್ಡಿಗಾಗಿ ಆ ಹಣವನ್ನು

ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಅಲ್ಲ.”

25. Further it is seen that the complainant

has also admitted that his daughter by name

Pushpalatha is the owner of the said S.V.

Enterprises and the GST documents are also

stands in her name. The complainant himself
KABC030212292024 24 CC.NO.12945/2024

has produced the Bank Statement pertaining to

the S.V.Enterprises (P.S.Doors) for the period from

01.01.2022 to 16.04.2023 as per Ex.P9. In the

said document on 13.06.2022 there is transaction

of Rs.9,00,000/-. Further it is to be seen that as

stated above the complainant himself categorically

admitted that he has transferred the said amount

to the S.V.Enterprises Bank account. But the said

document is contrary to the pleadings at para

No.3 of the complaint that the accused was

carrying of the business of M/S.Preksha

Enterprises as a proprietor and for improvement

of his business of manufacturing P.S.Doors the

accused has borrowed a sum of Rs.9,00,000/-

from the complainant on 13.06.2022. The

complainant has not produced any documents

pertaining to M/S.Preksha Enterprises or for

having transferred the amount to the M/S

Preksha Enterprises though he has stated the he
KABC030212292024 25 CC.NO.12945/2024

has transferred the said amount through Bank

transfer.

26. It is to be seen that as per Ex.D1, the

GST Registration Certificate pertaining to

S.V.Enterprises (P.S.Doors) stands in the name of

Pushpalatha N who is none other than the

daugther of the complainant and wife of the

accused. As stated earlier even the complainant

has admitted that he has transferred the amount

of Rs.9,00,000/- to the Bank account of

S.V.Enterprises.

27. It is also pertinent to note that the

Ex.D1 to D4 documents are marked by

confronting the same to the complainant. Ex.D2 is

the copy of the legal notice dated 20.04.2023 and

Ex.D3 is the Memorandum of understanding

(MOU) between the accused and his wife dated

15.06.2023. The accused by relying upon the
KABC030212292024 26 CC.NO.12945/2024

said documents has contended that before the

decree of divorce and during the pendency of the

divorce petition in MC.377/2023, the complainant

has given notice to the accused as per Ex.D2 and

as per Memorandum of Understanding at Ex.D3

at page No.3 reference is made pertaining to the

notice at Ex.D2 and it is mentioned that in view of

the Memorandum of Understanding there is no

dues between parties and also the father of the

Pushpalatha. N i.e., complainant.

28. The complainant during his cross-

examination has categorically admitted the notice

at Ex.D2 and also MOU at Ex.D3 as it is marked

by confronting the complainant. As per the

statement of account at Ex.P9 which shows that

on 13.06.2022 the complainant transferred

Rs.9,00,000/- through RTGS to the account of

M/s. S. V. Enterprises. However the said
KABC030212292024 27 CC.NO.12945/2024

document is silent regarding the name of

beneficiary. Ex.D1 is the GST Registration

Certificate of M/s. S. V. Enterprises which shows

that one Pushpalatha N i.e., the daughter of the

complainant is the proprietor of the same. The

complainant has not produced any document to

show that the accused is also one of the

proprietor of M/s. S. V. Enterprises. Apart from

that there is no iota of evidence to show that the

accused has received the said amount of

Rs.9,00,000/- from the M/s. S. V. Enterprises.

28. The complainant in his complaint at

paragraph No.3 & 4 has stated that the accused

has borrowed sum of Rs.9,00,000/- for the

improvement of his business of M/s. Preksha

Enterprises and the accused has undertaken to

repay amount with an interest at the rate of 24%

p.a and after a lot of persuasion he has paid sum
KABC030212292024 28 CC.NO.12945/2024

of Rs.3,00,000/- as part of interest out of total

interest of Rs.3,24,000/-. Even in the notice at

Ex.P5 and also another notice at Ex.D2 speaks

regarding the rate of interest. But it is pertinent

note that the complainant during his cross-

examination has admitted that he has given the

amount to the business pertaining to M/s. S. V.

Enterprises but not for any interest. The said

admission is extracted as under.

“” ನಾನು 9 ಲಕ್ಷ ರೂಪಾಯಿಗಳನ್ನು ಎಸ್‍ ವಿ ಎಂಟರ್
ಪ್ರೆೃಸಸ್‍ಗೆ ವ್ಯವಹಾರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿರುತ್ತೇನೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಸರಿ. ನಾನು
ಬಡ್ಡಿಗಾಗಿ ಆ ಹಣವನ್ನು ಕೆ‍ೂಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಅಲ್ಲ. ”

“”ನಾನು ಆರೋಪಿತನಿಗೆ ಬಡ್ಡಿಗಾಗಿ ಯಾವುದೆ
ಹಣವನ್ನು ಕೆ‍ೂಟ್ಟಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಮತ್ತು ಆತ ನನಗೆ ಯಾವುದೆ
ಬಡ್ಡಿಯನ್ನೂ ಕೂಡ ನನಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದರೆ ಸರಿ.”

