P.Kandasamy v. M/S. Rajhakalai Finance Rep.By Its
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 30.06.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN and 1142 to 1144, 1147,1149, 1154, 1160 and 1176 of 2024 Crl.RC.No. 1126 of 2024 Vs M/s. Rajhakalai Finance, passed in CrlA.No. 24 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 511 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and
Crl.RC.No. 1127 of 2024 Vs M/s. Rajhakalai Finance, passed in CrlA.No. 31 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 562 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and Crl.RC.No. 1128 of 2024 S.K. Shanmugam S/o. P.Kandasamy Vs M/s. Rajhakalai Finance,
passed in CrlA.No. 27 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 415 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and Crl.RC.No. 1129 of 2024 Vs M/s. Sri Manikandan Constructions, passed in CrlA.No. 28 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 423 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and Crl.RC.No. 1144 of 2024 S.K.Shanmugam S/o. P.Kandasamy Vs
M/s. Rajhakalai Finance, passed in Crl.A.No. 25 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 412 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and Crl.RC.No. 1154 of 2024 Vs A.Chellapillai, passed in Crl.A.No. 34 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 424 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and
Crl.RC.No. 1160 of 2024 Vs.
M/s. Rajhakalai Finance, passed in CrlA.No. 23 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 563 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and Crl.RC.No. 1176 of 2024 Vs.
M/s. Vaira Manikandan Finance,
passed in CrlA.No. 29 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 453 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and Crl.RC.No. 1147 of 2024 P.Jayalakshmi W/o. S.K.Shanmugam Vs M/s. Vaira Manikandan Finance, passed in CrlA.No. 21 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 166 of 2008 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and
Crl.RC.No. 1149 of 2024 Vs M/s. Sri Manikandan Finance, passed in CrlA.No. 30 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 413 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and Crl.RC.No. 1142 of 2024 ... Petitioner
Versus
A.Chellapillai, S/o. P.Alagesan passed in Crl.A.No. 33 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 454 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and
Crl.RC.No. 1143 of 2024
Versus
M/s. Vaira Manikandan Finance, passed in CrlA.No. 32 of 2022 by the Additional District Judge, FTC, 410 of 2007 by the Judicial Magistrate No.II, Mettur on 28.03.2022 and For Petitioner :
M/s.K.Priya (in all Petitions) For Respondent :
Mr. J.Ramakrishnan (in all Petitions) COMMON
ORDER
These revision petitions have been filed against the orders passed in various Criminal Appeals on the file of the Additional District Judge, FTC, Mettur, thereby confirming the orders of conviction and sentence
imposed by the Trial Court in various STCs on the file of the Judicial Magistrate No. II, Mettur, for the offences punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
2. The petitioners are the accused in the complaints lodged by the respondents, filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, alleging that, though the petitioners were registered under the TWAD Board Contract, they borrowed a substantial sum of money from the respondent-finance company and agreed to repay the said amount along with interest at the rate of 15% per annum. Accordingly, an agreement was entered into with the respondent-finance. In order to repay the said loan amount, the petitioners issued cheques. However, all the cheques were returned dishonoured for the reason 'Funds insufficient'. After issuing a statutory notice, the respondent filed the complaints.
3. On the side of the respondents, two witnesses were examined as PW1 and PW2, and 11 documents were marked as Exhibits P1 to P11. On the side of the petitioner, no witnesses were examined, and no documents were marked. Based on the oral and documentary evidence,
the trial Court convicted the petitioner and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of one year and three months. Aggrieved by the said conviction and sentence, the petitioners filed appeals before the Appellate Court, which were dismissed, confirming the trial Court's decision. Hence, the present revision petitions have been filed.
4. Pending the revision petitions, the petitioners and the respondents attempted to an amicable settlement. Consequently, all the matters were referred to mediation. However, as no settlement was reached during the mediation proceedings, the cases were referred back to this Court for further consideration.
5. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that, while the cases were pending before this Court, the petitioners paid a substantial portion of the cheque amount, which the respondent also accepted. In respect of remaining agreed amount, the petitioners have undertaken to pay the same within a period of six weeks from today. The respondent has also agreed to the above settlement terms.
6. In view of the above undertaking, the conviction and sentence imposed by the Trial Court and confirmed by the Appellate Court in all these cases are set aside, and these revision petitions are allowed, on the condition that the petitioners shall pay the remaining agreed amount in all the cases to the respondents on or before 04.08.2025. Failing which, the order of conviction and sentence imposed by the Trial Court and confirmed by the Appellate Court in all the cases shall stand automatically restored. The respondents are at liberty to proceed against the petitioners to enforce the order of conviction and sentence imposed by the trial Court and confirmed by the Appellate Court in all these revisions.
30.06.2025 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non speaking order ak G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J, ak To
1. The Additional District Judge (FTC), Mettur.
2. The Judicial Magistrate No. II, Mettur.
and 1142 to 1144, 1147,1149, 1154, 1160 and 1176 of 2024 30.06.2025