S. 489-F--Dishonoured of cheque--Bail after arrest, grant of--As per allegation in FIR, complainant alleged that petitioner borrowed an amount of Rs. 1,10,00,000/- from complainant for two months; however, she failed to pay ............

 PLJ 2024 Cr.C. (Note) 264

[Lahore High Court, Lahore]

Present: Miss Aalia Neelum, C.J.

ZOBIA RAFIQUE--Petitioner

versus

STATE etc.--Respondents

Crl. Misc. No. 24323-B of 2024, decided on 18.7.2024.

Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (V of 1898)--

----S. 497--Pakistan Penal Code, (XLV of 1860), S. 489-F--Dishonoured of cheque--Bail after arrest, grant of--As per allegation in FIR, complainant alleged that petitioner borrowed an amount of Rs. 1,10,00,000/- from complainant for two months; however, she failed to pay it back--The petitioner denied her signature on alleged cheque--The reason for dishonor of cheque is that drawer signature is different, and there are insufficient funds, which supports version of petitioner--The question of whether cheque has been issued dishonestly would be seen by learned trial Court--The petitioner was arrested on 20.03.2024--The case investigation is complete, and petitioner’s person is no longer required to conduct further investigation--Bail cannot be withheld as punishment in advance--The maximum sentence for commission of an offence punishable under Section 489-F, PPC is three years, and same does not fall within prohibitory clause of Section 497, Cr.P.C.--Bail allowed. [Para 3] A & B

PLD 1995 SC 34.

Mian Izhar Ahmad, Advocate for Petitioner.

Mr. Muhammad Akhlaq, DPG for State.

Ms. Zunaira, Advocate for Complainant.

Date of hearing: 18.7.2024.

Order

The petitioner seeks post-arrest bail in case FIR No. 199-2024, dated 16.03.2024, registered under Section 489-F, PPC, at Police Station, Rail Bazar, District Faisalabad.

2.       Arguments heard. Record perused.

3.       In the instant case, the complainant alleged that he has a long-standing relationship with the petitioner and her husband. They took a loan of Rs. 1,10,00,000/- based on a long-standing relationship in the presence of the witnesses for two months, and the petitioner issued a cheque dated 02.02.2024 in favour of the complainant. The alleged cheque was dishonored on its presentation on 14.03.2024, whereas the matter was reported to the police on 16.3.2024, with a delay of two days, for which the complainant has rendered no justifiable explanation. As per the allegation in the FIR, the complainant alleged that the petitioner borrowed an amount of Rs. 1,10,00,000/- from the complainant for two months; however, she failed to pay it back. The petitioner denied her signature on the alleged cheque. The reason for the dishonor of the cheque is that the drawer signature is different, and there are insufficient funds, which supports the version of the petitioner. The question of whether the cheque has been issued dishonestly would be seen by the learned trial Court. The petitioner was arrested on 20.03.2024. The case investigation is complete, and the petitioner’s person is no longer required to conduct further investigation--Bail cannot be withheld as punishment in advance. The maximum sentence for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 489-F, PPC is three years, and the same does not fall within the prohibitory clause of Section 497, Cr.P.C. In the case of “Tariq Bashir and five others v. The State” (PLD 1995 SC 34), it is held that a, grant of bail in such cases is a rule, and refusal thereof is an exception. The petitioner has been behind bars since 20.03.2024, and her further incarceration in jail for an indefinite period would not serve any useful purpose.

4.       For the above reasons, the instant petition is accepted. The petitioner is admitted to post-arrest bail subject to furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned trial Court.

(A.A.K.)          Bail allowed