KULDEEP SHARMA vs LALITA DEVI

Judgment text excerpt

$~54 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 20th February, 2026 + CRL.REV.P.(NI) 59/2026 & CRL.M.A. 5881/2026 & CRL.M.A. 5882/2026 KULDEEP SHARMA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Varun Gupta, Advocate along with petitioner in person. versus LALITA DEVI .....Respondent Through: None. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN J U D G M E N T (oral) 1. Petitioner herein-Mr. Kuldeep Sharma is facing trial in a complaint filed under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 by respondent herein-Ms. Lalita Devi. 2. Such trial resulted in conviction as the petitioner herein was held guilty on 04.03.2024 and, vide order dated 16.04.2024, he was sentenced to SI for a period of six months and was also directed to pay a sum of Rs.14,50,000/- as compensation. In default of payment of such compensation, there was also a direction to him to undergo SI for another month. 3. Feeling aggrieved by the abovesaid order of conviction and sentence, he filed an appeal before the learned Court of Sessions and, when such appeal i.e. Criminal Appeal No.1940/2024 was pending adjudication, the parties entered into settlement under the aegis of Mediation Centre, Dwarka Courts. 4. The matter was amicably settled between the parties, and as per terms Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed CRL.REV.P.(NI) 59/2026 1 By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Date:20.02.2026 18:27:17 of compromise, the complainant agreed to accept a sum of Rs.9.5 lacs. 5. In view of such settlement, the learned First Appellate Court took up the matter on 10.12.2025. As per settlement terms and the submissions made by both the learned counsels, the settlement amount was stated as Rs.11 lacs, which also included Rs.1.5 lacs which had earlier been deposited by the appellant before the First Appellate Court. 6. Thus, t