( 2025:HHC:5511 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr.Revision No.645 of 2024 Decided on    :   07.03.2025 Ramesh Kumar …Petitioner Versus Golf Link Finance & Resorts Pvt. Ltd. & Another …Respondents Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner    :  Mr. Harsh Vardhan, Advocate. For the respondent : Ms. Seema K. Guleria, Advocate, for respondent No.1. Mr. Mohinder   Zharaick,   Additional Advocate   General   for   respondent No.2. Virender Singh, Judge (oral) Petitioner­Ramesh Kumar has filed the present revision petition against the judgment dated 07.09.2024, passed by learned Sessions Judge, Shimla, District Shimla (hereinafter referred to as the ‘First Appellate Court’), in Criminal   Appeal   RBT   No.74­S/10   of   2024,   titled   as Ramesh   Kumar   versus   Golf   Link   Finance   and   Resorts Private Limited. 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 ( 2025:HHC:5511 ) 2. By   way   of   judgment   dated   07.09.2024,   the learned   First   Appellate   Court   has   dismissed   the   appeal filed by the petitioner against the judgment of conviction dated 27.05.2024 and order of sentence dated 29.05.2024, passed by the Court of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate,   Court   No.2,   Shimla,   District   Shimla,   H.P., (hereinafter referred to as the ‘trial Court’), in Case No.281­ 3 of 2020, titled as Golf Link Finance and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. versus Ramesh Kumar. 3. Vide judgment of conviction dated 27.05.2024 and   order   of   sentence   dated   29.05.2024,   learned   trial Court   has   convicted   the   petitioner,   for   the   offence, punishable   under   Section   138   of   the   Negotiable Instruments Act (hereinafter referred to as the ‘NI Act’) and sentenced   him   to   undergo   simple   imprisonment,   for   a period   of   15   days   and   to   pay   a   compensation   of Rs.1,30,000/­ to the complainant. 4. After   dismissal   of   the   appeal   by   the   learned First   Appellate   Court,   the   present   revision   petition   has been preferred. 3 ( 2025:HHC:5511 ) 5. During the pendency of the present petition, the parties have settled the matter. Thereafter, the petitioner has filed application bearing Cr.MP No.5472 of 2024, for permitting  the  parties  to  compound the  offence, on  the ground that the entire amount of compensation has been paid by the petitioner to the respondent­complainant. 6. Statement   of   both   the   parties   have   been recorded,   in   which,   they   both   have   deposed   that   the dispute   with   regard   to   Cheque   No.088185,   dated 13.03.2020, has been settled between them. 7. The   petitioner   has   also   deposed   that   on   the basis of the said compromise, the present petition may kindly   be   allowed   by   setting   aside   the   judgment   of conviction and order of sentence, referred to above, and he may kindly be acquitted of the charge. 8. In addition to this, the petitioner has also put forward   the   indigent   circumstances,   by   stating   that   a lenient   view   may   kindly   be   taken   in   the   matter   of compounding fee. 9. Heard. 4 ( 2025:HHC:5511 ) 10. On the basis of the statement, so made by the parties, one thing is clear that the matter has been settled between   the   parties   and   in   pursuance   of   the   said settlement, complainant has received the entire amount of compensation from the petitioner. 11. According   to   the   learned   counsel   for   the respondent­complainant,   the   dispute   with   regard   to Cheque No.088185 dated 13.03.2020, has been settled. 12. Since, the entire amount of compensation has already been received by the complainant, the application, bearing Cr.MP No.5472 of 2024, is allowed and the parties are permitted to compound the offence. 13. Considering   the   fact   that   the   application   for compounding of the offence has been allowed, the present petition is allowed and the judgment of conviction dated 27.05.2024   and   order   of   sentence   dated   29.05.2024, passed   by   learned   trial   Court   in   Criminal   Complaint No.281­3   of   2020,   which   has   been   affirmed   by   learned First Appellate Court, in Criminal Appeal No.74­S/10 of 2024, vide judgment dated 07.09.2024, are set aside and the   petitioner   is   acquitted   from   the   offence,   punishable 5 ( 2025:HHC:5511 ) under Section 138 NI Act. His personal and surety bonds are discharged. 13. However, this order shall be, subject to deposit of 5% of the cheque amount, as compounding fee, with the Member   Secretary,   H.P.   State   Legal   Services   Authority, Shimla, within a period of ten weeks from today. 14. It is further clarified that if the petitioner fails to deposit the compounding fee, as ordered by this Court, within a period of ten weeks, then, the present petition shall be deemed to have been dismissed, by reviving the judgment of conviction 27.05.2024 and order of sentence, dated 29.05.2024, passed by learned trial Court and in that eventuality, he shall surrender before the learned trial Court to undergo the substantive sentence, imposed upon him, by the learned trial Court. 15. Pending   miscellaneous   applications,   if   any, shall also stand disposed of. ( Virender Singh ) Judge March 07, 2025 (ps)