Ram Gopal Varma sentenced to three months' jail in cheque bounce case

Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma was sentenced to three months in jail by a court in Mumbai on Thursday in connection with a cheque bounce case.

The Judicial Magistrate (First Class) in Andheri, Y P Pujari, convicted Varma for violating provisions under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

"With regard to the news about me and Andheri court, I want to clarify that it is to do with a 7-year-old case of Rs 2.38 lakhs relating to an ex-employee. It is not about settling the meagre Rs 2.4 lakhs but is about refusing to be exploited in the attempts to fabricate. That’s all I can say for now as it’s in court," the film director told news agency ANI.


Along with the jail sentence, the court also ordered Varma to pay a compensation of Rs 3,72,219 to the complainant within three months from the date of the order. However, the detailed order was not immediately available.

Varma, who was not present when the judgment was passed, has also been issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for his failure to appear in court. The court’s decision mandates his arrest for execution of the sentence under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

The cheque bounce case dates back to 2018 when a company filed a cheque bounce complaint against Varma's firm. In April 2022, the court had granted Varma bail with a cash security of Rs 5,000. The latest development comes as a legal setback for the filmmaker, who is known for his controversial films and outspoken nature.

(With PTI inputs)