All posts by : Ankit Gaurav Kainth

Cheque bounce settlement in Dwarka Court | Explained

A cheque-bounce dispute often leaves both parties asking a practical question: can the money be paid on workable terms and the litigation brought to an end?

For the complainant, the priority is receiving the agreed payment. For the accused, the concern may be arranging funds, negotiating instalments and understanding how the pending Section 138 case will be closed.

Signing a settlement, making payment and obtaining a court order closing the proceedings are separate steps. A properly prepared settlement should address all three.

This guide explains cheque bounce settlement in Dwarka Court, including mediation, instalments, written terms, compounding costs and what happens if a party defaults.

1. Can a Cheque Bounce Case Be Settled?

Yes. Section 147 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 makes offences under the Act compoundable. This provides the statutory basis for resolving a Section 138 prosecution through compounding.

However, the parties should distinguish between:

Step	What it involves
Settlement	Agreement on how the dispute will be resolved
Payment	Performance of the agreed financial obligations
Compounding and disposal	The competent court passing the appropriate order

A private agreement should clearly identify the complaint, cheque, parties, payment obligations and steps to be taken before the court.

For the wider procedure, read our Cheque Bounce Cases in Dwarka Court guide⁠.

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2. Does Paying the Cheque Amount Automatically Close the Case?

No. Payment alone does not give an accused an automatic right to have a pending case compounded without the complainant’s consent.

In A.S. Pharma Pvt. Ltd. v. Nayati Medical Pvt. Ltd. & Ors., decided on 23 July 2024, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the importance of the complainant’s consent for compounding. Exceptional constitutional relief should not be confused with ordinary compounding before the trial court.

An accused who has made payment should preserve the proof and seek the appropriate court order. A complainant should ensure that the statement made before the court accurately records what has been received and what remains payable.

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3. Can the Settlement Amount Be Paid in Instalments?

Parties can negotiate an instalment arrangement. The proposed schedule should be financially realistic and acceptable to both sides.

A written instalment settlement should specify:

• The total settlement amount.
• Credit for payments already received.
• The initial payment.
• Each instalment amount and exact due date.
• The permitted payment method and beneficiary details.
• Whether interest and expenses are included.
• How payment will be acknowledged.
• The consequences of delay or default.
• When the parties will seek final court orders.

Illustration: Parties agree to settle for ₹6 lakh, payable as ₹2 lakh initially and four monthly instalments of ₹1 lakh.

The agreement should clarify whether the ₹6 lakh includes earlier payments, when each instalment falls due and what happens after the last payment clears. These figures are illustrative; they are not a standard court formula.

Delivery of a post-dated cheque should not be casually treated as receipt of cleared funds.

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4. How Can Mediation Help in Dwarka Court?

In a pending matter, parties can request consideration of a referral to mediation. A mediator assists them in exploring an agreed resolution.

Before attending mediation, prepare:

• The complaint and latest court orders.
• A statement of the amount claimed and disputed.
• Details of payments already made.
• A realistic settlement proposal.
• A list of connected cases.
• Appropriate authorisation where a company is involved.

Clarify whether the proposed agreement concerns one cheque, several complaints or the entire financial relationship.

A mediated settlement should be placed before the referring court for the necessary statements and orders. The parties must check what the court has actually accepted and directed.

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5. A Delhi High Court Judgment Arising from Dwarka Courts

In Professional Technical Services v. Pavitra Milk Products Pvt. Ltd. & Ors., CRL.M.C. 1105/2019, decided on 19 August 2025, the Delhi High Court examined a mediated settlement arising from a Section 138 complaint before Dwarka Courts.

Applying Dayawati v. Yogesh Kumar Gosain, the Court explained the importance of judicial acceptance and recording of the settlement before invoking the criminal-court enforcement mechanism. The necessary judicial acceptance was absent in that case.

Practical lesson: Keep both the signed settlement and the court order dealing with it. A mediation agreement should not be assumed to have become an enforceable payment direction merely because it has been signed.

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6. What Should a Written Cheque Bounce Settlement Contain?

