SURAT: Coming down heavily on a businessman accused in a 2017 cheque bounce offense, a local court not only sentenced the 40-year-old to two years rigorous imprisonment but also directed the authorities to attach all his property and impound his passport too.
The court of second additional chief judicial magistrate Shilpa Kanabar convicted Naresh Patel, a resident of Juna Gaam of Choryasi taluka of Surat district, and slapped Rs 30 lakh fine on him. The court also ordered him to pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the complainant Shriram Transport Finance Co. Ltd from the fine amount.
This is a rare instance in cheque dishonour offence that a court has directed attachment of the convict’s property. In this case, the court was furious as neither Patel nor his lawyer had been appearing for the proceedings for the past five months.
A conviction warrant should be sent to the Surat police commissioner, director general of police immediately and police must ensure that the warrant reaches the convict, the court ruled. All his property should be seized to recover the fine amount, the judge ordered.
Shriram Transport had lodged a complaint against Patel after a cheque of Rs 15 lakh towards his transport vehicle loan was dishonored in November 2017.
Court ordered that if he fails to pay the fine amount, he will remain in jail for additional six months.
The court also directed the passport authorities to stop Patel’s passport if he holds one and ordered that the action taken report should be submitted.
The copy of this judgement should be provided to the convict at Lajpore Central Jail when he is arrested, through the jailor who will also have to report this to the court.