USHABEN JAYKUMAR BHAIYAversusSAHYOG CREDIT COOPERATIVE SOCIETY THROUGH ITS LOAN OFFICER
- Disposal
- 46-ANY OTHER MODE @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The High Court did not set aside the conviction but granted probation to the accused under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958.
Summary
Ushaben Jaykumar Bhaiya was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and sentenced to one year imprisonment and a fine. The conviction was upheld by the trial court and an appellate court. The applicant filed a revision under Sections 397 and 401 of the CrPC, claiming that the cheque amount had been paid and a no‑objection certificate was obtained from the complainant. The High Court noted that the offence is quasi‑criminal and compoundable, and that payment had been made, but it did not set aside the conviction. Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Sanjabij Tari v. Kishore S. Borcar, the Court granted the applicant probation under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, with a bond of Rs.20,000 and one surety for one year. The revision application was disposed of, and the applicant was released on probation.
Issues considered
- Whether a conviction under Section 138 NI Act can be quashed in a revision proceeding on the ground of payment and a no‑objection certificate.
- Whether the revisional court may grant probation under the Probation of Offenders Act despite the conviction.
- Whether the revisional court can re‑analyse evidence and overturn findings of the trial and appellate courts.
Legislation cited
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 397, s. 401
- Negotiable Instruments Acts. 138
- Probation of Offenders Act, 1958s. 4
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.RA/152/2017 JUDGMENT DATED: 20/03/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL REVISION APPLICATION (AGAINST CONVICTION -
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT ACT) NO. 152 of 2017
FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
============================================
Approved for Reporting Yes No
============================================
USHABEN JAYKUMAR BHAIYA
Versus
SAHYOG CREDIT COOPERATIVE SOCIETY THROUGH ITS LOAN
OFFICER & ANR.
============================================
Appearance:
MR DIPAN DESAI(2481) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR. SAHIL M SHAH(6318) for the Respondent(s) No. 1
MR ROHAN RAVAL, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 2
============================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 20/03/2026
ORAL JUDGMENT
1) By way of present revision application under Sections 397 read
with 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the applicant
has prayed for quashing and setting aside the judgment and
order of conviction and sentence dated 30.10.2025 passed by
the learned JMFC, Dahod in Criminal Case No.1625 of 2014,
whereby, the trial Court has been pleased to hold the applicant
guilty for the offence punishable under Section 138 of the
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R/CR.RA/152/2017 JUDGMENT DATED: 20/03/2026
Negotiable Instruments Act (which shall hereinafter be referred
to as “NI Act” for short) and sentenced to undergo simple
imprisonment for one year and also directed to pay fine of
Rs.5,000/- and in default of payment of fine to undergo further
simple imprisonment for 30 days. The said order was assailed by
way of filing Criminal Appeal No.15 of 2015, wherein, vide order
dated 09.02.2017 passed by the learned 3rd Additional Sessions
Judge, Dahod, the appeal came to be dismissed and the order of
has been confirmed and upheld by the concerned Additional
District Judge. Hence, the present Revision Application is filed by
the applicant-accused.
2) Learned Advocate for the applicant has submitted that during
the pendency of the present revision application the applicant
has deposited the cheque amount. In view of above once the
amount being deposited and as the offence under Section 138 of
the NI Act is quasi-criminal in character and is compoundable
and punishment under the NI Act is not a means of seeking
retribution but is more a means to ensure payment of money
and to promote credibility of cheques as a trustworthy substitute
for cash payment. In absence of any perversity and no ground is
found to upset the concurrent findings of the learned trial Court
and Appellate Court and it is not open for Revisional Court to re-
analyse and re-interpret the evidence in revisional jurisdiction.
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R/CR.RA/152/2017 JUDGMENT DATED: 20/03/2026
No case is made out to interfere with the reasons assigned by
both the Courts.
3) At the same time this Court has taken into consideration the
object of the Act as accused made payment and complainant has
received the same which is evident from the further affidavit of
the respondent no.1 dated 02.12.2024 and no-objection
certificate issued by the respondent no.1 in favour of the
applicant, hence, in view of judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme
Court Sanjabij Tari Vs Kishore S. Borcar, Neutral Citation
2025 INSC 1158, maintaining the conviction this Court is
inclined to extend the benefit under the Probation of Offenders
Act, 1958, to the applicant-accused.
4) Accordingly, the applicant – accused is directed to be released
on probation of good conduct under Section 4 of the Probation of
Offenders Act, upon execution of probation bond in sum of
Rs.20,000/-, with one surety of like amount for a period of 1
year.
5) It is hereby further directed that the applicant - accused shall
receive the sentence as and when called upon till the said period
and the applicant shall maintain peace during above mentioned
period of 1 (one) year.
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R/CR.RA/152/2017 JUDGMENT DATED: 20/03/2026
6) The above mentioned bond under Section 4 of the Probation of
Offenders Act, be submitted before the learned trial Court within
15 days of passing of this judgment.
7) Accordingly, present revision application is disposed of. Record
and proceedings, if any, be sent back to the concerned Court
forthwith.
(HASMUKH D. SUTHAR,J)
ANKIT JANSARI
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ANKIT YOGESHBHAI JANSARI(HCW0109), ENGLISH STENOGRAPHER GRADE I, at High Court of Gujarat on 23/03/2026 18:28:23
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