A clear settlement anticipates the questions that may arise after signing.

Settlement clause	What it should specify	Dispute it helps prevent
Parties and authority	Correct names and authority of company representatives	Disagreement about who is bound
Case details	Complaint numbers, court and parties	Confusion about which proceedings are covered
Cheque details	Cheque numbers, dates and amounts	Uncertainty about the instruments being settled
Settlement amount	Treatment of principal, interest, expenses and earlier payments	Competing calculations of the balance
Payment schedule	Exact amounts, dates and payment method	Disagreement about when payment became due
Payment proof	Receipts, transaction references and acknowledgment	Denial or incorrect allocation of payments
Default	Any grace period and lawful consequences	Unclear rights after a missed instalment
Court proceedings	When and how appropriate orders will be sought	Assuming that the case has already ended
Connected claims	Claims expressly settled or preserved	Unintended waiver of other rights
Deposits and originals	Treatment of court deposits and original instruments	Double counting and document disputes

Broad expressions such as “all disputes settled” should be checked carefully against the actual transactions and pending cases.

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7. What Are the Compounding Costs?

In Sanjabij Tari v. Kishore S. Borcar & Anr., 2025 INSC 1158, decided on 25 September 2025, the Supreme Court revised the earlier graded compounding-cost guidelines.

Paragraph 38 sets out the following framework:

Stage at which the cheque amount is paid	Guideline on additional compounding costs
Before recording the accused’s defence evidence	Trial court may permit compounding without costs or penalty
After defence evidence but before trial judgment	5% of the cheque amount
Before Sessions Court or High Court in appeal or revision	7.5% of the cheque amount
Before the Supreme Court	10% of the cheque amount

These costs are separate from professional fees, court deposits and the payment negotiated with the complainant. Their application and any request for variation must be considered by the court. Compounding or waiver is not automatic.

Before finalising terms, obtain a clear calculation distinguishing the settlement balance, money already received, deposits held and additional costs.

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8. Should the Complainant Seek Closure Before Full Payment?

The timing requires careful assessment.

A complainant accepting instalments should understand what protection remains if the case is disposed of before every payment clears. The accused should understand which obligations survive and which court directions still require compliance.

Before agreeing to early closure, examine:

• The amount still outstanding.
• The reliability of the payment arrangement.
• Any security offered.
• The default clause.
• The proposed court order.
• The remedy available if payment stops.

Do not assume that a disposed-of complaint will automatically revive simply because the settlement contains a revival clause.

The agreement should distinguish an ongoing payment arrangement from a request for final compounding.

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9. What Happens if the Accused Defaults After Settlement?

The appropriate remedy depends on the settlement terms and procedural history.

The first questions are:

1. Is the original complaint still pending?
2. Did the court formally accept and record the settlement?
3. Has a final disposal order already been passed?
4. What obligations and remedies were recorded?

Delhi High Court authority distinguishes a private settlement from one judicially accepted for enforcement through the criminal process. That distinction matters when deciding the remedy after default.

Preserve the settlement, relevant orders, bank records, payment ledger and communications concerning default.

A missed instalment does not automatically produce arrest, imprisonment or a fresh conviction. The appropriate application and legal process must be examined.

If a replacement cheque is dishonoured, its consequences also require separate assessment. The effect of the settlement on the original complaint must be considered before pursuing further proceedings.

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10. Can a Cheque Bounce Case Be Settled After Conviction?

Settlement and compounding may be considered at the appellate stage, subject to the competent court’s order. The Supreme Court’s revised guidelines expressly address appeals and revisions.

However, a private agreement does not itself set aside a conviction or suspend a sentence.

The parties should address:

• The pending appeal or revision.
• The conviction and sentence.
• Fine or compensation.
• Money deposited or released.
• Any required refund or adjustment.
• The appropriate final court order.

Settlement discussions should not displace urgent advice about appeal limitation or compliance with existing directions.

Read our Criminal Appeal Guide for Dwarka Court⁠ for the wider appellate framework.

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11. What Happens to Money Already Paid or Deposited?

