Cheque Bounce & CybercrimePromotional
Cheque bounce cases under Section 138 of the NI Act — demand notice, complaint and trial — and cybercrime complaints and follow-up.
- Estimate Cost
- ₹10,000 – ₹75,000 Concessional Price
- Typical duration
- 60 days
Service overview
- A dishonoured cheque is a criminal offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, if you follow a strict statutory sequence of notice and complaint
- Online fraud (UPI, card, OTP, fake investment, sextortion) is reported through the national helpline 1930 and the cybercrime portal, and the first hours decide whether money can still be held
Who needs it? / When is it needed?
- You hold a cheque returned for "insufficient funds", "payment stopped" or "account closed" and want to recover the money.
- You issued a cheque that bounced and have received a legal notice, and need to defend or settle.
- You have lost money through a fraudulent call, link, app, QR code or fake investment.
- You were threatened or blackmailed online. Deadlines are tight: for a cheque, notice must be sent within 30 days of the bank's return information; for cyber fraud, the first hour matters most.
What to expect from the WCP Professionals
- Ask the one question that decides the case: what was the cheque for - a loan, a sale, a security cheque? WCP professionals then check the underlying debt, the date, the signature and the bank's return memo.
- Count the days. The cheque must have been presented within its 3-month validity; the notice goes within 30 days of the return memo; the drawer has 15 days to pay; the complaint must be filed within one month after that. WCP professionals calendar every date.
- Draft the notice so the demand, the cheque details and the dispatch proof are airtight, then file the complaint in the correct court (generally where the payee's bank branch is) with a sworn statement and documents.
- Use the law's pressure points: the presumption that a cheque was issued for a debt (Section 139), interim compensation up to 20% (Section 143A), and the drawer's 20% deposit on appeal (Section 148). If you are the drawer, WCP professionals test the presumption, the notice and the debt, and negotiate a compounding where wise. For cyber fraud:
- Act in the first hour. Call 1930 and report on the cybercrime portal with transaction ID, amount, UTR and screenshots, so the bank can place a hold on the money, which can be escalated through every bank it moved to.
- Write to your bank and the receiving bank, then file the FIR and track it with the Investigating Officer.
- Protect you from the next wave: block cards, change credentials, and warn off recovery-agent scams that target victims.
Key deliverables
- Section 138 demand notice drafted and sent, with proof of dispatch
- Criminal complaint with affidavit and documents filed in the Magistrate's court
- Interim compensation application (Section 143A)
- Defence reply, settlement or trial representation for drawers
- Cyber complaint on 1930 and the cybercrime portal, FIR drafting and bank dispute letters
- Follow-up with the Investigating Officer
Standard turnaround time
- Cheque: notice within 30 days of the return memo; drawer has 15 days to pay; complaint within one month after that. Trial commonly takes 1 to 3 years; settlement often comes earlier.
- Cyber fraud: report the same day; bank response usually 1 to 3 weeks; FIR and investigation timelines vary widely.
Government fees, timelines & key outcomes
- Court fee: nominal for a Section 138 complaint, with advocate, notice and affidavit costs at actuals; no fee for reporting on 1930 or the portal.
- Penalty for the drawer: imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine up to twice the cheque amount, or both.
- Key outcome: payment or compensation through conviction or compounding (cheque cases); a hold or return of money, and an FIR against the fraudster (cyber cases). Recovery of cyber-fraud money cannot be guaranteed.
Forms & filings involved
- Legal notice under Section 138 of the NI Act
- Complaint under Section 138 with Section 142 jurisdiction
- Application under Section 143A (interim compensation); appeal under Section 148
- Compounding under Section 147
- Complaint on 1930 and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
- FIR with the police / cyber cell, and bank dispute / chargeback letters
Documents required
- Original cheque, bank return memo, and deposit slip
- Proof of debt: invoice, ledger, agreement, messages
- Notice, postal receipts and tracking
- Company authorisation for a representative Cyber fraud:
- Transaction ID
- UTR, date, amount and receiving account or UPI ID
- Screenshots of calls, messages, links and apps
- Bank statement and ID proof
- Acknowledgement number from 1930
What we need from you
- For a cheque: the cheque, return memo and the story behind the debt, immediately.
- For cyber fraud: call 1930 first, then the WCP professional. Do not delete messages or uninstall apps.
Important conditions
The Section 138 timeline is strict: demand notice within 30 days of the return memo, 15 days for the drawer to pay after receiving it, and the complaint within the following 30 days; delay can be condoned only for sufficient cause.
The cheque must have been issued for a legally enforceable debt or liability, and the complaint is filed where the payee's bank branch is located.
Additional information
- Offences under Section 138 are compoundable, so settlement is possible at most stages.
- A cheque can only be used within 3 months of its date.
- For cyber fraud, the victim receives an acknowledgement number by SMS and should submit full details on the portal within 24 hours.
The estimated cost covers indicative professional fees only. Government fees, stamp duty and taxes are payable at actuals.
How it works
- 1. Raise a service enquiry describing your requirement.
- 2. A Relationship Manager reviews it and opens it for bidding.
- 3. Pay into escrow and assign the professional you select.
- 4. Track progress to completion, then accept and release payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the punishment for cheque bounce?
Imprisonment up to two years, a fine up to twice the cheque amount, or both, under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
Can a cheque bounce case be settled?
Yes. The offence is compoundable, so the parties can settle at any stage, often with a payment schedule.
Where is the complaint filed?
Where the payee's bank branch, in which the cheque was deposited, is located.
Can interim compensation be ordered?
Yes. The court can order the drawer to pay up to 20% of the cheque amount as interim compensation.