A joint complaint under s.138 NI Act covering dishonour of two...

A joint complaint under s.138 NI Act covering dishonour of two cheques issued in favour of two different payees was held not maintainable to the extent it clubbed distinct offences and complainants, as neither the NI Act nor CrPC permits joinder of separate s.138 causes by multiple payees in one complaint; proceedings relating to the cheque issued to the second payee were quashed with liberty to file a separate complaint. Invocation of an arbitration clause was held not to bar prosecution since civil/arbitral and criminal remedies can proceed simultaneously, hence quashing was refused on that ground. The plea of premature filing was rejected because the complaint was filed beyond 15 days from first receipt of demand notice, so proceedings for the cheque issued to the first payee were allowed to continue - HC