1.00. RULE. Mr.Mukesh Patel, learned advocate waives the service of notice of rule on behalf of the respondent No.1 – original accused and Ms.Chetna Shah, learned Additional Public Prosecutor waives the service of notice of rule on behalf of the respondent No.2 – State. 2.00. In the facts and circumstances of the case and with the consent of the learned advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties, present Criminal Misc.Application is taken up for final hearing today.
3.00. Facts leading to the present proceedings are as under :-
3.01. That the respondent No.1 – original accused has been convicted for the offence punishable under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act by the learned trial court in two different criminal complaints and cheque amount is Rs.11,96,000/- (Rupees Eleven Lacs Ninety Six Thousand). The Judgement and Order passed by the learned trial court convicting the original accused has been confirmed by the learned appellate court. Being aggrieved by and dissatisfied with the Judgement and Order of conviction and sentence passed by the learned trial court confirmed by the learned appellate court, respondent No.1 – original accused has preferred Criminal Revision Application Nos. 318 & 320 of 2010.
3.02. This Court passed the following order in Criminal Revision Application No. 318 of 2010 on 3/8/2010 :-
“Learned counsel for the applicant stated that without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the applicant, he would explore the possibility of settlement of dispute with the original complainant by making payment of sizable amount towards the cheque in question. To explore the possibility of settlement, as a last chance S.O. to 10th August, 2010.”
3.03. Thereafter, Criminal Revision Application Nos.318 and 320 of 2010 as well as Criminal Misc.Application No.6180 of 2010 in Criminal Revision Application No.320 of 2010 came up for hearing before the learned Single Judge on 16/8/2010 and following order came to be passed :-
“Common Order in Cr.R.A. Nos. 318 & 320 of 2010
1. Learned Advocates for the parties, submitted that there has been a broad settlement between the petitioner-accused, and respondent No.2- original complainant, in a cheque bouncing case. The petitioner is facing concurrent conviction recorded by the two Courts below. The undertaking filed by the petitioner to repay the agreed amount in installments, is placed on record.
2. RULE. Learned APP waives service of notice of rule on behalf of respondent No.1-State.
3. The impugned orders dated 07.05.2010, passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge (F.T.C. No.4), Ahmedabad(Rural) in Criminal Revision Application No. 65 of 2009 and Criminal Appeal No. 22 of 2009, and the order dated 20.05.2009, passed in Criminal Case No.7670 of 2005, by the learned 5th Judicial Magistrate First Class, Ahmedabad(Rural), ARE STAYED.
Order in Cr.M.A. 6180 of 2010:
3. It is provided that the petitioner shall CONTINUE to be on BAIL on the same conditions, as he was, during the pendency of the appeal. However, he shall execute FRESH BONDS.
4. This application is disposed of, accordingly.
5. In case, the petitioner fails to repay the amount, as undertaken by him or, if, the petitioner finally pays the entire amount, it shall be open for either side to file a note for listing revision applications, for disposal.”
3.04. It appears that thereafter, again both the aforesaid Criminal Revision Applications came up for hearing before the learned Single Judge of this Court on 8/10/2010 and this Court passed the order on 8/10/2010 and bail in favour of the accused came to be cancelled / rescinded. This Court passed the following order on 8/10/2010 :-
“1. Petitioner is facing conviction for the offence Punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881('The Act' for short). Two Courts below have held him guilty and have awarded sentence as well as compensation.
2. On 16.08.2010, relying on the undertaking given by the petitioner, agreeing to repay the outstanding amount in installments, he was ordered to be continued on BAIL, on the same terms, as he was enjoying during the pendency of the appeal. In the bail application, bearing Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 6180 of 2010, it was clarified that in case the petitioner fails to repay the amount, as undertaken by him, or, if the petitioner finally pays the entire amount, it shall be open to either side to file a note, to list the revision applications, for disposal.
3. On the premises that the petitioner, though,
have paid the first installment, discontinued further payments, the original complainant filed Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 11041 of 2010, seeking cancellation of the bail of the petitioner. Said application came to be disposed on 24.09.2010.
4. Revision applications were ordered to be placed on the Board, for hearing on 08.10.2010, clarifying that, if by that date and till then the installments as fallen due, as promised by the accused, are not paid, I shall consider the application for cancellation of bail. Admittedly, no further amount has been paid.