Prepare a separate reconciliation of:

• Payments made directly to the complainant.
• Interim compensation paid under Section 143A.
• Money deposited during appeal under Section 148.
• Deposits still held by the court.
• Amounts already released to the complainant.

The settlement should explain which amounts are credited and what further court directions are required.

Money lying in court is not necessarily money already received by the complainant. Sections 143A and 148 have their own statutory framework, which must be considered when recording adjustments.

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12. Documents to Prepare Before Settlement Discussions

Organise the following documents:

Document	Why it matters
Complaint and annexures	Identifies the allegations and transaction
Cheque and return memo	Identifies the instrument and dishonour
Legal notice and reply	Records the demand and response
Latest court orders	Establishes the current procedural stage
Bank statements and receipts	Shows payments already made
Agreement, invoices or ledger	Helps reconcile the underlying liability
Earlier settlement documents	Identifies previous obligations
Connected case details	Helps define the settlement’s scope
Company authorisation	Establishes authority to negotiate and sign
Judgment and appeal papers, where applicable	Helps address post-conviction procedure

A one-page statement can make negotiations clearer: amount claimed, amount disputed, payments received, deposits held, proposed settlement and proposed payment dates.

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13. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Relying entirely on an oral promise.
• Agreeing to an unrealistic instalment schedule.
• Failing to credit earlier payments.
• Leaving the default clause unclear.
• Assuming mediation excuses the next court appearance.
• Treating a signed agreement as proof of case closure.
• Overlooking connected civil claims or other cheque complaints.
• Failing to address court deposits.
• Leaving the treatment of original cheques uncertain.

Continue addressing court appearances and existing directions unless appropriate relief has been granted.

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Related Guides for Cheque Bounce Settlement in Dwarka Court

Section 138 Overview	Legal Notice	Accused’s Defence	Interim Compensation	Appeal Proceedings	Civil Recovery
Cheque Bounce Cases in Dwarka Court Understand the notice, complaint, trial and settlement stages.	Legal Notice and Reply Guide Review the notice and response before negotiating terms.	Section 138 Defence Guide Consider the evidence and defence when evaluating settlement.	Section 143A Interim Compensation Identify interim payments when reconciling the settlement balance.	Criminal Appeal Procedure Understand the wider appeal and sentence-suspension framework.	Suit for Recovery of Money Consider connected civil claims when defining settlement scope.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I settle for less than the cheque amount?

Parties may negotiate a mutually acceptable amount. There is no automatic entitlement to a discount. Any agreement must still be addressed through the appropriate court procedure.

Can the complainant refuse instalments?

Yes. A complainant can decline a proposed instalment settlement. Offering instalments does not, by itself, suspend the proceedings.

Does settlement mean admitting guilt?

Settlement discussions and a formal guilty plea are different. Understand any admission, undertaking or statement before signing it or having it recorded.

Does one settlement close every case between the parties?

Not automatically. Identify each proceeding and specify the steps required for its disposal. A general statement should not replace case-specific orders.

How long does settlement take?

There is no fixed timeline. Agreement on terms, availability of funds, instalment duration and court scheduling affect completion.

Can I stop attending court once I have paid?

Do not assume so. Confirm whether a disposal order or exemption has been granted and comply with any directions that remain in force.

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Legal Assistance for Cheque Bounce Settlement in Dwarka Court

At Ankit Gaurav Kainth & Associates, cheque-bounce matters are examined with reference to the transaction, supporting documents, payment history and current court stage.

Settlement work may include reviewing proposed terms, preparing a payment reconciliation, assisting in mediation and seeking appropriate court orders.

For an assessment, organise the complaint, latest order and payment records so that the proposal can be evaluated against the actual case.

Ankit Gaurav Kainth & Associates
Chamber No. 728, Dwarka District Court, New Delhi

This article provides general legal information. Advice and procedure depend on the documents, settlement terms and court orders in the individual matter.

Introduction – Cheque Bounce by a Company or Director

When Can a Director, Managing Director, Authorised Signatory or Former Director Be Personally Prosecuted for a Company Cheque?

