• Cheque bounce and non-compliance in payments - laws pertaining to cheque bounce

Hello Team,

In fact,I had Transfered INR 4,50,000 on account of Loan to my aquitance,he had in fact agreed to pay Rs 12,500 as a part of Bank Emi per bank norms, In fact borrowed funds from bank to cater to his requirement.

Now he is unable to pay the monthly installments ,and is not heading to any kind of verbal advises.

He has handed over the cheque leaves ,how should I recover the money? Through bank transfer it is Rs 3 lakh and the non payment of bank Emis has amounted to Rs 4.5 lakhs.

When I handed over/Transfered the money to his account he was employed - Part of Infosys but now he is not he is unemployed.He has his own house at Nehru Nagar Bangalore. The portion of the house which he stays is his father's currently acquired by the way of will .



How should I recover the money?Will I present the cheque,and what are the conditions post that ?
Asked 6 years ago in Criminal Law
Religion: Hindu

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12 Answers

Yes you must fill the cheque and present the same before the bank.

as and when the same is dishonored send a legal notice to him and thereafter file a case after 30 days of the receipt of the legal notice . 

Regards  

Anilesh Tewari
Advocate, New Delhi
18103 Answers
377 Consultations

you can file a summary suit under Order 37 of CPC

You can also fill the cheque details and deposit them. On being returned unpaid, you can file section 138 Negotiable Instruments Act, complaint against him in the Magistrate Court

thus you have both civil as well as criminal remedy against the defaulter

Yusuf Rampurawala
Advocate, Mumbai
7899 Answers
79 Consultations

You can file case bounce case against him through negotiable instruments Act.

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34515 Answers
249 Consultations

Is there a agreement of loan.?

Mention the amount as agreed by you and your acquaintance and give it for presentation in your account. It will be bounced and you must send notice to him and file a cheque bounce case against him. 

Jamal Sait
Advocate, Bangalore
168 Answers
2 Consultations

1. If he has given your cheques then present those for honour to the bank. If those cheuqes got dishonoured you can file case under 138 of NI Act.

2. You can add charge of cheating as well in the criminal case.

3. in alternative you can file civil suit for recovery as well.

4. Ownership of house has not much relevance in it.

5. You can take cheque of his father as well as if those get dishonoured his father can also be prosecuted.

6. You will have to keep patience as those cases will take time.

Devajyoti Barman
Advocate, Kolkata
23653 Answers
537 Consultations

If his dad has not taken any loan from you he will not be prosecuted. If he has to take bail he has to pay 20 percent of cheque amount in court. Litigation can take time

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34515 Answers
249 Consultations

You can present the cheque for loan amount and on dishonour of cheque take legal proceedings under section 138 NI 

 

2) you can also file summary suit under order XXXVII of code of civil procedure to recover Rs 4.5 lakhs with interest 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99782 Answers
8145 Consultations

 

If cheque is dishonoured on presentation then issue legal notice under section 138 NI 

 

2) if no payment is made within 15 days of receipt of notice file complaint for dishonour of cheque within period of one month 

 

3) on conviction he would be sentenced to imprisonment 


Cheque bouncing cases take around 6 years to be disposed of 

 

if father issues cheque and it is dishonoured file complaint against him too 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99782 Answers
8145 Consultations

if the cheque is bounced due to insufficiency of funds then you shall send him a legal notice within a period of 30 days from the date of bouncing of cheque.
if that period lapses you would file a criminal complaint case and civil case for the recovery of the amount. 

Mohammed Mujeeb
Advocate, Hyderabad
19325 Answers
32 Consultations

Dear Sir,

Law now changed and you are entitled for 20% of cheque amount soon you file cheque bounce case. You may see the following FAQs.

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Cheque bounce FAQs Negotiable Instruments Act

1A. Amended Cheque Bounce Provisions- 143A & 148…what is it?

Ans:  Section 143A- It empowers the Court to order the drawer of the cheque to pay Interim Compensation  - 20% - Without depositing this amount the accused cannot defend the case.

Section 148 – It empowers the Appellate Court to order payment pending the appeal against conviction

The Appellate Court may order the appellant to deposit an amount which shall be a minimum of 20% of the fine or compensation awarded by the trial Court.

This amount shall be in addition to the amount already paid by the appellant under Section 143A.

It received the assent of the President and was notified in the Official Gazette on 02.08.2018

  1. In which court do I need to file the complaint case under Section 138 N.I. Act in case drawer did not pay after receiving notice? 

    A complaint case under Section 138 N.I. Act can be filed in any competent court in whose jurisdiction any of the following acts have occurred:
    a) Place of drawing of the cheque,
    b) Address of bank where cheque was presented (holders bank address),
    c) Address of bank where cheque is payable (drawers bank address)
    d) Place from where notice was received by drawer of cheque

    a. It is possible that each of these four acts could have occurred at different localities. The complainant can choose any one the above places to determine jurisdiction of court where they wish to file complaint.

