Dishonour of cheque-complaint can be filed at any place where one of act has taken place

The Supreme Court, in its judgment in the case Devendra Kishanlal Dagalia Vs. Dwarkesh Diamonds Pvt Ltd and Ors, has reiterated that a cheque bounce complaint against a drawer can be taken up in any court under whose territorial limits any one of the five different acts constituting the offence happened.

Five different acts compose the offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and if any one of these five different acts was done in a particular locality, the court having territorial jurisdiction on that locality can become the place of trial, the apex court stated.

The five elements are drawing of the cheque, presentation to the bank, bouncing, giving notice to the drawer and his/her failure to make payment within 15 days.

In this case, the five acts were done at different places happened in two cities—Mumbai and New Delhi. As at least one act was committed in Mumbai, the complaint was filed in the city.

Initially, the special metropolitan magistrate issued summons to the accused but later rejected the complaint for lack of jurisdiction. However, the sessions judge took a contrary view.

While the Bombay High Court upheld the magistrate’s order, SC said that once the magistrate takes cognisance of an offence, forms his opinion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding and issues summons, then there is no question of review or recall.