A cheque issued by a company may carry the name of the company, but when that cheque is dishonoured, an important question immediately arises:

Can every director of the company also be prosecuted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881?

The answer is no.

Section 141 NI Act creates a special form of vicarious liability in cases where the cheque is issued by a company. However, merely describing someone as a “Director” does not automatically make that person criminally liable for every cheque issued by the company.

The legal position depends upon the person’s designation, actual role, responsibility for the company’s business, involvement in the transaction, whether the person signed the cheque, the allegations made in the complaint and the relevant documentary record.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasised that Section 141 is a provision creating vicarious criminal liability and its statutory requirements must therefore be satisfied before liability can be imposed.

For businesses, companies, directors and complainants dealing with cheque-bounce litigation before courts in Delhi, including Dwarka Courts, understanding these distinctions can fundamentally affect how a Section 138 complaint should be filed or defended.

1. What Is Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act?

Section 138 NI Act deals with dishonour of cheques issued toward discharge of a legally enforceable debt or liability, subject to fulfilment of the statutory requirements.

Section 141 deals specifically with offences committed by companies.

Broadly, where a company commits an offence under Section 138, liability may extend beyond the company to persons who, at the relevant time, were in charge of and responsible to the company for the conduct of its business.

Section 141 also separately deals with situations where the offence occurred with the consent or connivance of, or because of neglect attributable to, a director, manager, secretary or other officer.

The Negotiable Instruments Act continues to contain Sections 138 to 148 as the principal statutory framework governing cheque-dishonour proceedings, with Section 141 specifically titled “Offences by companies.”

This distinction is important because criminal liability of company officials cannot ordinarily be presumed merely from their designation.

2. Is Every Director Liable When a Company Cheque Bounces?

No.

One of the most important principles under Section 141 is that:

Directorship alone does not automatically create criminal liability.

The Supreme Court has distinguished between a person who merely holds the office of director and a person who was actually in charge of and responsible for conducting the company’s business at the relevant time.

The complaint must therefore contain legally sufficient allegations against the director sought to be prosecuted.

In K.S. Mehta v. M/s Morgan Securities and Credits Pvt. Ltd., 2025 INSC 315, the Supreme Court reiterated that non-executive and independent directors cannot be made vicariously liable merely because they are directors. The Court examined whether there were specific allegations connecting the directors with the company’s financial affairs and the transaction underlying the dishonoured cheques.

Therefore, simply writing:

“Accused Nos. 2 to 5 are directors of the company”

may not, by itself, establish the statutory basis required for prosecution.

3. What About a Managing Director or Joint Managing Director?

The position of a Managing Director or Joint Managing Director is materially different from that of an ordinary director.

The Supreme Court has recognised that the very designation of Managing Director or Joint Managing Director ordinarily indicates that the person is in charge of and responsible for the conduct of the company’s business.

Accordingly, the pleading requirement applicable to an ordinary director is not identical.

In S.P. Mani and Mohan Dairy v. Dr. Snehalatha Elangovan, the Supreme Court discussed earlier authorities including K.K. Ahuja v. V.K. Vora and reiterated the distinction between Managing Directors, cheque signatories, ordinary directors and other company officers.

This is why a complaint should not treat every person associated with a company as belonging to the same legal category.

4. Is the Person Who Signed the Company Cheque Personally Liable?

The authorised signatory occupies another important category.

Where a director or officer has actually signed the dishonoured cheque on behalf of the company, his or her position is materially different from a non-signatory director.

The Supreme Court has consistently recognised that a person who signs the cheque on behalf of the company can be proceeded against in accordance with Section 141.

In K.K. Ahuja, as discussed by the Supreme Court in S.P. Mani, the Court explained that a director or officer who signed the cheque does not stand in the same position as an ordinary non-signatory director.

Therefore, while reviewing a company cheque-bounce case, one of the first documents that should be examined is the cheque itself:

Who actually signed it?

That answer may substantially affect the legal analysis.