    2. What can I do if it has been more than 30 days since I received information of dishonour of cheque?

    If the cheque is still valid i.e. 3 months (currently) have not passed from the date of its issue, you can represent the cheque again to your banker as there is no restriction regarding the number of times a cheque can be presented and that every subsequent representation and dishonour gives rise to fresh cause of action for filing complaint. It may be noted that once a notice for payment is given then the holder must file a complaint under Section 138 N.I. Act within 30 days from expiry of notice period as a fresh cause of action will not arise if the cheque is presented again and it is dishonoured and failure to file complaint will lead to loss of remedy available under Section 138 N.I. Act.

    3. How long after notice has been served can I file a case against the drawer?

    After giving notice you need to file a complaint case against drawer under Section 138 N.I. Act within 30 days from the expiry of notice period i.e. 15 days. In other words you need to file complaint case against drawer within 45 days (15+30) from the date of issue of notice. Failure to do so will lead to loss of remedy under Section 138 N.I. Act; however, you can file a summary suit for recovery of money and initiate criminal proceedings under Section 420 I.P.C. within 3 years from date of issue of cheque.

    4. What can I do if I do not have the drawer's address?
    You need the address of the drawer of cheque to issue notice as contemplated under provisions of N.I. Act; also the address is necessary if you wish to avail other legal remedies available to you. You can send the notice to the last known address. In case the address of the drawer has changed and the drawer has not left a forwarding address and the notice is returned with the noting that addressee is not available at the address or addressee has left without leaving a forwarding address then you need to file a complaint case after 15 days (notice period) of receipt of such information or returned notice and within 30 days from expiry of notice period. Failure to do so will lead to loss of remedy under Section 138 N.I. Act; however, you can file a summary suit for recovery of money and initiate criminal proceedings under Section 420 I.P.C. within 3 years from date of issue of cheque

    5. What should I do if the notice was returned and could not be served to the drawer?

    When a notice is returned to the sender as unclaimed or with the noting that addressee is not available at the address or addressee has left without leaving a forwarding address then the date of receipt of such information or returned notice would be the commencing date for the notice period of 15 days. Complaint case under Section 138 N.I. Act must be filed within 30 days from expiry of notice period. Such reckoning would be without prejudice to the right of the drawer of the cheque to show that he had no knowledge that the notice was brought to his address or previous address.

    6. Can Mohan Law Chambers assist in drafting of legal notice as required by Section 138 of N.I. Act.?

    Yes, Mohan law Chambers offers assistance in drafting of legal notice as required by Section 138 of N.I. Act.

    7. How long after receiving information of dishonour of cheque do I have to serve notice to the drawer?

    You need to serve a legal notice to drawer of cheque demanding payment of cheque amount within 30 days of the receipt of information from your banker regarding dishonour of cheque under Section 138 N.I. Act.

    8. What if the cheque was given for a reason other than to discharge a legally enforceable debt or other liability?

    In cases where cheque was given for a reason other than to discharge a legally enforceable debt or other liability, the provisions of Section 138 N.I. Act are not applicable e.g. Cheque given as Gift, in charity, donation etc.

    9. Can a cheque issued in security attract offence under Section 138 N.I. Act?

    With respect to the dishonour of cheques given as security, legal position is not very clear. It is subject to presumption and proof thereof that may be given by either party in support of their case. High Court of Delhi in the case of M/s Datt Enterprises ltd. vs. V.K.Dua held that the security cheque does not attract the provisions of Section 138 N.I. Act., if cheques were given as a security cheque as per past practice and pending reconciliation of accounts and not towards discharge of any liability.

    10. What is a legally enforceable debt or other liability?

    Legally enforceable debt or other liability should be such which is contracted in accordance with law and which is not opposed to public policy viz., wagering contracts, debt obtained for running brothel or gambling house etc.

    11. What is Section 138 N.I. Act and why is remedy available under it preferable to remedy available under other laws?

    a. Section 138 N.I. Act was made to provide an additional criminal remedy over and above the civil remedies available; to provide a speedy and effective remedy to holder of dishonoured cheque.
    b. Summary suit for recovery of money takes time (approximately 3 to 5 years) and criminal proceedings under Section 420 I.P.C. does not provide any provision for recovery of money and is meant only for prosecution of the drawer of the cheque who entertains dishonest intention to cheat. 

    12. What is a summary suit for recovery of money?

 
Summary suit is a civil legal proceeding initiated for recovery of money due under any written agreement, cheque etc. These proceedings are different from normal recovery suit, as here the liability to prove that petitioner is not liable to recover any amount is on defendant for which he needs to obtain leave to defend from the court.

