Need advice on loan and what to do next ?

A.Dear Sir,
Recovering loan by filing cheque bounce cases is easiest method. Just bounce the cheque and then follow the procedure prescribed as follows:

Cheque bounce FAQs Negotiable Instruments Act
1A. Amended Cheque Bounce Provisions- 143A & 148…what is it?
Ans: Section 143A- It empowers the Court to order the drawer of the cheque to pay Interim Compensation - 20% - Without depositing this amount the accused cannot defend the case.
Section 148 – It empowers the Appellate Court to order payment pending the appeal against conviction
The Appellate Court may order the appellant to deposit an amount which shall be a minimum of 20% of the fine or compensation awarded by the trial Court.
This amount shall be in addition to the amount already paid by the appellant under Section 143A.
It received the assent of the President and was notified in the Official Gazette on 02.08.2018

1. In which court do I need to file the complaint case under Section 138 N.I. Act in case drawer did not pay after receiving notice?
A complaint case under Section 138 N.I. Act can be filed in any competent court in whose jurisdiction any of the following acts have occurred:
a) Place of drawing of the cheque,
b) Address of bank where cheque was presented (holders bank address),
c) Address of bank where cheque is payable (drawers bank address)
d) Place from where notice was received by drawer of cheque

a. It is possible that each of these four acts could have occurred at different localities. The complainant can choose any one the above places to determine jurisdiction of court where they wish to file complaint.

2. What can I do if it has been more than 30 days since I received information of dishonour of cheque?
If the cheque is still valid i.e. 3 months (currently) have not passed from the date of its issue, you can represent the cheque again to your banker as there is no restriction regarding the number of times a cheque can be presented and that every subsequent representation and dishonour gives rise to fresh cause of action for filing complaint. It may be noted that once a notice for payment is given then the holder must file a complaint under Section 138 N.I. Act within 30 days from expiry of notice period as a fresh cause of action will not arise if the cheque is presented again and it is dishonoured and failure to file complaint will lead to loss of remedy available under Section 138 N.I. Act.

3. How long after notice has been served can I file a case against the drawer?
After giving notice you need to file a complaint case against drawer under Section 138 N.I. Act within 30 days from the expiry of notice period i.e. 15 days. In other words you need to file complaint case against drawer within 45 days (15+30) from the date of issue of notice. Failure to do so will lead to loss of remedy under Section 138 N.I. Act; however, you can file a summary suit for recovery of money and initiate criminal proceedings under Section 420 I.P.C. within 3 years from date of issue of cheque.

4. What can I do if I do not have the drawer's address?
You need the address of the drawer of cheque to issue notice as contemplated under provisions of N.I. Act; also the address is necessary if you wish to avail other legal remedies available to you. You can send the notice to the last known address. In case the address of the drawer has changed and the drawer has not left a forwarding address and the notice is returned with the noting that addressee is not available at the address or addressee has left without leaving a forwarding address then you need to file a complaint case after 15 days (notice period) of receipt of such information or returned notice and within 30 days from expiry of notice period. Failure to do so will lead to loss of remedy under Section 138 N.I. Act; however, you can file a summary suit for recovery of money and initiate criminal proceedings under Section 420 I.P.C. within 3 years from date of issue of cheque

5. What should I do if the notice was returned and could not be served to the drawer?
When a notice is returned to the sender as unclaimed or with the noting that addressee is not available at the address or addressee has left without leaving a forwarding address then the date of receipt of such information or returned notice would be the commencing date for the notice period of 15 days. Complaint case under Section 138 N.I. Act must be filed within 30 days from expiry of notice period. Such reckoning would be without prejudice to the right of the drawer of the cheque to show that he had no knowledge that the notice was brought to his address or previous address.

6. How long after receiving information of dishonour of cheque do I have to serve notice to the drawer?
You need to serve a legal notice to drawer of cheque demanding payment of cheque amount within 30 days of the receipt of information from your banker regarding dishonour of cheque under Section 138 N.I. Act.

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