A person lent money to a friend in 2016 via cheque, with no agreement. After years of excuses, a legal notice was issued in April 2023, leading the friend to issue a new cheque. This cheque was deposited twice but returned with the reason 'Kindly contact drawer / drawee bank and please present again'. The lender is seeking advice on whether they can file a case under Section 138 of the NI Act to recover the dues, especially since the original loan may be time-barred but the new cheque acknowledges the debt.