Mumbai, January 23: Noted filmmaker and screenwriter Ram Gopal Varma has been sentenced to three months of imprisonment in connection with an old cheque bounce case. The judgment was delivered by the Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Y.P. Pujari in Andheri, Mumbai, on January 21.
The court also issued a non-bailable warrant for the execution of the sentence under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) after Varma failed to appear before the court.
In addition to the jail term, the filmmaker has been ordered to pay ₹3.72 lakh as compensation to the complainant. The amount must be paid within three months, failing which Varma will face an additional three months of imprisonment.
Conviction Under Negotiable Instruments Act
Ram Gopal Varma was found guilty under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which penalizes the dishonor of cheques due to insufficient funds or surpassing the account's agreed-upon limit.
Reacting to the sentencing and the warrant issued against him, Varma clarified, "This pertains to a 7-year-old case involving ₹2.38 lakh related to an ex-employee. It’s not about the amount but about resisting exploitation and fabricated attempts." He declined to comment further, citing the matter being sub judice.
Background of the Case
The case dates back to 2018, when Shree, a company represented by Maheshchandra Mishra, filed a complaint alleging that a cheque issued by Varma's firm had bounced. In April 2022, Varma was granted bail upon furnishing a personal bond and security of ₹5,000.
The court, however, denied any “set-off under Section 428 of the CrPC,” as the filmmaker had not served time in custody.
Past Controversies
Ram Gopal Varma has faced multiple legal battles in recent years. In November 2024, he was booked in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district for allegedly sharing morphed images of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on social media during the promotions of his film Vyooham.
The complaint, filed by TDP Mandal Secretary Ramalingam, accused Varma of defaming several prominent Telugu Desam Party leaders, including CM Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh, and daughter-in-law Brahmani.
The filmmaker has yet to announce whether he intends to appeal the latest judgment.
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