Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Vivek Kumar Gulia awarded the three months jail term to convict Ram Saran, a resident of Malviya Nagar in south Delhi, saying the cases of dishonour of cheques were on the rise.
"Keeping in view the submissions made on behalf of both the sides and considering that the offence under Section 138 (dishonour of cheque for insufficiency of funds in accounts) Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act has been introduced to encourage greater vigilance to prevent usual callous attitude of drawer of cheque and to lend greater credibility to the greater transactions and lastly that the cases of dishonour of cheques are on the rise in society, the convict is sentenced to simple imprisonment for three months along with a fine of Rs 3.52 lakhs", the court said.
The court, however, temporarily suspended the sentence and granted bail to the former cop on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety of the same amount.
The court gave its verdict on the complaint filed by another Delhi police official Satendra Sehrawat, who told the court that on request of the accused, he had lent him Rs two lakhs on interest for personal needs.
The complainant said on several requests Ram Saran issued a cheque for a sum of Rs two lakh but it was dishonoured with the remarks "funds insufficient".
He also said that even though legal notices were sent to Rama Saran, he failed to return the amount and Sehrawat decided to move the court.
The magistrate has also said that out of the fine amount of Rs 3.52 lakhs, Rs two lakhs shall be paid to complainant as compensation and Rs 2,000 will be given to the state.