13. What is the validity of the cheque in day to day business?

The current validity of cheques is 6 months. However, please note that from April 1, 2012. The validity will change to three months as per recent directive of RBI (under Sec. 35A, Banking Regulation Act, 1949)

14. What can I do if a cheque given to me has been dishonoured?

a. The holder of a cheque that has been dishonoured can seek remedy in the following manner:
i) Action under Section 138 Negotiable Instruments Act (N.I. Act): Give notice under within 30 days of receipt of information of dishonour from the bank. In case of non- payment by the drawer within the notice period of 15 days, then the holder must institute a complaint case for prosecuting drawer within 30 days of expiry of notice period.

ii) Civil Action as Summary Suit: Issue notice within 3 years from issue date of cheque and institute a summary suit for recovery of cheque amount along with interest and legal expenses. The notice can also be used while filing summary suit for recovery of money.

iii) Criminal Action: Initiate criminal proceedings by filing complaint under Section 420 Indian Penal Code (I.P.C.) within 3 years from issue date of cheque. Please note that there is no provision for recovery of money under Section 420 I.P.C. and this section is meant only for prosecution of the drawer of the cheque when dishonest intent to cheat in inferred.

15. What documents / evidences do I need at the time of filing complaint case under Section 138 N.I. Act?

You will need at the minimum, the following:
a) Proof of service of notice - receipt of postal department / courier
b) Copy of notice
c) Cheque in original

16. What can I do if I do not file a complaint within 30 days from expiry of notice period?
If you have not filed a complaint case within 30 days after expiry of notice period, you can file a summary suit for recovery of money and initiate criminal proceedings under Section 420 I.P.C. within 3 years from the date of issue of cheque.

17. What can I do if it has been more than 30 days since I received information of dishonour of cheque and 6 months has passed from the date of issue of cheque?

a. Other remedies are also available to recover the cheque amount. You can file a summary suit for recovery of money and initiate criminal proceedings under Section 420 I.P.C. within 3 years from date of issue of cheque. In case the cheque was never presented during its validity period then a summary suit is the only available remedy for recovery of money. 

(Notice can be given to drawer up to 3 years from date of issue of cheque for instituting a summary suit for recovery of money. Criminal proceedings for prosecution of drawer can also be instituted within 3 years from date of issue of cheque under Section 420 I.P.C.)

18. The drawer is asking me to settle the claim at a reduced value. What should I do?

Its up to you to settle the claim at a reduced value as the same will save your precious time, as well as legal hassle. Now-a-days courts are also encouraging amicable settlement between the parties. However, if you settle the dishonoured cheque amount at a reduced value, you will lose all remedies available under law.

19. What remedy do I have if the drawer delays in settling after conviction?

In a recent 2010 judgement, Supreme Court has laid strict rules to deal with such delaying tactics. Delay in settling cheques bounced will cost up to 20% of the cheque amount post-conviction. This is detailed as: 10% at District Court level; 15% at the High Court level; and up to 20% at the Supreme Court level. For e.g., Defaulter going for settlement will have to pay 10% of the cheque amount to avoid going to the jail.

20. Can I recover interest and legal expenses from the drawer of the dishonoured cheque?

Yes, you can recover interest and legal expenses from the drawer of the dishonoured cheque in a summary suit for recovery of money, but not in the proceedings initiated under Section 138 N.I. Act. However, under Section 138 N.I. Act the award maybe higher than the cheque amount.

21. What should I do if the drawer does not make payment upon receipt of notice?
You can adopt either or any of the remedies available to you:

a) Can file a criminal complaint against drawer of cheque under Section 138 of N.I. Act.

b) Can file a summary suit for recovery of money, interest and legal expenses.

c) Can file a criminal complaint against drawer of cheque under Section 420 of I.P.C. Please note that there is no provision for recovery of money under Section 420 I.P.C. and this section is meant only for prosecution of the drawer of the cheque.

In case a person has filed suit for recovery, then he is not precluded from filing a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code. The pendency of criminal matters would not be an impediment to proceeding with the civil suits.

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Kishan Dutt Kalaskar
Advocate, Bangalore
6230 Answers
499 Consultations

You may present the cheque to the bank and  if the cheque is returned without being honored, you may first issue a legal demand notice and after that you may initiate cheque bounce a case as per law.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89984 Answers
2492 Consultations

If his father is also a party to this loan then you can implicate him in this but if he is no where connected to this scam, you may better approach him itself.

 

In cheque bounce case the court would ask the accused to deposit an amount with the court.

The time taken for disposal of the case cannot be predicted.

 

 

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89984 Answers
2492 Consultations

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