Withdrawal of Cheque Bounce Complaint Makes Continuing Proclamation Proceedings Under Section 174A IPC an Abuse of Power: Punjab & Haryana High Court

In a recent ruling, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has clarified that once a cheque bounce case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is amicably settled and withdrawn, further proceedings under Section 174-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) constitute an "abuse of the process of law." This decision was delivered by Justice N.S. Shekhawat while hearing the plea of Jarnail Singh Bajwa, a realtor from Punjab,…