Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has been sentenced to three months in jail by a court in Andheri in a cheque bounce case. The court also issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him since he was not present during the judgment. The case stems from the alleged dishonoring of cheques linked to a 2018 dispute.
The Judicial Magistrate convicted Varma under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The filmmaker has also been directed to pay Rs 3,72,219 as compensation to the complainant within three months. The detailed order on the case, however, is still awaited.
The issue began when Varma’s firm issued a cheque of Rs 2,38,220 in June 2018 to a company that supplied hard disks. The cheque was dishonored due to insufficient funds. A subsequent cheque issued by the firm also bounced, stating “payment stopped by drawer.”
In response, the complainant sought legal recourse, eventually leading to this verdict. Advocates for the complainant argued that Varma’s refusal to settle the issue left their client no choice but to approach the court.
Varma, best known for films like “Satya” and “Rangeela,” commented on the matter on X (formerly Twitter). He claimed the dispute is seven years old and hinted at being exploited. His legal team, he said, is handling the case.
The filmmaker is no stranger to controversy and is now tasked with resolving the legal penalty to avoid further repercussions. This case has added to his evolving and controversial public image.