The court confirms the conviction under the NI Act but allows time for the petitioner to comply with the sentence.

O R D E R

This criminal revision petition has been filed challenging the concurrent finding of conviction and sentence in a prosecution under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (for short, 'the NI Act').

2. The petitioner is the accused. The 2^nd respondent is the complainant. The 2^nd respondent filed a private complaint against the petitioner under Section 142 of the NI Act as S.T.No.659 of 2021 before the Judicial Magistrate of First Class- I, Kollam (for short, 'the trial court'). After trial, the trial court found the petitioner guilty under Section 138 of the NI Act and he was convicted for the said offence. He was sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of three months and to pay a compensation of Rs.3,00,000/- to the complainant under Section 357 (3) of Cr.P.C., in default to suffer simple imprisonment for thirty days. The petitioner challenged the conviction and sentence of the trial court before the III^rd Additional Sessions Court, Kollam (for short, 'the appellate court') in Crl.Appeal No.150 of 2024. The appellate court confirmed the conviction but reduced the substantive sentence. He was sentenced to imprisonment till rising of the court and to pay the fine amount of Rs.3,00,000/- in default to suffer simple imprisonment for three months. This revision petition has been filed challenging the judgments of the trial court as well as the appellate court.

3. Heard both sides.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner does not challenge the conviction and sentence. The counsel further submits that the petitioner may be granted one year time to deposit the fine amount.

5. Having considered the entire facts and circumstances of the case and the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner is granted nine months' time to appear before the trial court to receive the imprisonment till the rising of the court and to deposit the fine amount.

The criminal revision petition is disposed of as above.