Geeta Rani Vs the State Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Cheque Dishonour | Delhi HC (2026)

Geeta Rani Vs the State Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Cheque Dishonour | Delhi HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Mixed dispositions across connected matters: CRL.M.C. 4983/2022 and CRL.REV.P. 729/2022 (Om Prakash Bhardwaj) dismissed as withdrawn; in CRL.REV.P. 180/2021 (Geeta Rani), the offence under Section 138 NI Act was compounded, the composition recorded, the impugned order set aside and the petitioner stands acquitted as per Section 320(8) of the Code of the Criminal Procedure, the revision petition being allowed and disposed of; a copy of the order to be kept in all connected matters.

Issue for consideration

Whether leave should be granted to withdraw CRL.M.C. 4983/2022 and CRL.REV.P. 729/2022 in view of the settlement agreement dated 01.05.2025 arrived at before DHCMCC. +1 more

Court's answer

In view of the settlement agreement dated 01.05.2025, CRL.M.C. 4983/2022 and CRL.REV.P. 729/2022 are dismissed as withdrawn.

Ratio / Principle

Since the parties have already resolved their disputes vide settlement agreement dated 01.05.2025, and the offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 is compoundable under Section 147 thereof, it is just and proper to grant permission to compound the offence.

Key takeaways

The offence under Section 138 NI Act stands compounded and the composition is recorded.ratio¶¶17
CRL.REV.P. 180/2021 is allowed; the impugned order is set aside and the petitioner stands acquitted as per Section 320(8) of the Code of the Criminal Procedure.ratio¶¶18
The present petition (CRL.REV.P. 180/2021) is disposed of, with a copy of the order to be kept in all the connected matters.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court, Saurabh Banerjee, J. (order dated 13.03.2026) — In view of a settlement agreement dated 01.05.2025 entered inter se the parties before the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre (DHCMCC): (i) CRL.M.C. 4983/2022 and CRL.REV.P. 729/2022 (Om Prakash Bhardwaj) were dismissed as withdrawn; (ii) in CRL.REV.P. 180/2021 (Geeta Rani), since the parties had already resolved their disputes vide the said settlement and the offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 is compoundable under Section 147 thereof, it was held just and proper to grant permission to compound the offence. The offence under Section 138 NI Act was compounded and the composition recorded; the revision petition was allowed, the impugned order was set aside and the petitioner stands acquitted as per Section 320(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The petition was disposed of and a copy of the order was directed to be kept in all the connected matters.

$~17 to 19

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

CRL.M.C. 4983/2022

OM PRAKASH BHARDWAJ .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sunil Choudhary Advocate (through VC) Versus STATE & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Satish Kumar, APP for State Mr. Rahul Sharma and Mr. Utkarsh Jaiswal, Advocates for R-2 18 + CRL.REV.P. 180/2021 GEETA RANI .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Rahul Sharma and Mr. Utkarsh Jaiswal, Advocates. Versus THE STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Satish Kumar, APP for State 19 CRL.REV.P. 729/2022 OM PRAKASH BHARDWAJ .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sunil Choudhary Advocate (through VC) Versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Satish Kumar, APP for State

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/03/2026 at 11:07:14

Mr. Rahul Sharma and Mr. Utkarsh Jaiswal, Advocates for R-2

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SAURABH BANERJEE

O R D E R % 13.03.2026

CRL.M.C. 4983/2022 & CRL.REV.P. 729/2022

Learned counsel for the petitioners in view of the settlement agreement dated 01.05.2025 entered inter se the parties before the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre ( DHCMCC ), seeks leave to withdraw the present petitions.

As such, the present petitions are dismissed as withdrawn.

CRL.REV.P. 180/2021

Learned counsel for the petitioner in view of the settlement agreement dated 01.05.2025 entered inter se the parties before the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre ( DHCMCC ) seeks leave to compound the offence.

Considering the parties have already resolved their disputes inter se themselves vide settlement agreement dated 01.05.2025, as also since the offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881( NI Act ) is compoundable under Section 147 thereof, it would be just and proper to grant permission to compound the offence.

Accordingly, the offence under Section 138 NI Act is compounded and the composition stands recorded.

Resultantly, the present revision petition is allowed. The impugned order is thus set aside and the petitioner stands acquitted as per Section 320(8) of the Code of the Criminal procedure.

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/03/2026 at 11:07:14

The present petition is accordingly disposed of.

A copy of this order be kept in all the connected matters.

SAURABH BANERJEE, J

MARCH 13, 2026/So

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/03/2026 at 11:07:14