5. What Must Be Alleged Against an Ordinary Director?

For an ordinary director who did not sign the cheque, Section 141 requires careful scrutiny of the complaint.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasised the requirement that the person sought to be made vicariously liable must have been both:

in charge of the company, and
responsible to the company for the conduct of its business

at the relevant time.

The Supreme Court’s 2025 discussion in K.S. Mehta referred to Hitesh Verma v. Health Care At Home India Pvt. Ltd. and emphasised these as twin requirements under Section 141(1).

A complainant should therefore avoid mechanically arraying every individual whose name appears in the company’s corporate records.

The complaint should be drafted after examining the actual roles of the persons sought to be prosecuted.

Similarly, a director receiving summons should closely examine whether the complaint contains the necessary allegations concerning his or her role.

6. Can a Non-Executive or Independent Director Be Prosecuted?

A non-executive or independent director does not enjoy absolute immunity merely because of that designation.

However, the Supreme Court has made it clear that mere designation is not enough.

In K.S. Mehta v. Morgan Securities, the appellants were non-executive directors. The Supreme Court considered factors including their lack of involvement in the financial transaction, absence of signatures on the dishonoured cheques, corporate records reflecting their non-executive roles and absence of specific allegations connecting them with the company’s financial affairs.

The Court held that mere attendance at board meetings did not automatically establish control over financial operations and quashed the proceedings against them.

This makes the 2025 judgment particularly important for current Section 141 litigation.

A complaint should identify the factual basis for alleging responsibility.

A director, on the other hand, should examine whether corporate records contradict the allegations made in the complaint.

7. What If the Director Resigned From the Company?

Resignation can be highly relevant, but the date and documentary record must be carefully examined.

The important question is not merely:

“Did the person resign?”

The more important questions include:

When did the person resign?

When did the relevant transaction take place?

When was the cheque issued?

Who authorised the transaction?

What was the person’s role at the relevant stage?

What do the Registrar of Companies records show?

Was the person involved in the financial decision or cheque issuance?

Documents such as MCA/ROC records, Form DIR-12, board resolutions, appointment and resignation documents, bank mandates and corporate governance records may therefore become important.

The Supreme Court’s analysis in K.S. Mehta demonstrates the importance that contemporaneous corporate records can assume when examining whether a director was genuinely involved in the relevant financial affairs.

A resignation defence should therefore be supported by documentary evidence rather than merely asserted orally.

8. Must the Company Itself Be Made an Accused?

This is another fundamental issue in Section 141 litigation.

The Supreme Court in Aneeta Hada v. Godfather Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd. held that, for prosecution based on vicarious liability under Section 141, arraigning the company is ordinarily imperative because commission of the offence by the company is the condition precedent for fastening vicarious liability on others.

The Supreme Court has subsequently reiterated this principle while recognising that legally exceptional situations may require separate consideration.

Therefore, before filing a complaint involving a company, the complainant should carefully determine:

Who is the drawer of the cheque?

Is the company properly described and arrayed?

Who signed the cheque?

Which directors or officers are sought to be prosecuted?

What is the legal basis for proceeding against each of them?

A drafting error at this stage can create substantial litigation later.

9. What Is the Difference Between Section 141(1) and Section 141(2)?

Section 141 operates through more than one route of liability.

Under Section 141(1), liability may extend to a person who was in charge of and responsible to the company for the conduct of its business when the offence occurred.

Section 141(2), however, deals with circumstances where the offence is shown to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to neglect by, a director, manager, secretary or other officer.

The Supreme Court has explained that officers who do not fall within the first category may still attract liability where the necessary allegations and evidence concerning consent, connivance or neglect bring the case within Section 141(2).

Therefore, the precise allegations in the complaint matter.

It is not enough to merely reproduce everyone’s designation from the MCA website.

10. Can a Director Approach the High Court for Quashing?

Potentially, yes—but quashing is not automatic merely because the accused describes himself or herself as a sleeping, independent or non-executive director.

The High Court examines the complaint, allegations and, in appropriate cases, reliable documentary material.

