Cheque Bounce is a criminal offence and is
punishable for a term not exceeding two (2) years or fine which may extend to
twice of the cheque bounce amount or with both.
However, there are many circumstances in which
drawee or receiver of cheque can file the false case to create pressure on the
drawer or issuer of cheque to fulfill his or her ulterior motives.
However, the drawer or issuer of cheque can defend
himself or herself by taking some important steps as mentioned below.
1. Immediately stop the payment via your bank and
file a police complaint if someone can misuse your cheque or have misused the
same. In complaint, you can mention in brief about the circumstances when and
why the said cheque was given to that person.
2. If someone has taken your cheque forcefully then
you must stop the payment first via your bank and can make a complaint about
the same incidence in your nearest police station immediately.
"Filing the complaint in the nearest police
station is most important step to strengthen your case in the court that you
are not guilty."
3. If someone is asking for your cheque as
security, then you must sign an agreement in which it can be clearly stated
that the cheque under security shall not be used for any purpose whatsoever in
nature, if drawer or issuer makes the payment on time. Even, drawee or receiver
will return the said cheque to drawer or issuer if payment is made on time.
If the drawee or receiver still misuses the cheque
and send you the legal notice then you will receive the said notice and will
mention all the facts in detail. In the reply to said legal notice, you will
clearly mention that payment has been already made and shall advise drawee or
receiver to return the cheque immediately, otherwise a strict legal action can
be taken against this unlawful act.
4. Always receive the summon sent by court and you
must appear in the court on a fixed date; otherwise warrant can be issued
against you.
5. Patiently check the evidences filed by the
complainant in the cheque bounce case and you shall surely find the
shortcomings in the said evidences, if a false case has been filed against
you.
6. Cross Examine the complainant or witnesses with
the help of evidences filed by him.
7. File the application in section 315 of Code of
Criminal Procedure which says that an accused person to be competent witness.
It is also in your favor as who knows your case better than you, so you must
file the said application to appear as witness in your case and can counter the
allegations levied upon you by the complainant. Statement recorded under
section 315 of CrPc can be exhibited as an evidence with your complaint.
8. You have to prove in the court that the cheque
in question was not issued for any debt or liability, as section 139 of
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 says that it shall be presumed, unless the
contrary is proved, that drawee or receiver of the cheque received the same on
account of discharge of liability by drawer or issuer.
You have to rebut the said presumption in the court
with the help of your statement recorded in the section 315 of CrPc and
evidences filed by you. You can also use the materials submitted by complainant
in order to raise a probable defence. Basically, you have to create the
preponderance of probabilities to prove that there was no legally
enforceable debt or other liability.
9. You and your witnesses will be cross-examined by
the advocate of complainant and for the same, you can take guidance of your
advocate, prior to your date of case, about how to reply the questions of the
complainant's advocate.
10. After cross-examination of both parties, matter
will be argued in the court and you can use the judgments of various high court
and supreme court to strengthen your arguments.
11. After the aforesaid stages, court shall
pronounce the final judgment and you may win the case if you are not guilty. ☺
Article Written By: Mr. Raman Sharma (CS, LLB, DIM,
B.Com)
Contact: barristerramansharma@gmail.com
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Very useful information for all, presented in such a way so that everyone can understand, thanks a lot Vakeel Sahab
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