Balaji Hospital Director Sentenced to 2 Years in Two Cheque Bounce Cases in Udaipur

Udaipur: The director of Balaji Hospital in Bhupalpura has been sentenced to two years of imprisonment in each of two cheque bounce cases dating back 12 years. The court also ordered him to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh in each case after finding him guilty of issuing cheques worth Rs 5 lakh each that were dishonoured due to insufficient funds.

Dr Manoj Singaria, Presiding Officer of the Special Judicial Magistrate Court No. 5 for Negotiable Instruments Act cases, pronounced the verdict in both matters.

In its judgment, the court underlined the seriousness of cheque dishonour cases and observed that granting probation to convicts in such offences would not be appropriate. It noted that cheque bounce has been made a punishable offence to maintain public confidence in cheque-based financial transactions.

First Case: Rs 5 Lakh Loan Remained Unpaid

According to the case details, Mohammad Hussain, son of Abdul Shakoor and a resident of Lohiya Nagar in Sajjan Nagar, filed a complaint in 2016 against Amresh Kumar, son of Rajendra Pal Singh, the director associated with Shri Balaji Hospital in Bhupalpura.

Represented by senior advocate Mustakil Khan, Hussain told the court that he knew Amresh Kumar personally. Based on their acquaintance, Amresh borrowed Rs 5 lakh from him, citing the need to repay a loan.

To repay the amount, Amresh issued a cheque dated November 1, 2014, for Rs 5 lakh from his bank account.

When Hussain presented the cheque for payment, the bank returned it on November 5, 2014, due to insufficient funds in the account.

Hussain subsequently sent a registered legal notice to the accused on November 20, 2014, through his advocate. When the amount remained unpaid despite the notice, he approached the court.

Second Case: Cheque Issued for Medical Centre Operations Bounced

In the second case, Abdul Shakoor, son of Mukhtar Sen and a resident of Lohiya Nagar in Sajjan Nagar, filed a complaint against Amresh Kumar Singh, director of Balaji Hospital and associated with Rapid Medicare Health Centre Society.

According to the complaint, the two knew each other. Amresh allegedly borrowed Rs 5 lakh from Shakoor, citing the need for funds to operate the Rapid Medicare Health Centre Society.

To repay the loan, he issued a cheque for Rs 5 lakh dated September 10, 2014. Shakoor deposited the cheque in the bank, but it was returned on September 20, 2014, due to insufficient funds.

Shakoor then sent a legal notice on September 27, 2014. As the payment was not made despite the notice, he filed a complaint before the court.

The court found the accused guilty in both cases and imposed separate sentences and fines.

FAQ Section

1. What is the court’s decision in the Balaji Hospital cheque bounce cases?

The court sentenced the hospital director to two years of imprisonment in each of the two cases and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh in each case.

2. How much were the bounced cheques worth?

Both cheques were worth Rs 5 lakh each, taking the total amount involved to Rs 10 lakh.

3. Why were the cheques dishonoured?

The bank returned both cheques due to insufficient funds in the account.

4. Which court delivered the verdict?

The verdict was delivered by the Special Judicial Magistrate Court No. 5 dealing with Negotiable Instruments Act cases in Udaipur.

5. Who was the complainant in the first case?

Mohammad Hussain, a resident of Lohiya Nagar in Sajjan Nagar, filed the first complaint in 2016.

6. Who filed the second complaint?

Abdul Shakoor, also a resident of Lohiya Nagar in Sajjan Nagar, filed the second complaint.

7. When were the cheques issued?

The first cheque was dated November 1, 2014, while the second was dated September 10, 2014.

8. What did the court say about probation in cheque bounce cases?

The court observed that granting probation to convicts in such cases would not be appropriate, stressing the importance of maintaining public confidence in cheque-based transactions.