29. Hence it could be seen that the said

admission of the complainant is contrary to the

case of the complainant. As stated earlier the

complainant has admitted that the MOU is
KABC030212292024 29 CC.NO.12945/2024

executed between the accused his wife and he

also put his signature as a witness.

30. The accused has admitted that the

cheque in question is belonging to him and the

signature is also that of his, though a

presumption shall be raised under Sec 139 of Act

that the cheque was issued in discharge of debt or

liability, but the accused herein has proved the

defense with preponderance of probabilities and

the complainant herein has failed to establish

that, he paid a sum of Rs.9,00,000/- to the

accused for the improvement of business at

M/s.Prekasha Enterprises on 13.06.2022 as

alleged by him. Admittedly the complainant has

produced Ex.P9 which is the Bank statement

pertaining to the M/s. S.V.Enterprises to which

his daughter is proprietor of the said Enterprises.

Thus, the presumption which is in favour of the
KABC030212292024 30 CC.NO.12945/2024

complainant stands successfully rebutted. Hence

this court helds that the complainant has failed to

prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable

doubt. Further it is held that there is no legally

enforceable debt as alleged by the complainant

and the accused has not committed U/sec. 138 of

NI Act. Hence for the above said reasons these

points an answered in the Negative.

31. POINT No.2 :- In the light of the reasons

on the point No.1 & 2, this court proceed to pass

the following;

ORDER
Acting under Sec. 255 (1) of Cr.PC, the accused
is acquitted of the offence punishable under
Section 138 of NI Act.

The bail bond of the accused shall stand
cancelled.

(Dictated to the stenographer directly on the computer, computerized by her,
corrected by me and then pronounced in the open Court on this 09th day July,
2025).

(Smt.Dhanalakshmi.R)
XII Addl. CJM, Bengaluru
KABC030212292024 31 CC.NO.12945/2024

ANNEXURES
Witnesses examined for the Complainant:

P.W.1 : Sri. Nagappa

Documents exhibited for the Complainant:

Ex.P.01&2               :   Cheques,

Ex.P1(a)& 2(a)          :   signature of the accused

Ex.P.03                 :   Bank Challans

Ex.P.04                 :   Bank Endorsment

Ex.P.05                 :   Copy of Legal Notice,

Ex.P.06                 :   Postal Receipt

Ex.P.07                 :   Postal track report

Ex.P.08                 :   Letter Dt: 15.04.2023

Ex.P.09                 :   Bank Account Statement

Witnesses examined for the defence Accused:

D.W.1 : Sri. Bharath Gowda

Documents exhibited for the defence Accused:-

Ex.D.01            :    GST Registration Form

Ex.D.02            :    Zerox copy Notice dt: 20.04.2023

Ex.D.03            :   Memorandum of Understanding
                       dt:15.06.2023

Ex.D.04            :    Copy of Invoice of S.V. Enterprises

Ex.D.05            :   Certified copy of Order sheet of
                       MC.No.377/2023
 KABC030212292024                 32             CC.NO.12945/2024




Ex.D.06            :    Certified copy of Memorandum of
                        Agreement in MC.No.377/2023

Ex.D.07            :    Certified copy of the petition in
                        MC.377/2023

Ex.D.08&9 :             Certified copy of Vakalathnamas

Ex.D.10             :   Rental Agreement dt: 11.05.2022

                                                   Digitally signed by
                                      DHANALAKSHMI DHANALAKSHMI R
                                      R            Date: 2025.07.23
                                                   15:51:26 +0530
                                         (Smt.Dhanalakshmi.R)
                                         XII Addl. CJM, Bengaluru
 KABC030212292024           33             CC.NO.12945/2024




       03.07.2025                     For Judgment by 07.07.2025


                                          XII ACJM, Bengaluru


       07.07.2025                     For Judgment by 08.07.2025


                                          XII ACJM, Bengaluru


       08.07.2025                     For Judgment by 09.07.2025



                                          XII ACJM, Bengaluru
       09.07.2025
        For judgment

(Judgment pronounced in the open court
vide separate Order)
ORDER
Acting under Sec. 255 (1) of Cr.PC, the
accused is acquitted of the offence punishable
under Section 138 and Section 142 of NI Act.

The bail bond of the accused shall
stand cancelled.

XII ACJM, Bengaluru
KABC030212292024 34 CC.NO.12945/2024

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