B.Venugopal v. M.B.Rajagopal

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Monday, the Twentieth day of January Two Thousand Twenty PRESENT The Hon`ble Mr Justice R. MAHADEVAN CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS PETITION No.470 & 472 of 2020 IN CRL.R.C.No.80 of 2020 B.VENUGOPAL [ PETITIONER/APPELLANT/ACCUSED IN BOTH THE PETITIONS] Vs 1 M.B.RAJAGOPAL (DIED) [ RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT 2 MUTHUPALANIAPPAN IN BOTH THE PETITIONS] Petition praying that in the circumstances stated therein and in the affidavit filed therewith the High Court will be pleased to (i) To suspend the sentence imposed on him by the learned Judicial Magistrate, Fast Track Court No.I, Erode in STC No.91 of 2017 by judgment dated 22.5.2018 as confirmed by the Appellate Court in C.A.No.177 of 2018 of I Additional District and Sessions Judge Erode by Judgment dated 23.10.2019 pending disposal of the above Crl.R.C.No.80 of 2020. (CRL.M.P.

NO.470/2020) (ii) To grant exemption of surrender of the petitioner herein before the learned I Additional District and Sessions Judge Erode, on the dated of judgment in C.A.No.177 of 2018 in dismissing the Appeal filed by the petitioner herein and confirming the conviction and sentence passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate, Fast Track Court No.I, Erode in STC No.91 of 2017 by judgment dated 22.5.2018 in respect of the offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. (CRL.M.P.NO.472/2020) Order : This petition coming on for orders upon perusing the petition and the filed in support thereof and upon hearing the arguments of M/S. T.SHANMUGAM, Advocate for the petitioner, [IN BOTH THE PETITIONS] the court made the following order:- By judgement, dated 22.05.2018 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate, Fast Track Court No.

1, Erode, in S.T.C.No.91 of 2017, the petitioner was convicted for the offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and was sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of six months and further directed to pay compensation of Rs.

one month. Challenging the said conviction and sentence, the petitioner has preferred an appeal in Crl.A.No.177 of 2018 before the learned I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Erode, in which, the Appellate Court dismissed the Appeal and confirmed the judgement of the trial court. Aggrieved over the same, the petitioner has filed the present Criminal Revision Case. He also filed two Miscellaneous Petitions seeking suspension of sentence and exemption from surrendering before the trial Court, pending disposal of this Criminal Revision.

2. According to the learned counsel for the Petitioner, there are copious materials on record to prove that there is no legally enforceable debt and the petitioner has rebutted the presumption contemplated under Section 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. He further submitted that there are arguable points available in the Criminal Revision Case, which is not likely to be taken up for final hearing in the near future and hence, the substantive sentence imposed against the petitioner may be suspended and the petitioner may be exempted from surrendering before the Trial Court.

3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and also perused the materials placed on record.

4. At this juncture, it is relevant to point out that the Supreme Court, in Bihari Prasad Singh v. State of Bihar and another [2000 SCC (Crl) 1380], was of the view that while seeking the relief of suspension of sentence, the accused need not necessarily be under confinement. In Ibrahim v. State of Kerala [1979 KLT 857], it was held that for grant of suspension of sentence, the accused need not surrender and undergo confinement and filing revision without surrendering and confinement is well within the powers contemplated under Section 397(1)Cr.P.C, as the said provision itself is very unequivocal and unambiguous.

5. In the light of the aforesaid legal propositions, considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also taking note of the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court is of the view that the substantive sentence of imprisonment alone can be suspended subject to certain conditions. Accordingly, till the disposal of the Criminal Revision Case, the reliefs of exemption from surrender before the Trial Court, suspension of sentence and bail are granted, on the following conditions:- a) The Petitioner/Accused shall deposit a sum of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs only) before the Trial Court, within three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order;

b) On such deposit being made, the Trial Court shall redeposit the said amount in a Fixed Deposit Account, in any one of the Nationalized Banks, renewable thereafter periodically. The disbursal of this amount shall be decided at the culmination of the Criminal Revision Case.

c) Thereafter, the Petitioner/Accused is ordered to be released on bail, on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/-

(Rupees ten thousand only) with two sureties of whom, one should be a blood relative, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the Judicial Magistrate, Fast Track Court No.I, Erode;

d) The Petitioner/Accused and the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impressions in the surety bonds and the learned Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar Cards or Bank Pass Books to ensure their identities. e) The Petitioner/Accused shall appear before the Trial Court at 10.30 a.m. on the first working day of every English Calendar Month, until the disposal of the revision case and if he is not able to appear before the Trial Court on any day, due to unavoidable circumstances, he shall make arrangements to file an application under Section 317 of Cr.PC. and shall appear before the Trial Court on any other day in lieu of his absence, as directed by the Trial Court. Such an application shall not be entertained often.

On the failure of the Petitioner/Accused, depositing the said amount, it is open to the Trial Court to commit the Petitioner/ Accused into custody for undergoing the sentence. -sd/- 20/01/2020 This order, on being produced, be punctually observed and carried into execution by all concerned TRUE COPY Sub-Assistant Registrar (Statistics/C.S.) High Court, Madras - 600 104.

TO 1 THE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, FAST TRACK COURT NO.1, ERODE.

2 THE CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE ERODE. [FOR INFORMATION] 3 THE I ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, ERODE.

C.C. to M/S. T.SHANMUGAM Advocate on payment of necessary charges Order in CRL MP.470 & 472/2020 in CRL.R.C.NO.80/2020 Date :20/01/2020 From 7.2.2001 the Registry is issuing certified copies of the BAIL/Anti.BAIL Orders in this format TA-31/01/2020