G. J. RAJA vs TEJRAJ SURANA — Crl.A. No. 1160/2019

SUMMARY In this criminal appeal, G.J. Raja challenged a High Court order requiring him to pay interim compensation under Section 143A of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, in a cheque-dishonor case. The trial court had ordered him to pay 20% of the dishonored cheque amount (Rs. 7,00,000), which the High Court reduced to 15% (Rs. 5,25,000). The Supreme Court held that Section 143A, inserted effective September 1, 2018, applies only prospectively to offenses committed after that date, not to the appellant's offense from 2016. The Court set aside both the trial court and High Court orders, directing return of the deposited amount with accrued interest within two weeks. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.