DeccanBridge Hyderabad — Criminal Law

Cheque bounce cases in Hyderabad.

Section 138 runs on deadlines — 30 days to notice, 15 days to pay, one month to complain. Miss one and the case dies. We make sure you don't.

A deadline-driven offence, for both sides

Cheque dishonour under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 is Hyderabad's most common commercial-criminal proceeding, and it is won or lost on procedure. For the payee: the statutory demand notice must go within 30 days of the bank's return memo, the drawer gets 15 days to pay, and the complaint must be filed within one month after that — before the Magistrate having jurisdiction where your bank branch sits, per Section 142(2). For the drawer: defences around liability, notice validity and the presumptions under Sections 118 and 139 must be built from the first appearance, not at trial.

We act on both sides — recovering for payees with the full toolkit including interim compensation under Section 143A, and defending drawers where the cheque was security, the debt is disputed or the procedure was botched. And because most Section 138 cases should settle, we drive compounding on terms that actually get you paid.

What we handle

Statutory demand notices: Section 138 notices drafted precisely and dispatched in time — defective notices are the most common reason complaints fail.
Complaint prosecution: Complaints filed before the jurisdictional Hyderabad Magistrate, evidence led and the statutory presumptions deployed to full effect.
Interim compensation: Applications under Section 143A for up to 20% of the cheque amount during trial, and under Section 148 on appeal.
Drawer-side defence: Defences on liability, security cheques, material alteration, notice defects and limitation — plus quashing where the proceeding is abusive.
Settlement & compounding: Section 138 is compoundable — we negotiate and document settlements at every stage, including through Lok Adalats.
Parallel recovery strategy: Civil summary suits and IBC demand notices run alongside where the amounts justify multi-track pressure.

How we work

A partner-led process.

Deadline audit

We first verify where you stand on the statutory clock — what is saved, what can be revived by re-presentation.

Notice & response

Demand notice issued, or a drawer's reply crafted to lock the defence in early.

Trial proceedings

Complaint, evidence, cross-examination and interim compensation pursued before the Magistrate.

Recovery or resolution

Judgment enforced, or settlement compounded and recorded — the goal is your money, not just a conviction.

Practice lead

Abdul Bari — Criminal Defense & Bail

Handles criminal defence matters before Hyderabad courts, from bail strategy and timing to trial defence.

Common questions

Cheque Bounce Cases FAQ.

What are the deadlines in a cheque bounce case?

Present the cheque within its validity (3 months), send the demand notice within 30 days of the bank's return memo, give the drawer 15 days to pay, then file the complaint within one month of that period expiring. Each deadline is jurisdictional — missing one is usually fatal to the complaint.

What is the punishment for cheque dishonour?

Up to two years' imprisonment, or a fine up to twice the cheque amount, or both. In practice courts focus on compensation — and interim compensation of up to 20% can be ordered during trial under Section 143A.

Where is a cheque bounce complaint filed in Hyderabad?

Before the Magistrate having jurisdiction over the branch of the bank where you (the payee) maintain the account through which the cheque was presented — Section 142(2) NI Act settled this after Dashrath Rupsingh.

Can a cheque bounce case be settled?

Yes — Section 138 is expressly compoundable under Section 147, at any stage including appeal. Most well-handled cases end in negotiated payment; we structure settlements so the money actually arrives before the complaint is withdrawn.

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