The second Additional District and Sessions Court, Mangaluru, has upheld the order of a lower court issuing non-bailable warrant (NBW) to a person who failed to pay the amount as per the settlement worked out during a Lok Adalat.
Sayyad Ibrahim, a resident of Ujire, filed a private complaint against Abdul Latheef with Principal Civil Judge and JMFC, Belthangady, Dakshina Kannada, under Section 200 of Cr.P.C., for dishonour of cheque, which is an offence under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act. During the pendency of case, it was referred to the Lok Adalat, where the parties agreed to close the case following a settlement. The case was closed and Latheef was given time to pay the settlement amount.
When Latheef did not pay the amount as per the settlement, Ibrahim filed a memo before the trial court seeking restoration of the private complaint. Relying on the 2018 judgment of the Karnataka High Court, the trial court restored the complaint. On January 20, 2026, the HC issued a NBW against Latheef who filed an appeal challenging the order of the trial court.
Judge V.N. Jagadeesh, in his order dated April 9, stated: “There is no error or illegality committed by the trial court. The accused shall appear before the trial court and face the trial.” The judge dismissed the criminal appeal filed by Latheef, and confirmed the January 20, 2026 order issued by the Principal Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Belthangady.
