Krishna Associates 12 Lakh Settlement, Case Closed

Authority: High Court at Calcutta, Criminal Revisional Jurisdiction (Appellate Side)

Order Date: 25 June 2026

Case Overview

• Petitioners: M/s. Krishna and Associates Pvt. Ltd and others; Respondents: State of West Bengal and others.
• The dispute originated from a conviction under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, stemming from Metropolitan Magistrate Court case C‑927/96 (13.03.2000) and subsequent appeal (Criminal Appeal No. 149/2021) with judgment dated 06.12.2021.
• Parties filed a joint compromise application (CRAN 24 2026) stating the complainant had received the full award of Rs 12 lakh (Rs 10 lakh deposited before the trial court and Rs 2 lakh via bank draft).
• The complainant expressed satisfaction and no objection to disposal under inherent powers of the Court (Section 482 CrPC, Section 528 BNSS).

Final Outcome

• The Court, invoking Supreme Court authority (B. V. Seshaiah vs. State of Telangana, 2023 (18 SCC 512)), held that the settlement amounts to compounding of the offence and therefore the conviction cannot stand.
• The judgment and order dated 06.12.2021 passed by the Additional & Sessions Judge are set aside.
• The revisional application CRR 138 2022 is disposed of; the compromise application CRAN 24/2026 is also disposed of.
• Any interim orders are vacated, and the order is to be communicated to the lower court.

Topics: Legal Settlement, Criminal Compounding