IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 2546 OF 2014
[Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 6033 of 2008
K.K. Singhal & Ors. …Appellants
:Versus:
Steel Strips Ltd. …Respondent
This appeal is directed against an order passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal Misc. No.35963-M of 2001, whereby the High Court dismissed the application filed by the appellants under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for quashing the complaint filed under Sections 417, 418 and 420 read with Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and the summoning order dated 14.6.2001 passed by the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Chandigarh .The basis of the filing of the application relates to issuance of 33 cheques by the appellants during the course of its business aggregating to Rs.2,40,64,022.19 paise in consideration of the payment against steel billets and rolled products supplied to them by the complainant/respondent. On presentation, all the cheques were dishonoured on different dates culminating in lodging of 26 complaints against the appellants for the commission of offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Upon notice, the appellants filed an application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before the High Court for quashing the said complaints. The appellants on 22.7.1998 requested the complainant that he had material worth Rs. 1 crore for disposal in the shape of forging of steel flanges which he would dispose of and would make the payment of the amount to the complainant and requested the complainant to find out a customer. At there quest of the complainant, M/s. Uma Shanker Khandelwal and Company Limited, New Delhi agreed to purchase the material from the appellants. The appellants agreed to pay the entire consideration to the respondent and in turn directed the said company to pay the consideration directly to the complainant against all the deliveries. The appellants further promised to clear the balance outstanding by arranging funds from its source. Relying upon such allurement and inducement of the appellants, the respondent agreed to withdraw all the complaints except one. It appears as per promise, the appellants supplied flanges to said M/s. Uma Shanker Khandelwal and Company for an amount of Rs.31,22,524/- only and directed that the amount be paid directly to the respondent….read more