In India, if a borrower gives you a cheque that bounces due to insufficient funds, you may be able to take legal action under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, provided the cheque was issued to repay a legally enforceable debt and the statutory requirements are satisfied. You may also consider a separate civil recovery case, depending on the circumstances.
Key steps to take
1. Preserve the evidence
Keep the original cheque, the bank's cheque-return memo, loan or payment records, WhatsApp messages, and any communication in which the borrower acknowledges the debt.
2. Send a legal demand notice
You must generally send a written demand notice to the borrower within 30 days of receiving information from the bank that the cheque has bounced. The notice should demand payment of the cheque amount. 
3. Allow 15 days for payment
After receiving the notice, the borrower has 15 days to pay the cheque amount. If the borrower fails to pay within this period, you may be able to file a complaint under Section 138.
4. File a legal complaint
The complaint generally must be filed within one month after the cause of action arises following the expiry of the 15-day payment period. A court may permit a delayed complaint if the statutory conditions for condoning the delay are met. Consult a lawyer promptly to calculate the deadlines. 
5. Consider recovering the money through civil proceedings
