{"id":370991,"date":"2025-12-26T12:30:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T07:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=370991"},"modified":"2025-12-26T12:19:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T06:49:24","slug":"hc-roving-enquiry-debt-liability-quashing-section-138-ni-act-complaint-supreme-court-section-482-crpc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/12\/26\/hc-roving-enquiry-debt-liability-quashing-section-138-ni-act-complaint-supreme-court-section-482-crpc\/","title":{"rendered":"High Court Cannot Conduct Roving Enquiry into Debt or Liability While Quashing Section 138 NI Act Complaint: Supreme Court"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Supreme Court<\/span>: In a case where the Patna High Court had quashed criminal proceedings under Section 138<\/a> of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881<\/a> at the pre-trial stage, the bench of Manoj Misra<\/span>* and Ujjal Bhuyan, JJ set aside the said order after observing that the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction by conducting a roving enquiry into disputed questions of fact at the pre-trial stage.<\/p>\n

Background of the Case<\/h3>\n

In the case at hand, the appellant—complainant had alleged dishonour of a cheque of ₹20 lakh issued by the respondent towards payment for goods supplied. After the cheque was dishonoured twice for insufficiency of funds and payment was not made despite statutory notice, a complaint under Section 138<\/a> NI Act<\/a> was filed. The Magistrate took cognizance and issued summons. Aggrieved by the summoning order, the first respondent filed an application under Section 482<\/a> CrPC<\/a>, before the High Court. The Patna High Court, exercising powers under Section 482<\/a> CrPC<\/a>, quashed the proceedings on the ground that the cheque was not issued for the discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or other liability.<\/p>\n

Supreme Court’s Analysis and Ruling<\/h3>\n

The Supreme Court reiterated the well settled rule that while considering a prayer to quash the criminal complaint and the consequential proceedings at the threshold, the Court is required to examine whether the allegations made in the complaint along with materials in support thereof make out a prima facie case to proceed against the accused or not. If upon reading the complaint allegations and perusing the materials filed in support thereof, a prima facie case is made out to proceed against the accused, the complaint cannot be quashed, particularly, by appreciating the evidence\/ materials on record because the stage for such appreciation is at the trial. No doubt, in exceptional circumstances, the Court may take notice of attending circumstances to conclude that continuance of the proceedings would amount to an abuse of the process of the Court, or where quashing of the proceedings is necessary to secure the ends of justice.<\/p>\n

In the case at hand,<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    The complaint clearly spelled out the necessary ingredients for commission of an offence punishable under Section 138<\/a> of the N.I. Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    It was also alleged in the complaint that the cheque was issued in the discharge of liability qua goods supplied by the complainant.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    The cheque was brought on record along with the dishonour memo of the bank concerned which indicated that it was returned unpaid for insufficient funds in the drawer’s account.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    The complaint also indicated that complainant had served notice of demand within the specified period and despite service of notice of demand, no payment was made<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It was, hence, noted that the necessary ingredients of an offence punishable under Section 138<\/a> of N.I. Act<\/a> were disclosed by the complaint warranting issuance of process to the first respondent.<\/p>\n

    However, the High Court, in its jurisdiction under Section 482<\/a> CrPC<\/a>, proceeded to test whether the cheque was issued for the discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or other liability.<\/p>\n

    The Supreme Court found such an exercise unwarranted because, under Section 139<\/a> of the N.I. Act<\/a>, there is a presumption that the holder of a cheque received the cheque of the nature referred to in Section 138 for the discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or other liability. This presumption can be rebutted by evidence led in trial. A fortiori, the said issue can appropriately be decided either at the trial, or later, upon conclusion of trial, by the appellate\/ revisional court.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Supreme Court, hence, held that the High Court committed an error by conducting a roving enquiry, at the pre-trial stage, as regards the cheque being issued for the discharge of debt or liability.<\/p>\n

    “Such an exercise was not merited in exercise of power under Section 482 of the Code more so when the complaint allegations disclosed that the cheque was issued for discharge of liability. As fulfillment of the necessary ingredients of Section 138<\/a> N.I. Act<\/a> are prima facie made out from the complaint allegations, neither the summoning order nor the complaint could have been quashed by the High Court at the pre-trial stage.”<\/p>\n

    Accordingly, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal, set aside the High Court’s order, and restored the criminal complaint to the file of the Magistrate for adjudication in accordance with law, clarifying that it expressed no opinion on the merits of the defence.<\/p>\n

    [Sri Om Sales v. Abhay Kumar, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 2897<\/a>, decided on 19.12.2025<\/span>]<\/p>\n

    *Judgment Authored by: Justice Manoj Misra<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n

