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Madras High CourtCRL RC/184/2026allowed

Punithraj v. V.Prasannakumari

2026-01-27Honourable Mr.Justice Sunder Mohan9 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 27-01-2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN and Crl.M.P.Nos.1261, 1265 and 1273 of 2026 Crl.RC.No.184 of 2016 Punithraj Proprietor, Vettri Computers, No.99/150, Polu Naicken Street, Puliyanthope, Chennai-600012.

Petitioner(s) Vs V.Prasannakumari, Wife of Mr.Vijayakumar, Proprietrix, M/s.Vijaya Ganapathy Papers (a unit of Blue Moon), Residing at No.61/103, Angalamman Kovil Street, 2nd Floor, Choolai, Chennai, Rep by Power of Attorney Mr.B.N.Vijayakumar, Residing at No.61/103, Angalamman Kovil Street, 2nd Floor Choolai, Chennai-600112.

Respondent(s) PRAYER Criminal Revision Petition filed under Section 438 r/w 442 of BNSS, to call for the records to Criminal Appeal No.57 of 2024 on the file of the learned XXII Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai, and STC No.3787 of 2022 on the file of the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Fast 1 / 9

Track Court No.IV, George Town, Chennai, and set aside the judgment dated 19.12.2025 passed by the learned XXII Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai, in Criminal Appeal No.57 of 2024, confirming the conviction and sentence in STC No.3787 of 2022 dated 05.01.2024 and further acquit the petitioner of the offence u/s.138 of the N.I.Act. Crl.RC.No.187 of 2026 Punithraj, Proprietor, Vettri Computers, No.99/150, Polu Naicken Street, Puliyanthope, Chennai-600012.

Petitioner(s) Vs Brindha Graphics, Rep by Partner, Mr.B.N.Vijayakumar, No.245/2, Govindappa Naicken Street, Seven Wells, Chennai.

Respondent(s) PRAYER Criminal Revision Petition filed under Section 438 r/w 442 of BNSS, to call for the records to Criminal Appeal No.56 of 2024 on the file of the learned XXII Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai, and STC No.3785 of 2022 on the file of the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Fast Track Court No.IV, George Town, Chennai, and set aside the judgment dated 19.12.2025 passed by the learned XXII Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai, in Criminal Appeal No.56 of 2024, confirming the conviction and sentence in STC No.3785 of 2022 dated 05.01.2024 and further acquit the petitioner of the offence u/s.138 of the N.I.Act. Crl.RC.No.191 of 2026 P.Geetha Priya W/o.of Punithraj, 2 / 9

Residing at New No.8, Old No.36, Angalamman Kovil Street, Jai Nagar First Layout, Chennai - 600 012.

Petitioner(s) Vs V.Prasannakumari, Wife of Mr.Vijayakumar, Proprietrix, M/s.Vijaya Ganapathy Papers (a unit of Blue Moon), Residing at No.61/103, Angalamman Kovil Street, 2nd Floor, Choolai, Chennai, Rep by Power of Attorney Mr.B.N.Vijayakumar, Residing at No.61/103, Angalamman Kovil Street, 2nd Floor Choolai, Chennai-600112.

Respondent(s) PRAYER Criminal Revision Petition filed under Section 438 r/w 442 of BNSS, to call for the records to Criminal Appeal No.55 of 2024 on the file of the learned XXII Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai, and STC No.3784 of 2022 on the file of the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Fast Track Court No.IV, George Town, Chennai, and set aside the judgment dated 19.12.2025 passed by the learned XXII Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai, in Criminal Appeal No.55 of 2024, confirming the conviction and sentence in STC No.3784 of 2022 dated 05.01.2024 and further acquit the petitioner of the offence u/s.138 of the N.I.Act. For Petitioner:

in all cases Mr.S. Haja Mohideen Gisthi For Respondent:

in all cases Mr.Vijayakumar (Party-in-Person) 3 / 9

COMMON ORDER In these cases, the petitioners have challenged the judgments dated 19.12.2025 passed by the learned XXII Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai, in their appeals viz., Criminal Appeal Nos.57, 56 and 55 of 2025, confirming the conviction and sentence passed by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Fast Track Court No.IV, George Town, Chennai, vide judgments dated 05.01.2024 in STC Nos.3787, 3785 and 3784 of 2026, respectively.

