Mo. Arif v. Ashish Joshi
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 – S.138 – Acquittal appeal under S.378(4) Cr.P.C
Case brief
What is this about?
High Court of Chhattisgarh, Bilaspur — ACQA No. 4 of 2024, decided 06.05.2025 (neutral citation 2025:CGHC:20751; NAFR) — Deepak Kumar Tiwari, J. — Acquittal under S.138 NI Act upheld in appeal under S.378(4) CrPC; cheque of Rs.24,62,200/- linked to agreement Ex.P-5 (outright sale for Rs.7,50,000/- dated 15.02.2011); legally enforceable debt not clearly established, transaction found dubious; trial court's plausible view not disturbed; appeal dismissed at motion stage; Raja Sharma for appellant/complainant Mo. Arif; respondent/accused Ashish Joshi.
What did the court decide?
The agreement (Ex.P-5) evidenced an outright sale executed for consideration of Rs.7,50,000/- on 15.02.2011; the complainant was silent about the further terms of the agreement and did not state in what manner the accused breached it; consequently, even if any legally enforceable right accrued under the agreement, it was not clearly established, and the whole transaction itself appeared to be dubious.