2026:HHC:2484 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Criminal Revision No. : 470 of 2025 Decided on : 07 th January , 2025 Naresh Kumar …Petitioner Versus Punjab National Bank …Respondent Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner : Petitioner in person with Ms. Ritta Goswami, Senior Advocate assisted by Ms. Komal Chaudhary, Advocate. For the respondent: Mr. Raman Prashar, Advocate. Virender Singh, Judge (oral) Petitioner, has filed the present revision petition against the judgment dated 03.07.2025, passed by the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Kinnaur at Rampur Bushehar, District Shimla, H.P. (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Appellate Court’), in Criminal Appeal No.12 of 2025, titled as Naresh Kumar versus Punjab National Bank. 2. By way of judgment dated 03.07.2025, the learned Appellate Court has dismissed the appeal filed by 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2026:HHC:2484 the petitioner against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 07.12.2024, passed by the Court of learned Additioinal Chief Judicial Magistrate, Rampur Bushehar, H.P., (hereinafter referred to as the ‘trial Court’), in Comp. 138 NI Act No.162 of 2016, titled as Punjab National Bank versus Naresh Kumar. 3. Vide judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 07.12.2024, the 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 one year and to pay a compensation of Rs.9,75,000/- to the complainant. 4. After dismissal of the appeal by the learned Appellate Court, the present revision petition has been preferred. 5. During the pendency of the present petition, the parties have settled the matter. Thereafter, the petitioner has filed application bearing Cr.MP No.165 of 2026, for permitting the parties to compound the offence, on the ground that the matter has been settled between them. 3 2026:HHC:2484 6. Statements of the petitioner, as well as, the learned counsel appearing for the respondent, have been recorded, in which, they both have deposed that the dispute with regard to Cheque No.378244, dated 17.02.2016, has been settled between the parties. 7. Today, the accused (petitioner) is present before this Court. He has deposed that he has been convicted and sentenced by the learned trial Court, judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 07.12.2024. 8. Against the said judgment of conviction and order of sentence, the petitioner had filed the appeal before the learned Appellate Court and the learned Appellate Court has also dismissed his appeal. Now, he is before this Court, in the present revision petition. 9. In addition to this, the accused (petitioner) has also submitted that during the pendency of the revision petition, the matter has been compromised between him and the complainant-Bank. He has also deposed that he has deposited a sum of Rs.1,88,000/-, before the learned trial Court and he has prayed that the said amount may 4 2026:HHC:2484 kindly be released in his favour, as, he has deposited the entire settled amount to the complainant-Bank. 10. The petitioner-accused 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. 11. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent is also present, in the Court and he has made the similar statement. He has deposed that the respondent, has no objection, in case, the present petition is allowed and the accused is acquitted by setting aside the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 07.12.2024. 12. On the basis of the above statements, one thing is clear that the matter has been settled between the parties and in pursuance of the said settlement, complainant has received the settled amount from the petitioner-accused. 13. According to the respondent-complainant, the dispute with regard to Cheque No.378244 dated 17.08.2016, has been settled between the parties. 5 2026:HHC:2484 14. Since, the matter, with regard to cheque, in question, has been settled between the parties, as such, the application, bearing Cr.MP No.165 of 2026, is allowed and the parties are permitted to compound the offence. 15. Considering the fact that the application for compounding of the offence has been allowed, the present petition is allowed and the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 07.12.2024, passed by learned trial Court in Comp.138 NI Act No.162 of 2016, which has been affirmed by learned Appellate Court, in Criminal Appeal No.12 of 2025, vide judgment dated 03.07.2025, are set aside and the petitioner is acquitted from the offence, punishable under Section 138 NI Act. His personal and surety bonds are discharged. 16. However, this order is subject to deposit 7.5% of the cheque amount, as compounding fee, within eight weeks from today. 50% of the compounding fee be deposited with the Member Secretary, H.P. State Legal Services Authority, Shimla, and remaining 50% with the ‘H.P. High Court Staff Welfare Organization’. 6 2026:HHC:2484 17. It is further clarified that if the petitioner fails to deposit the compounding fee, as ordered by this Court, within eight weeks, then, the present petition shall be deemed to have been dismissed, by reviving the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 07.12.2024, 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. 18. The amount deposited by the petitioner- accused, before the learned trial Court, is ordered to be released in his favour. 19. Pending miscellaneous applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of. ( Virender Singh ) January 07, 2026 (ps) Judge