2(a) In Crl.RC No.184 of 2026, the petitioner was sentenced to undergo three months Simple Imprisonment and to pay compensation of Rs.2,42,800/-, in default, to undergo further Simple Imprisonment for three months.

(b) In Crl.RC No.187 of 2026, the petitioner was sentenced to undergo three months Simple Imprisonment and to pay compensation of Rs.17,480/-, in default, to undergo further Simple Imprisonment for three months.

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(c) In Crl.RC No.191 of 2026, the petitioner was sentenced to undergo three months Simple Imprisonment and to pay compensation of Rs.1,82,000/-, in default, to undergo further Simple Imprisonment for three months.

3. All these three revisions were taken up together as in two revisions [Crl.RC.Nos.184 and 187 of 2026], one Punithraj, the petitioner is common and the petitioner in the third revision [Crl.RC.No.191 of 2026], is his wife P.Geetha Priya. Likewise, the respondent, viz., V.Prasannakumari, is common in two revisions [Crl.RC.Nos.184 and 191 of 2026] and the respondent in the third revision [Crl.RC.No.186 of 2026] is a partnership firm in which V.Prasannakumari's husband viz., B.N.Vijayakumar, is a partner.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the parties have since arrived at a compromise, by which the de facto complainants have agreed to and receive a total sum of Rs.3,40,000/- in full and final settlement of all their claims arising out of this case. 5 / 9

5. Today the petitioner in Crl.RC.Nos.184 and 187 of 2026 i.e., Punithraj (Aadhar No.2295 6749 6972), the petitioner in Crl.RC.No.191 of 2026 i.e., P.Geetha Priya (Aadhar No.2254 6247 4229) and Mr.B.N.Vijaya Kumar (Aadhar No.2986 5807 5966), are present in person.

6. The respondent, i.e., B.N.Vijayakumar had prosecuted all the cases i.e., as Power of Agent of his wife in two cases and as Partner in one case. He had agreed that the total sum payable in all the cases as per the cheque amount/compensation is Rs.4,42,280/-. However, he has arrived at a compromise with the petitioners and agreed and received a total sum of Rs.3,40,000/- in full and final settlement of all his claims arising out of these cases. The parties have also filed a Joint Memo of Compromise dated 27.01.2026.

7. The respondent submitted that there is another complaint filed by the de facto complainant and that a civil suit in O.S.No.5613 of 2019 in XXII Additional Sessions Court, Chennai, is also pending between the parties, and that the claim therein is independent of the claim involved in this case.

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8. In view of the settlement arrived at between the parties, this Court is inclined to accept the compromise. Accordingly, the Joint Compromise Memo dated 27.01.2026, duly signed by the learned counsel for the petitioners and the respondent/complainant shall form part and parcel of this order.

9. In view of the Joint Compromise Memo and considering the nature of the offence, this Court permits the parties to compound the offence. Accordingly, the judgments of conviction passed by the learned XXII Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai, in Criminal Appeal Nos.57, 56 and 55 of 2025 dated 19.12.2025, confirming the judgments of conviction and sentence dated 05.01.2024 passed by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, Fast Track Court at Magisterial Level-No.IV, George Town, Chennai-01, in STC Nos.3787, 3785 and 3784 of 2026, are hereby set aside.

10. The Criminal Revision Cases are allowed in terms of the above compromise and the petitioners are acquitted of the offence under Section 7 / 9

138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The fine amount, if any, paid by the petitioners shall be refunded. The bail bond, if any, executed shall stand discharged. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

27-01-2026 cda/ars Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order To

1. The XXII Additional Sessions Judge, Chennai.

2. The Metropolitan Magistrate, Fast Track Court at Magisterial Level-No.IV, George Town, Chennai-01 8 / 9

SUNDER MOHAN J.

cda/ars CRL RC.Nos.184, 187 and 191 of 2026 27-01-2026 9 / 9