Cheque Dishonour and S.138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 : Role of Trial Court when Accused Does not Appears

Cheque Dishonour and S.138 of N.I. Act, 1881 : Role of Trial Court when Accused Does not Appears 

In a recent decision [Navneet Singh Gogia v. State of Maharashtra [2025] GCtR 1408 (Bombay)], it was held that in a case under S.138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, when it is found out that the accused is not attending the trial, nor sought for dispensing the personal attendance and not represented by the advocate, the trial Magistrate is justified in proceeding in absence of the accused and without recording 313 statement also.