In Brief
The appellant was prosecuted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a cheque for Rs. 10 lakhs that was dishonoured due to insufficient funds and dormant account. During trial, he sought to send the cheque to a handwriting expert to prove his signatures were forged, but the trial court rejected this as an attempt to delay proceedings. At appeal, he again sought additional expert evidence and a Post Office officer to prove non-receipt of notice. The Supreme Court held that the accused had full opportunity to cross-examine the bank official and procure specimen signatures during trial but failed to do so. Statutory presumptions under the Negotiable Instruments Act favour the complainant, and the burden falls on the accused to rebut them through proper defence evidence. The court cannot assist the accused in collecting evidence. Appeal dismissed.
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