Chander Mohan v. Sanjeev Kumar Tyagi

J U D G M E N T (oral) CRL.M.A. 25406/2026

¶1The next date in the present petition is 03.11.2026 and the matter has been taken up today on the basis of the application moved by petitioner.

¶2Learned counsel for respondent has joined the proceedings through video-conferencing and with the consent of both the sides, the main petition is taken up for arguments today itself.

¶3The next date of 03.11.2026 is cancelled.

¶4The application stands disposed of in aforesaid terms.

¶5The point raised in the present petition is a very short one.

¶6Petitioner herein has been held guilty for commission of offence under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 and has been sentenced to

simple imprisonment for a period of 16 months and a fine of Rs.70,50,000/- has also been imposed upon him. He challenged the abovesaid order by filing an appeal which was registered as CRL.A. 209/2025. During the pendency of the abovesaid appeal, an order, on the basis of the application filed under Section 148 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, was passed directing him to deposit 20% of the compensation amount.

¶7Such order was passed on 03.12.2025 and has yet not been complied with, which has resulted in issuance of non-bailable warrants against the petitioner/accused.

¶8The present petition seeks setting aside of such order and seeks waiver of requirement of deposit of 25% of the compensation amount, primarily, for the reason that his financial condition is very poor.

¶9It is submitted that petitioner was even sent to civil imprisonment in relation to one execution petition, which itself indicates his present financial condition.

¶10The next date in the abovesaid appeal is stated to be of tomorrow i.e.

20.08.2026.

¶11Learned counsel for the petitioner relies upon the observations given by Hon'ble Supreme Court in Jamboo Bhandari v. M.P. State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. & Ors.: (2023) 10 SCC 446 and Muskan Enterprises & Anr. v. State of Punjab & Anr.: 2024 SCC OnLine SC 4107

¶12Learned counsel for the respondent/complainant has joined the proceedings through video-conferencing.

¶13During course of the arguments today, it was asked from learned counsel for respondent that, without prejudice to his rights and contentions, can a direction be given to learned First Appellate Court to decide the

abovesaid appeal in a time-bound manner, without insisting for any deposit. His answer is in affirmative. He submits that if there is a direction in this regard, he would not insist for deposit of the abovesaid amount i.e. 20% of the compensation amount.

¶14Learned counsel for the petitioner, on instructions, submits that the petitioner would address arguments tomorrow itself and would not seek any adjournment from the learned First Appellate Court on any ground whatsoever. He submits that as and when so directed, the appellant would appear before the learned First Appellate Court, unless he is exempted from personal appearance by the learned Appellate Court itself.

¶15The petition is, accordingly, disposed of in aforesaid terms and as a necessary corollary, the abovesaid direction regarding deposit of 20% of the amount is waived and coercive process is recalled. Learned Appellate Court is requested to dispose of the appeal as expeditiously as possible and preferably within a period of six weeks. Both the sides would render due assistance and cooperation to the learned First Appellate Court so that it is in a position to dispose of the abovesaid appeal within the above time frame.

¶16A copy of this order be sent to learned First Appellate Court for information.

¶17Copy of the order be given dasti under signatures of Court Master.

(MANOJ JAIN) JUDGE AUGUST 19, 2026/st/sk

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of Decision: 19thAugust, 2026 # CNR No. DLHC010082212026 + CHANDER MOHAN .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Sunil Chaudhary, Advocate versus SANJEEV KUMAR TYAGI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Naresh Kumar Beniwal with Mr. Nikhil Beniwal, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN