IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO(s). OF 2026 (@ SLP(CRL.) NO(s). 20120/2025)

RAVI KANT BHARDWAJ Appellant(s)

VERSUS STATE OF UT CHANDIGARH & ANR. Respondent(s)

O R D E R

Leave granted.

This criminal appeal challenges the order dated

17.11.2025 passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh in CRM-M-64846-2025, whereby the appellant’s application for suspension of sentence was dismissed.

The appellant, Ravi Kant Bhardwaj faced trial in connection with a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (for short ‘NI Act’) on an allegation of having dishonoured Cheque No. 025889 dated

15.07.2018 for an amount of Rs.15,00,000/-.

By judgment dated 07.08.2023 in Complaint No. NACT-14-

2019, the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Chandigarh convicted the appellant under Section 138 of the NI Act and awarded a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year. Further, the appellant was directed to pay Rs.15,00,000/- to the complainant by way of compensation.

The appellant, being aggrieved by the order of Signature Not Verificedonviction passed by the Trial court, filed CRA/414/2023 RADHA SHARMA Date: 2026.02.27 Re