An Andheri (Bombay) magistrate court recently convicted and sentenced producer-director Ram Gopal Varma to three months’ simple imprisonment in a 2018 cheque bouncing case, observing that he was given “sufficient opportunity” to make the payment. The filmmaker was not present in court when magistrate Y.P. Pujari convicted him on January 21, and issued a non-bailable warrant against him to ensure that he surrenders. The court also directed him to pay the complainant Rs. 3,72,219 by way of compensation, in three months, failing which he would suffer three months’ simple imprisonment.
Varma then filed an application before the Dindoshi sessions court for bail to challenge the order and seek suspension of the sentence. On February 13, the sessions court sought reply from the other side and adjourned the hearing to March 4.
The case under the Negotiable Instruments Act relates to a dishonoured cheque dated June 1, 2018, for Rs. 2.38 lakh. The complainant firm filed the complaint against Varma. On his part, Ram Gopal Varma said that the cheque was issued without his knowledge and had not been issued by him. The Andheri magistrate court held that the cheque was returned unpaid on September 4, 2018 with the remark ‘Payment stopped by drawer’.
