Accused : Sri.Rajanna.N.V. Age 45 years, S/o Venkatappa, Raju Chicken Centre, 15th Cross, 2 C.C.5887/2019 Bagalagunte, Bengaluru 560 073. { By Sri.C.Ramakrishnaiah Advocate } Offence complained : U/S. 138 of N.I. Act., Plea of accused : Pleaded not guilty Final Order : Accused is Convicted Date of Order : 02012023 JUDGMENT The present complaint is filed under section 2(d) read with section 200 of code of criminal procedure against the accused seeking to punish him for the offence punishable under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act ( in short referred as "N.I. Act"). 3 C.C.5887/2019 02. The factual matrix of the complaint is summarized as under; It is averred in the complaint that, the complainant and the accused are well known to each other from past several years. During the third week of July 2018, the accused had availed hand loan of Rs.3,50,000/ to improve the Chicken Business and agreed to repay the said amount within in six months. On completion of the said period, complainant has demanded to repay the aforesaid amount, at that time, towards his discharge of his liability, the accused has issued a cheque bearing No.790375 dated 23.01.2019 for a sum of Rs.3,50,000/ drawn on Karnataka Bank Limited, Hesaraghatta Branch, Bengaluru in favour of the complainant. The complainant has presented the said cheque for encashment through his banker, but it returned unpaid with banker's endorsement dated 01.02.2019 as "Funds Insufficient". On 07.02.2019, demand notice was issued to the accused by RPAD. The demand notice issued by RPAD has been duly served on 4 C.C.5887/2019 accused on 08.02.2019. In spite of service of legal notice, the accused neither has paid the cheque amount nor has given any reply. On these grounds, it is sought to convict the accused for the offence punishable under section 138 of NI Act and grant compensation as per section 357 of Code of Criminal Procedure. 03. On presentation of complaint, this court has verified the averments of complaint along with records and thereby had taken cognizance for the offence punishable under section 138 of NI Act. Thereby, as per the verdict of the Hon'ble Apex court reported in AIR 2014 SC 1983 in the case of Indian Bank Association and others V/s Union of India and others, the sworn statement of the complainant has been recorded as PW.1 and got exhibited five documents at Ex.P.01 to 05. Having been made out the primafacie case, the complaint has been registered in Register No. III and issued process against the accused. 5 C.C.5887/2019 04. In response to the summons, the accused put his appearance before the court through his counsel and filed bail application under section 436 of Code of Criminal Procedure, the accused has been enlarged on bail. The substance of accusation has been recorded and read over to the accused, he pleaded not guilty and intends to put forth his defense. On filing application by the complainant under section 145(1) of NI Act, sworn statement of the complainant has been treated as examination in chief. Similarly, on filing application under section 145(2) of NI Act, the accused has been permitted to cross examine PW.1. On completion of the trial of the complainant's side, the statement of accused under section 313 of Code of Criminal Procedure has been recorded and read over to the accused, the incriminating material found in the trial of the case of the complainant. The accused has denied the same in toto and the accused also wants to lead his d