Quick Summary: Usha Jewellers Pvt Ltd's request to put their sentence on hold was denied by the Delhi High Court. They were found guilty of bouncing a cheque worth ₹1.9 crore. The court didn't see any good reason in their request, pointing out their inconsistent actions and failure to pay the required compensation.
Back in 2007, Usha Jewellers went to the State Bank of India with a Letter of Credit worth ₹95,11,500, supposedly from Union Bank of India in Pune. But surprise! Union Bank said they never issued it. This led to the State Bank of India filing a complaint under the law dealing with cheque issues.
Fast forward to 2023, the trial court found Usha Jewellers guilty. They were sentenced to one year in jail and had to pay ₹1,90,23,000 as compensation. If they didn't pay, they'd face another three months in jail. They appealed, but it was dismissed, leading them to the High Court.
Usha Jewellers wanted their sentence put on hold during the appeal. They argued that the cheque was signed by their representative, not them personally. Plus, they claimed financial difficulties and health issues, being a senior citizen.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma wasn't convinced. The court noted Usha Jewellers' failure to follow previous court orders to deposit 25% of the compensation. They even promised to pay ₹50 lakhs at one point but didn't follow through. Their claims of financial incapacity were inconsistent.
The court highlighted that under Section 148 of the NI Act, a convicted person must deposit a portion of the fine during an appeal. Usha Jewellers didn't even attempt this, weakening their case.
In the end, the court dismissed the applications for suspension of sentence. Usha Jewellers' inconsistent behavior and failure to comply with legal requirements left no room for leniency. The judgment was uploaded on December 15, 2025.
