Section 138 NI Act: Criminal offense for cheque dishonour due to insufficient funds/exceeded limit. Complaint: Payee must present dishonour notice within 30 days of dishonour. Punishment: Up to 2 years imprisonment, fine up to 2x cheque amount, or both. Compounding: Cheque amount settlement may lead to case withdrawal. For accountants, Section 138 understanding critical for cheque collection and legal compliance.