Supreme Court Halts Coercive Action in Canara Bank

Case Name: Writ Petition(s) (Criminal) No.209/2026 – Rakesh Juneja & Anr. vs. Canara Bank & Ors.
Court/Authority: Supreme Court of India.
Coram: Hon’ble Chief Justice, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Justice Vipul M. Pancholi.
Case/Order No.: IA No.163556/2026 (ex-parte interim relief) linked to Writ Petition No.209/2026.
Date of Order: 29-05-2026.
Period of Dispute: Ongoing proceedings under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Petitioners: Rakesh Juneja & Anr.
Respondents: Canara Bank & Ors.
Counsel for Petitioners: Mr. Piyush Hans (Advocate‑on‑Record), Mr. Abhayjit Rao, Adv. Mrs. Pearl Choudhary.
Counsel for Respondents: Not listed.

Petitioners sought protection from any coercive measures by Canara Bank in the pending Section 138 NI Act cases.
The dispute centers on alleged attempts to enforce recovery actions that petitioners claim are coercive.

The Court found merit in granting interim relief to prevent coercive steps pending final resolution of the Section 138 matters.
No substantive findings on liability were made; the order is procedural.

1. Issue notice to the parties.

2. Tag the present petition with Writ Petition No.500/2025 for related matters.

3. No coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioners concerning the pending Section 138 NI Act proceedings.

The respondents must refrain from any coercive recovery actions against the petitioners until further order.
The Registrar‑cum‑PS Assistant Registrar is directed to implement the order.

Interim relief granted as detailed above; the order is enforceable immediately.
The order was signed by the Assistant Registrar, Mr. Arjun Bisht and Ms. Preethi Dileep Kumar.