Multiple Cheque Bounce Complaints Lawyer in Odisha

Can I file separate Section 138 complaints for each bounced cheque from the same transaction?

Yes. The Supreme Court has held that multiple complaints under Section 138 arising from the dishonour of several cheques issued in the same transaction do not automatically amount to abuse of process, because each dishonoured cheque constitutes a distinct cause of action.

Can the accused argue that filing multiple complaints is harassment?

An accused may raise this argument, but the Supreme Court's ruling makes clear that multiplicity of complaints from separate dishonoured cheques is not, by itself, treated as abuse of process. Each bounced cheque is its own cause of action, so the complaints are generally maintainable, subject to the facts of the case.

Do all cheques from the same transaction need to be combined into one complaint?

No. Since each dishonoured cheque is treated as a distinct cause of action, a payee is generally entitled to file a separate complaint for each cheque that is dishonoured, rather than being required to consolidate them into a single proceeding.

Does this ruling help complainants or accused persons more?

It primarily supports complainants (payees) by confirming their right to pursue separate complaints for each dishonoured cheque without those complaints being dismissed merely for being numerous, though outcomes always depend on the specific facts and evidence in each complaint.

What should I do if I have several bounced cheques from one buyer or business partner?

Each cheque typically requires its own statutory demand notice and, if unpaid, its own Section 138 complaint. An advocate can help organise and file these complaints correctly and manage them together where they arise from the same underlying transaction.