A.Sangameswaran v. M/S Sakthimurugan Textiles

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Monday, the Sixth day of December Two Thousand Twenty One PRESENT The Hon`ble Mr Justice A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS PETITION No.12511 of 2021 IN CRL RC.896 of 2021 A.SANGAMESWARAN [ PETITIONER ] Vs M/S SAKTHIMURUGAN TEXTILES [ RESPONDENT ] BY ITS PARTNER C.K. JEYAKUMAR Petition praying that in the circumstances stated therein and in the affidavit filed therewith the High Court will be pleased to Suspend the Sentence set aside the Judgement dated 22.10.2021 passed in Crl.A.No.68/2018 on the file of the Principal Sessions Judge, Tiruppur confirming the Judgement dated 28.06.2018 passed in STC.No.1062/2009 by the Hon'ble Judicial Magistrate No.1 Tiruppur by allowing the present CRL RC.896 of 2021.

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 C.VASUDEVAN, Advocate for the petitioner the court made the following order:- This Criminal Miscellaneous Petition has been filed by the petitioner/accused, seeking suspension of sentence of imprisonment, imposed by the judgment dated 28.06.2018 in S.T.C.No.1062 of 2009 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Court No.1, Tiruppur, confirmed by the judgment dated 22.10.2021 in C.A.No.68 of 2018 on the file of the Principal Sessions Judge, Tiruppur.

2. This Court heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and also perused the materials placed on record.

3. In and by both the impugned judgments, for non-payment of the cheque amount in question, viz., Rs.7,21,497.50/- the petitioner/accused was convicted and sentenced for the offence under

Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, to undergo one year Rigorous Imprisonment and to pay compensation of RS.7,21,497.50/- to the respondent/complainant and in default to pay, to undergo two months simple imprisonment.

4. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner/accused, there are arguable points available in the Criminal Revision Case, which is not likely to be taken for final hearing in the near future and the petitioner/accused has got a fair chance of succeeding in the Criminal Revision Case and hence, the substantive sentence imposed against the Petitioner/Accused may be suspended.

5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also considering 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 on certain conditions. Accordingly, till the disposal of the Criminal Revision Case, suspension of sentence and bail are granted on the following conditions:

(a) The petitioner/Accused shall deposit 50% of the cheque amount (Rs.7,21,497.50/-), namely, Rs.3,60,748/- (Rupees Three Lakhs Sixty Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Eight only) before the Trial Court, within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and on such deposit being made, the Trial Court shall redeposit the said amount in a fixed deposit account in any nationalized bank, so that the amount accrues interest. The disbursal of this amount shall be decided at the culminnation of the Criminal Revision Case. 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, Court No.1, Tiruppur.

(b) The petitioner/accused and the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impressions in the surety bonds and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar Cards or Bank Pass Books to ensure their identities.

(c) The petitioner shall appear before the Trial Court on the first working day of every English Calendar month at 10.30 a.m., until the disposal of the revision petition and if he is not able to appear before the Trial Court on any day, he shall make arrangements to file an application under Section 317 Cr.P.C and shall appear before the Trial Court on any other day in lieu of the date of his absence, as directed by the Trial Court.

(d) 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.

6. This Criminal Miscellaneous Petition stands ordered accordingly.

7. Notice to the respondent returnable by three weeks. Private notice is also permitted. Post the matter after three weeks for reporting compliance.

-sd/- 06/12/2021 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 PRINCIPAL SESSIONS JUDGE, TIRUPPUR.

2 THE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, NO.I, TIRUPPUR.

3 THE CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE TIRUPPUR [FOR INFORMATION].

C.C. to M/S C.VASUDEVAN Advocate on payment of necessary charges Order in CRL MP.12511/2021 in CRL RC.896/2021 Date :06/12/2021 From 7.2.2001 the Registry is issuing certified copies of the BAIL/Anti.BAIL Orders in this format JPA 06/12/2021