My father is owed Rs. 40,000 by someone who’s been delaying payment. After repeated requests, they gave a check for Rs. 20,000, but it bounced. We found out they emptied the account the day before. What steps can we take under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 to recover the money?

Under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, you can file a criminal complaint against the person who issued the bounced check. This complaint should be filed within 30 days of receiving the bank’s notice about the bounced check. You can also seek compensation for the amount of the check plus any other expenses incurred.