Delhi’s Saket District Court has issued a bailable warrant against renowned film director and producer Rajkumar Santoshi for failing to appear in a cheque dishonor case. The case was filed by co-producer Jhoolan Prasad Gupta over a ₹1 crore cheque that bounced due to insufficient funds.
Key Takeaways
- Event: Bailable warrant issued against Rajkumar Santoshi.
- Reason: Non-appearance in court for a cheque dishonor case.
- Amount: ₹1 crore.
- Next Hearing: Scheduled for September 11.
- Previous Conviction: Santoshi was sentenced to two years in prison in a similar case earlier this year.
Background of the Case
The cheque dishonor case stems from a financial transaction between Rajkumar Santoshi and businessman Jhoolan Prasad for the production of the film ‘Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh’. Santoshi issued a cheque for ₹1 crore to repay the funds provided by Prasad. However, the cheque was dishonored due to insufficient funds upon deposit.
Court Proceedings
Judicial Magistrate First Class Aakash Sharma issued the bailable warrant, noting that Santoshi had deliberately failed to appear before the court despite being served summons on multiple occasions. Santoshi’s counsel argued for an exemption, claiming that Santoshi had only received the summons on July 2. However, the court observed that summons had been duly served on April 14 as well, thereby rejecting the exemption request.
Legal Implications
The case falls under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which deals with the dishonor of cheques for insufficiency of funds. The penal provisions under this section include imprisonment for up to two years or a fine which may extend to twice the amount of the cheque, or both. The aggrieved party must provide a written notice to the drawer of the cheque within 30 days of receiving information about the dishonor. If the drawer fails to make the payment within 15 days of receiving the notice, the payee can file a complaint in court.
Previous Legal Troubles
Rajkumar Santoshi, known for directing hits such as ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Damini’, and ‘Ghayal’, has faced legal troubles before. In February, a Gujarat court convicted him in a similar cheque bounce case, sentencing him to two years imprisonment and imposing a fine of ₹2 crores. The court, however, stayed the execution of the sentence to allow him time to appeal.
Next Steps
The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 11. Santoshi is required to appear in court, failing which further legal actions may be taken against him. The bailable warrant issued is for ₹10,000, returnable within 30 days.
Conclusion
The issuance of a bailable warrant against Rajkumar Santoshi highlights the legal challenges faced by even prominent figures in the film industry. The case serves as a reminder of the stringent legal provisions surrounding financial transactions and the importance of adhering to them.
Sources
- Delhi court issues warrant against Rajkumar Santoshi in cheque dishonour case by movie producer, Bar and Bench.
- Delhi court issues bailable warrant against Rajkumar Santoshi in cheque case | Latest News Delhi – Hindustan Times, Hindustan Times.
- ಚೆಕ್ ಅಮಾನ್ಯ ಪ್ರಕರಣ: ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕ ರಾಜ್ಕುಮಾರ್ ಸಂತೋಷಿ ಗೆ ದೆಹಲಿ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯ ವಾರಂಟ್, Bar and Bench – Legal News in Kannada.