5. Thus, the original accused, who has to pay huge amount to the tune of lacs of rupees and who has been found guilty by the two Courts below, has not acted as per the undertaking given to this Court, which was the basis for granting him bail. Even after the fact that the above default was brought to my notice, I had given further time to enable the accused to deposit any further amount. However, no further amount has been deposited. His learned counsel, helplessly, stated that the accused is not adhering to his promise. He has nothing further to state. On 24.09.2010 also, the accused was put to notice that if he fails to comply with the undertaking filed by him before this Court, I shall consider the application for cancellation of bail.
6. Under the circumstances, order dated 16.08.2010, passed in Criminal Miscellaneous Application No. 6180 of 2010, granting bail to the accused stand RESCINDED. In other words, the order of BAIL of the accused stand, CANCELED.
7. Revision applications be placed for FINAL
HEARING on 9TH NOVEMBER, 2010. Direct service is permitted.”
3.05. It appears that thereafter both the Criminal Revision Applications were heard on 9/11/2010 and were adjourned so as to enable the learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner to get necessary instructions from his client whether any installment/amount has been subsequently paid or not. Before that, one Criminal Misc.Application No. 11041 of 2010 in Criminal Revision Application No.318 of 2010 was filed by the respondent – original complainant submitting that the petitioner herein has not paid the amount as per his earlier undertaking. Therefore, this Court adjourned the matter on 8/12/2010 with a specific observation that if by that day and till then the installments as fallen due and as promised by the respondents in that application - petitioner herein are not paid, the court will consider cancelling his bail.
3.06. Thereafter, both these Criminal Revision Applications were adjourned time and again and it is reported that the original accused has failed to repay the cheque amount as per his earlier undertaking and despite the installments granted by this Court.
3.07. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, and considering the earlier order passed by this Court dtd.30/12/2010, this Court passed an order to cancel the bail granted in favour of the respondent No.1 herein – original accused in the aforesaid two Criminal Revision Applications and even ad-interim stay granted earlier staying the further execution, operation and implementation of the Judgement and Orders passed by both the courts below convicting the accused for the offence punishable under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, came to be vacated.
3.08. It appears that thereafter despite the fact that the bail came to be cancelled by this Court as far as back in the month of December, 2010, respondent No.1 herein – original accused did not surrender and absconded for approximately one year and four months and he came to be arrested on 12/4/2012 and immediately he preferred Criminal Misc.Application No. 5796 of 2012 in Criminal Revision Application No. 318 of 2010 purported to be filed under section 389 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, requesting to release him on bail and without even serving a copy of the said application upon the learned advocate appearing on behalf of the original complainant – respondent in the Criminal Misc.Application No.5796 of 2012 in Criminal Revision Application No. 318 of 2010, he has been released on bail pursuant to the order passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court dtd.27/4/2012, on the ground that revision is arising out of short sentence.
3.09. That thereafter present application has been filed by the original complainant for cancellation of the bail on the ground that the original accused has obtained order in Criminal Misc.Application No. 5796 of 2012 without even serving copy upon the original complainant and/or his advocate and that the original accused has not complied with the earlier undertaking till date and has not deposited the entire amount, as undertaken by him.
3.10. That the respondent No.1 herein – original accused / convict personally remained present before this Court on 22/6/2012 and requested through his advocate for time to pay some amount pursuant to the undertaking given by him before this Court and stated that within a period of three weeks, he shall deposit Rs.1.50 Lacs with the registry of this Court and therefore, the matter was adjourned to 18/7/2012.
3.11. It is reported that the original accused has deposited Rs.1.50 Lacs on 20/7/2012. That thereafter the matter came up for bearing before this Court on 24/8/2012 and Mr.Mukesh Patel, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent No.1 herein – original accused stated at the bar under the instructions from his client that the original accused shall deposit the entire amount as required to be deposited pursuant to his earlier undertaking on or before 30/8/2012 and consequently, this Court adjourned the matter to today i.e. on 30/8/2012, by observing that the original accused to deposit the entire amount (balance amount) required to be deposited as per his earlier undertaking on or before 30/8/2012 failing which appropriate order cancelling the bail of the accused shall be passed.
4.00. That thereafter the matter has been placed on board today and it is reported that the respondent No.1 herein – original accused has not complied with his earlier statement recorded in the order dtd.24/8/2012 and has not deposited the entire amount (balance amount) required to be deposited by him as per his earlier undertaking.
5.00. Mr.Mukesh Patel, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent No.1 herein – original accused has stated at the bar that he has specifically instructed and informed his client to comply with his earlier statement and order passed by this Court and deposit the entire amount (balance amount), failing which he will have to face the consequences of cancellation of hail granted in his favour, still his client is giving false promises on phone and has not deposited the amount.
Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, this Court is required to consider the present proceedings and cancellation of the bail granted in favour of the original accused.
6.00. Having heard Mr.Viral Pandya, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the original complainant and Mr.Mukesh Patel, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the original accused and Ms.Chetna Shah, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent State and considering the facts and circumstances, narrated hereinabove, it appears that the respondent No.1 herein – original accused has been convicted in two different cases by the learned trial court for the offence under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and the same have been confirmed by the learned appellate court. That at the time of hearing of the Revision Application, the learned Single shown indulgence and stayed further execution, operation and implementation of the judgement and orders passed by both the courts below convicting the respondent No.1 herein – original accused for the offence under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and directed to release him on bail considering the undertaking given by the respondent No.1 herein – original accused that he shall deposit the entire cheque amount in installments, as stated in the Undertaking.
6.01. That despite the undertaking, respondent No.1 herein – original accused did not deposit the amount as per the undertaking and therefore, the learned Single Judge had as such, after giving sufficient opportunities, was constrained to pass an order to cancel the bail granted earlier. That thereafter number of opportunities were given by this Court and still amount as per the Undertaking was not deposited by the respondent No.1 – original accused and therefore, this Court was again constrained to pass order dtd.13/12/2010 to cancel the bail and vacated the ad-interim relief granted earlier.
6.02. It appears that thereafter despite the fact that bail was cancelled in the month of December, 2010, respondent No.1 – original accused absconded for more than one year and four months and did not surrender and thereafter came to be arrested on 12/4/2012 and thereafter applied for bail before this Court by submitting Criminal Misc.Application No.5796 of 2012 in Criminal Revision Application No.318 of 2010, purported to be filed under section 389 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which as such, was not maintainable. Be that may, even the learned advocate for the original accused No.2 did not serve copy of the aforesaid application upon the original complainant though he was joined as party respondent No.2 in the said application and got order of bail. Thus, the respondent No.1 – original accused and/or his advocate has obtained order of bail without even serving the copy of the said application upon the learned advocate appearing on behalf of the original complainant.
6.03. When a pointed question was asked to Mr.Mukesh Patel, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent No.1 that whether he was required to serve copy of the application for bail upon the original complainant or not, he has fairly submitted that he was required to serve a copy of the bail application to the learned advocate appearing on behalf of the original complainant and in fact he was also required to be heard before relasing the original accused on bail.
6.04. Under the circumstances, when earlier twice bail was cancelled by this Court by this Court in the very proceedings and he has got subsequently bail after absconding one year and four months and that too without serving copy of the bail application upon the learned advocate appearing on behalf of the original complainant – original complainant and considering the fact that despite the sufficient opportunities given to the respondent No.1 – original accused to deposit the entire amount / balance amount, which he is required to deposit as per his own undertaking and it appears that the respondent No.1 – original accused is taking the court proceedings granted and lightly, present application deserves to be allowed and the bail granted to the respondent No.1 – original accused deserves to be cancelled.
6.05. As stated hereinabove, even this Court in the present proceedings also has granted sufficient time to the respondent No.1 – original accused to deposit the entire amount / balance amount as per his own undertaking and in fact he also promised, but thereafter has not deposit the entire amount / balance amount as per his own undertaking and agreed earlier. Not only that he even did not remain present before this Court though as per the earlier order passed by this Court he was required to remain personally present.
6.06. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, Criminal Misc.Application No. 6138 of 2010 is allowed and bail granted to the respondent No.1 – original accused named JOGESHKUMAR KRISHNAKUMAR RAVAL in Criminal Misc. Application No.5797 of 2010 in Criminal Revision Application No.318 of of 2010 (in connection connection with the Judgement and Order of conviction passed by the learned 5th Additional Senior Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Ahmedabad (Rural) Mirzapur at Ahmedabad in Criminal Case No. 7670 of 2005 dtd.20/5/2009, confirmed by the learned Additional Additional Sessions Judge, FTC No.4, Ahmedabad Rural in Criminal Appeal No.22 of 2009 dtd.7/5/2010), is hereby cancelled. Consequently, respondent No.1 – original accused named JOGESHKUMAR KRISHNAKUMAR RAVAL is hereby directed to surrender forthwith, failing which he shall be arrested.
Rule is made absolute accordingly.
rafik Sd/-
[M.R. SHAH, J.]