SARWAN SINGH LERA Vs. DEBONAIR CHITS PRIVATE LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD .

(2.) THE complaint-respondent No. 1 filed complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") against the petitioner-accused. According to the complainant, for discharging the previous liability, the accused issued Cheque No. 792459 dated 18.9.1997 for '1,03,400/- drawn on State Bank of Patiala, Mathura Road, Faridabad, which on presentment to the banker of the accused was dishonoured on account of insufficient funds in his account and he failed to pay that amount of the cheque in spite of the issuance of the statutory notice. The accused was convicted for that offence by JMIC, Faridabad, vide judgment dated 28.11.2001 and was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for a period of one year and to pay a fine of ' 5000/- and in default thereof to further undergo imprisonment for a period of one month. The accused preferred an appeal against that conviction and sentence, which was partly accepted by the Additional Sessions Judge, Faridabad, and while maintaining the conviction, the sentence of one year was reduced to 09 months, vide judgment dated 17.9.2002. Against that conviction and sentence, the accused preferred the present revision.

(3.) STATEMENT of the complainant has been recorded wherein he stated that he has already compounded the offence with the accused. As per Section 147 of that Act, the offence under Section 138 of the Act is compoundable. It is well settled that the offence can be compounded even in the revision. As a result of the composition, the accused is acquitted of the offence under Section 138 of the Act. The fine, if already deposited, be refunded to him. Records of the trial court be returned forthwith.