Is cheque bounce a criminal case in India?

Hi, I owe 5 lac rupees to someone. I issued a cheque but the cheque bounced due to mismatched signature. I am a resident of jaipur and the receiver of the cheque resides in chennai. I got a legal notice from the party to pay the money and I did not respond to same. Now I am worried as to what will happen next. The person to whom I owe money is threatening me with legal and police action. I am not living in chennai so I am not taking the threat seriously as the party will not come to jaipur for this matter. I am aware that they will take the next step to get the money from me. I want to know if they file a case against me will I need to go to chennai? Also, can they file a criminal case against me for bounce cheque with mismatch signature in police station in chennai even though the cheque is issued from Jaipur? If they file a case, what rights do I have and how can I protect myself?