JUDGMENT

Criminal Appeal No.1557 of 2015 (Arising out of SLP(Crl.)No.7850 of 2011)

Jagdish Singh Khehar, J.—Leave granted.

2. Despite service, no one has entered appearance on behalf of the respondent.

3. A cheuqe No.1950, drawn on the Union Bank of India, Chandigarh, was issued by Inderpal Singh (the respondent herein) to the appellant -M/s Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd. The cheque was in the sum of Rs. 26,958/-. The appellant -M/s Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd. presented the above cheque at the IDBI Bank in Indore. The appellant received intimation of its being dishonoured on account of “…exceeds arrangement…” on 04.08.2006 at Indore.

4. The appellant issued a legal notice on 26.08.2006, which was served on the respondent – Inderpal Singh on 06.09.2006, demanding the amount depicted in the cheque. The appellant informed the respondent, that he would be compelled to initiate proceedings under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, if payment was not made by the respondent within 15 days from the date of receipt of the legal notice.

5. Consequent upon the issuance of the aforementioned legal notice wherein the respondent was required to reimburse the cheuqe amount to the ap