Cheque bounce case – Security cheque -- Post-dated cheque – Interpretation must not permit dishonesty of the drawee of the cheque as well -- Though a post-dated cheque might be drawn to represent a legally enforceable debt at the time of its drawing, for the offence to be attracted, the cheque must represent a legally enforceable debt at the time of encashment -- If there has been a material change in the circumstance such that the sum in the cheque does not represent a legally enforceable debt at the time of maturity or encashment, then the offence u/s 138 is not made out.
(SC) Decided on: 11.10.2022