Older Supreme Court judgments refer to petitions under Section 482 CrPC because those proceedings arose under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 came into force on 1 July 2024, and the corresponding provision preserving the High Court’s inherent powers is Section 528 BNSS.

A director considering such proceedings may need to examine material including:

the complaint, summoning order, cheque, bank documents, company master data, Form DIR-12, board resolutions, bank-authorisation documents, resignation records, corporate filings and correspondence relating to the underlying transaction.

Whether quashing is appropriate depends upon the facts and legal position of the individual case.

Company Cheque Bounce: Role-Based Liability at a Glance

Important Documents in a Company Cheque Bounce Case

Whether representing the complainant or the accused, company cases should ordinarily be examined through the documentary record rather than merely from the names mentioned in the complaint.

Important material may include the dishonoured cheque, return memo, statutory notice, company master data, Form DIR-12, board resolutions, bank mandate, authorised-signatory documents, loan or supply agreements, invoices, ledger accounts, emails, WhatsApp communications, resignation records, annual returns and other corporate filings.

These documents may help answer three central questions:

Who incurred the liability?

Who authorised or signed the cheque?

Who was actually responsible for the company’s business at the relevant time?

Supreme Court’s 2025 Judgment: Why K.S. Mehta Matters

K.S. Mehta v. M/s Morgan Securities and Credits Pvt. Ltd., 2025 INSC 315 is particularly relevant because it reinforces the distinction between corporate designation and actual responsibility.

The Supreme Court noted that the appellants had neither issued nor signed the dishonoured cheques and there was no material connecting them with their execution. Their role was non-executive and their corporate records supported that position.

The Court also observed that mere attendance at board meetings did not automatically establish control over financial operations. The criminal proceedings against them were therefore quashed.

The practical lesson is important for both sides.

A complainant should carefully plead the role of every director sought to be prosecuted.

An accused director should examine whether the allegations actually satisfy Section 141 and whether reliable corporate records contradict those allegations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can all directors be named as accused in a cheque-bounce complaint?

Merely being a director does not automatically establish liability. The role of each person and the requirements of Section 141 should be examined independently.

Is an authorised signatory liable if the company cheque bounces?

A person who actually signed the cheque on behalf of the company stands on a materially different footing from an ordinary non-signatory director.

Can an independent director be prosecuted?

The designation itself does not determine the issue. Specific allegations, actual responsibility and involvement at the relevant time must be examined. K.S. Mehta is an important 2025 Supreme Court authority on this issue.

Does resignation automatically end liability?

Not necessarily. The relevant dates, nature of involvement and documentary record should be examined. A genuine resignation predating the relevant events may be significant, particularly where supported by statutory company records.

Can the company be omitted and only the director prosecuted?

Where liability is sought to be imposed vicariously under Section 141, the rule laid down in Aneeta Hada makes arraignment of the company ordinarily imperative, subject to legally recognised exceptional situations.

Can proceedings against a director be quashed by the High Court?

In an appropriate case, the High Court may exercise its inherent jurisdiction. For proceedings governed by the present procedural law, the relevant provision is Section 528 BNSS; older judgments commonly refer to Section 482 CrPC.

Conclusion

A company cheque-bounce case should never be approached on the assumption that every director is automatically liable.

Section 141 NI Act requires a role-specific examination.

The company, Managing Director, authorised signatory, ordinary director, independent director and former director may each occupy a different legal position.

For a complainant, careful drafting at the beginning can prevent avoidable objections later.

For a director receiving legal notice or Court summons, the first step should be to examine the complaint alongside the company’s records, transaction documents and the person’s actual role.

The central question is not simply:

“Was this person a director?”

The more important question is:

“What was this person’s legally relevant role in the company when the transaction and offence occurred?”

That distinction lies at the heart of Section 141 NI Act litigation.

Ankit Gaurav Kainth & Associates
Advocates — Dwarka Courts, Delhi
Chamber No. 728, Dwarka District Court

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information and does not constitute advice for any individual dispute. Liability under Sections 138 and 141 NI Act depends upon the complaint, statutory compliance, role of the accused, corporate records, evidence and facts of the particular case.