    For Appellant(s):<\/span> Mr. Abhikalp Pratap Singh, AOR<\/p>\n

    For Respondent(s):<\/span> Ms. Namita Kumari, Adv., Mr. Atul Kumar, Adv., Mr. Saswat Adhyapak, Adv., Mr. Abid Ali Beeran P, AOR, Mr. Manish Kumar, AOR, Mr. Divyansh Mishra, Adv., Mr. Kumar Saurav, Adv.<\/p>\n

    Buy Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973  HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n

    \"Code<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    “Under Section 139 of the NI Act, there is a presumption that the holder of a cheque received the cheque of the nature referred to in Section 138 NI Act for the discharge, in whole or in part, of any debt or other liability. This presumption can be rebutted by evidence led in trial.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":370993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[23574,95732,95735,95734,95736,95733,23584,33580,13021],"class_list":["post-370991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-supremecourt","tag-dishonour-of-cheques","tag-pre-trial-quashing-of-complaint","tag-presumption-under-section-139-ni-act","tag-quashing-of-section-138-ni-act-complaint","tag-quashment-in-cheque-dishonour-cases","tag-scope-of-inherent-powers","tag-section-138-ni-act","tag-section-139-ni-act","tag-section-482-crpc"],"yoast_head":"\nHC cannot Conduct Roving Enquiry into Debt or Liability at quashing stage: SC| SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Supreme Court 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It also highlights key judicial developments shaping the interpretation of these provisions.","rel":"","context":"In "Law made Easy"","block_context":{"text":"Law made Easy","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/law-made-easy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Section 138 NI Act","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Section-138-NI-Act.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Section-138-NI-Act.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Section-138-NI-Act.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Section-138-NI-Act.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":375720,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/16\/acquittal-in-cheque-dishonour-complainant-challenge-appeal-not-revision-ker-hc\/","url_meta":{"origin":370991,"position":2},"title":"Cheque dishonour complainant is a ‘victim’; Acquittal must be challenged by appeal, not revision: Kerala HC","author":"Sunaina","date":"February 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cA complainant under Section 138 of the NI Act is a victim as defined in Section 2(wa) CrPC as the expression 'victim' includes not only the person who has suffered any loss or injury caused by reason of any act or omission for which the accused person has been charged,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Acquittal in cheque dishonour case","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Acquittal-in-cheque-dishonour-case.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Acquittal-in-cheque-dishonour-case.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Acquittal-in-cheque-dishonour-case.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Acquittal-in-cheque-dishonour-case.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":364043,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/10\/16\/rajasthan-hc-section-138-ni-act-on-cheque-for-time-barred-debt-revives-enforceability-under-contract-act\/","url_meta":{"origin":370991,"position":3},"title":"Cheque for Time-Barred Debt Revives Enforceability Under S. 25(3) Contract Act; Dishonour attracts Section 138 NI Act: Rajasthan High Court","author":"Editor","date":"October 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cA meaningful reading of Sections 20, 118 and 139 of the NI Act makes it clear that a person who signs a cheque and delivers it to the payee remains liable unless he successfully rebuts the statutory presumptions.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Section 138 NI Act on Cheque for Time-Barred Debt","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Section-138-NI-Act-on-Cheque-for-Time-Barred-Debt.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Section-138-NI-Act-on-Cheque-for-Time-Barred-Debt.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Section-138-NI-Act-on-Cheque-for-Time-Barred-Debt.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Section-138-NI-Act-on-Cheque-for-Time-Barred-Debt.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":364270,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/10\/17\/ori-hc-insolvency-no-defence-for-directors-in-cheque-dishonour\/","url_meta":{"origin":370991,"position":4},"title":"Insolvency proceedings no shield for Directors in cheque dishonour cases under S. 138 NI Act: Orissa HC","author":"Editor","date":"October 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cOn the request of the petitioner, the complainant waited and represented the cheque through its banker, but once again it got dishonoured with the same remark - refer to drawer.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cheque dishonour","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Cheque-dishonour.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Cheque-dishonour.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Cheque-dishonour.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Cheque-dishonour.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":312627,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2024\/02\/01\/supreme-court-rejection-of-application-for-handwriting-expert-opinion-in-cheque-dishonour-case-section-138-ni-act-legal-updates\/","url_meta":{"origin":370991,"position":5},"title":"When can an application for Handwriting Expert\u2019s Opinion in Cheque Dishonour Case be rejected? Supreme Court explains","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"February 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Supreme Court was called upon to decide whether the appellant Court was right in rejecting the application of the accused seeking opinion of the handwriting expert in Cheque Dishonour case.","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cheque Dishonour","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Cheque-Dishonour.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Cheque-Dishonour.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Cheque-Dishonour.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Cheque-Dishonour.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/121"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=370991"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370991\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/370993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=370991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=370991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=370991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}