Section 144.
Presumption as to documents in certain cases.-
Where any document-
(i) is produced by
any person under this Act or any other law for the time being in force; or
(ii) has been seized
from the custody or control of any person under this Act or any other law for
the time being in force; or
(iii) has been
received from any place outside India in the course of any proceedings under
this Act or any other law for the time being in force, and such document is
tendered by the prosecution in evidence against him or any other person who is
tried jointly with him, the court shall-
(a) unless the
contrary is proved by such person, presume-
(i) the truth of the
contents of such document;
(ii) that the
signature and every other part of such document which purports to be in the
handwriting of any particular person or which the court may reasonably assume
to have been signed by, or to be in the handwriting of, any particular person,
is in that person's handwriting, and in the case of a document executed or
attested, that it was executed or attested by the person by whom it purports to
have been so executed or attested;
(b) admit the
document in evidence notwithstanding that it is not duly stamped, if such
document is otherwise admissible in evidence.
