#quash complaint

The Gujarat High Court ruled that a co-owner of a joint account cannot be charged under Section 138 NI Act unless their signature appears on the cheque, limiting liability to the actual drawer. This safeguards joint account holders from criminal prosecution for cheques they did not sign.

The Supreme Court ruled that an inadvertent billing error, promptly corrected with refund, does not constitute criminal cheating under Section 420 IPC. The judgment clarifies that absent fraudulent intent or dishonest concealment, mere billing discrepancies-even in medical services-cannot sustain criminal proceedings, offering relief to healthcare providers facing similar complaints.