PRADIPKUMAR RASIKLAL PATELversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 56-DISPOSED AT ADMISSION STAGE
- Bench
- GITA GOPI
Holding
The conviction under Section 138 NI Act was quashed and the applicant was acquitted on the ground of compounding with the complainant's consent.
Summary
Pradipkumar Rasiklal Patel was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act by the trial court and the conviction was affirmed by the appellate court. During the pendency of the proceedings the complainant, Mahendrakumar Ambalal Patel, executed an affidavit of settlement and consented to compound the offence under Section 147 of the NI Act. The High Court examined the effect of such consent in light of Section 147 NI Act and Section 320(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, relying on Damodar S. Prabhu v. Sayed Baba Lal. Finding that the dispute was resolved and the amount paid, the Court quashed the conviction, acquitted the applicant and ordered his immediate release, directing the court to disburse the settled amount to the complainant.
Issues considered
- Whether a conviction under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act can be set aside when the complainant consents to compound the offence under Section 147 of the NI Act.
- Whether the provisions of Section 147 NI Act override Section 320(1) of the CrPC in the context of compounding.
Legislation cited
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 320(1)
- Negotiable Instruments Acts. 138, s. 147
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.RA/1177/2026 ORDER DATED: 22/04/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL REVISION APPLICATION (AGAINST CONVICTION -
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT ACT) NO. 1177 of 2026
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PRADIPKUMAR RASIKLAL PATEL
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.
================================================================
Appearance:
RAVI B SHAH(5346) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR NIRAJ SHARMA, ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the
Respondent(s) No. 1
MR KK SOLANKI for MR HARDIK CHAMPAVAT for the Respondent(s) No.2
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MS. JUSTICE GITA GOPI
Date : 22/04/2026
ORDER
1. RULE. Learned advocates waive service of Rule on behalf
of the respective respondents.
2. Challenge in this Revision Application is given to the
judgment and order of conviction and sentence dated
28.06.2024 passed by the learned 2nd Additional Judicial
Magistrate First Class, Gandhinagar in Criminal Case
No.1232 of 2021, which was confirmed by the judgment
and order dated 15.04.2006 passed by the learned 5 th
Additional Sessions Judge, Gandhinagar in Criminal
Appeal No.226 of 2024.
3. Learned advocate for the applicant submitted that during
the pendency of the proceedings, parties have settled the
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R/CR.RA/1177/2026 ORDER DATED: 22/04/2026
disputes amicably outside the Court and that there
remains no grievance between them. It is further
submitted that the applicant is in jail and therefore,
urged this Court to exercise its discretion in favour of the
applicant.
4. Learned advocate for respondent no.2–original
complainant-Mahendrakumar Ambalal Patel, Mr. K.K.
Solanki has placed on record the affidavit of settlement
filed by the respondent no.2–original complainant and
stated that the complainant does not want to pursue the
matter now in view of amicable settlement and has given
consent for compounding the offence. The same is taken
on record. Today, respondent no.2 is present before this
Court and the respondent no.2 has affirmed the contents
of the affidavit and is identified by learned advocate for
respondent no.2. Learned advocates Mr. K.K Solanki
appearing with Mr Hardik Champavat seeks permission to
file Vakalatnama for the respondent No.2. Let the
Vakalatnama/s be accepted.
5. Since the complainant has given consent for
compounding the offence, keeping in mind the object of
Section 147 of the NI Act, which is an enabling provision
which provides for compounding the offence and may
require the consent of the aggrieved for compounding
the offence, however, the specific provision under Section
147, inserted by way of amendment towards special law,
would give overriding effect to sub-section (1) of Section
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R/CR.RA/1177/2026 ORDER DATED: 22/04/2026
320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 as has been
observed in the case of Damodar S. Prabhu v. Sayed
Baba Lal, AIR 2010 SC 1907. Accordingly, as the
dispute has been resolved and the amount has been paid
to the complainant, in consonance with the object of the
N.I. Act and the provisions under Section 147 thereof, the
matter is considered as compounded.
6. In aforesaid view of the matter, the judgment and order
passed by the learned Trial Court of conviction and
sentence for the offence punishable under Section 138 of
the NI Act, as affirmed by the learned Appellate Court,
are quashed and set aside. The applicant stands
acquitted. As it is stated that the applicant is in jail,
the applicant is ordered to be released from jail
FORTHWITH, on following the appropriate terms
and conditions before the concerned authority.
7. In view of the above, the concerned Court is directed to
disburse the amount in connection with the present
matter, to the complainant on proper verification of the
identity.
8. Accordingly, the present application is allowed in the
above terms. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid
extent. Direct service is permitted.
Sd/-
(GITA GOPI,J)
CAROLINE / # 46
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: CAROLINE ANTHONISWAMY(HC00212), Principal pvt Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 22/04/2026 14:25:31
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