Ram Gopal Varma faces conviction in cheque bounce case, court issues non-bailable warrant 

Ram Gopal Varma convicted in Cheque bounce case

Just one day before Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma revealed his upcoming project Syndicate, a Mumbai court found him guilty in a cheque bounce case, sentencing him to three months of simple imprisonment.

The case, which stemmed from a financial dispute, has now added legal complications to the director’s professional life. Varma, known for his controversial films, has yet to comment publicly on the verdict as he continues to focus on the release of his new film, which is already generating buzz for its unique storyline.

The Andheri Magistrate court had set the verdict for Tuesday in the cheque bounce case, which had been under consideration for the past seven years. Despite the long legal proceedings, Ram Gopal Varma did not appear in court for the hearing.

As a result, the Magistrate issued a standing non-bailable warrant (NBW) for Ram Gopal Varma's arrest.

Varma was found guilty of an offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which addresses the dishonour of cheques. This includes cases where cheques are dishonoured due to insufficient funds or if they exceed the agreed-upon amount.

Varma has been ordered to pay a compensation of Rs 3.72 lakh to the complainant within three months, failing which he will face an additional three months of simple imprisonment.

In 2018, a cheque bounce case was filed by a company named Shree, represented by Maheshchandra Mishra, against Varma's firm.

Varma, known for his successful films like Satya, Rangeela, Company, and Sarkar, has struggled to maintain his prominence in recent years. He faced significant financial difficulties, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he was forced to sell his office.

In this case, Varma was granted bail by the court in June 2022 after providing a personal recognizance (PR) bond and a cash security of Rs 5,000.

The detailed judgment, including the court's observations, has not yet been made available.