Punishment for Cheque Bounce Under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 A cheque bounce due to insufficient funds or if the drawer stops payment without valid reason is a criminal offense under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. 1. Punishment for Cheque Bounce If found guilty under Section 138, the drawer of the bounced cheque faces: Imprisonment up to 2 years, or Fine up to twice the cheque amount, or Both imprisonment and fine. The court may also direct the accused to compensate the payee under Section 357(3) of the CrPC. 2. Conditions for Section 138 to Apply A cheque bounce case is valid under Section 138 only if: The cheque was issued for a legally enforceable debt. The cheque was presented within 3 months from the date of issue. The cheque was returned due to insufficient funds or other reasons like a closed account. The payee sent a legal notice within 30 days of receiving the dishonor memo. The drawer failed to make the payment within 15 days of receiving the notice. If these conditions are met, the payee can file a criminal complaint within 30 days after the 15-day period expires. 3. Civil and Criminal Remedies Apart from criminal proceedings under Section 138, the payee can: File a civil suit for cheque recovery under the Civil Procedure Code, 1908. Initiate proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, if the drawer is a company. File a Summary Suit under Order 37 of CPC for quicker recovery. 4. Defenses Available to the Drawer The accused can defend the case by proving: The cheque was issued as a gift or donation, not for a legal liability. The cheque was stolen or misused. There was a material alteration in the cheque. The payee did not file the case within the legal time limit. Conclusion A cheque bounce under Section 138 is a criminal offense punishable with up to 2 years in jail or a fine. The payee must follow legal procedures to file a complaint, and the drawer can defend themselves if the cheque was misused.