JAMBOO BHANDARI vs M.P. STATE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD.

The Supreme Court examined the interpretation of Section 148 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in relation to the conditions for granting relief under Section 389 of the Cr.P.C. The Court clarified that the word 'may' in Section 148 should be read as 'shall,' thereby mandating a minimum deposit of 20% of the compensation amount for suspension of sentence. The Court upheld the High Court's decision, emphasizing the mandatory nature of the deposit requirement based on the precedent. The judgment underscores the importance of strict compliance with statutory conditions for granting relief in criminal appeals involving financial liabilities.