Non-bailable warrant issued against filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma in cheque bouncing case

MUMBAI: A sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma while rejecting his plea for suspension of a jail sentence in a cheque bouncing case. A magistrate sentenced the filmmaker to three months’ simple imprisonment and directed him to pay Rs 3,72,219 to the complainant within three months.

In a March 4 order, Additional Sessions Judge A A Kulkarni issued the NBW against the filmmaker but granted Varma liberty to apply for bail and to make the application for suspension of sentence by appearing before the court. The court adjourned the matter for the report of NBW to July 27.

An Andheri Magistrate court recently convicted and sentenced filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma to three months' simple imprisonment in a 2018 cheque bouncing case. The magistrate observed that the filmmaker was given "sufficient opportunity" to make the payment.

Varma was not present in court when Magistrate Y P Pujari convicted him on January 21, and the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him to ensure he surrendered.

Varma then filed an application before the Dindoshi Sessions court against the magistrate’s order and sought suspension of the sentence given by the subordinate court. On February 13, the sessions court sought a reply and adjourned the case to March 4 for a hearing.

The case against Varma under the Negotiable Instruments Act alleged dishonour of a cheque of Rs 2.38 lakh, dated June 1, 2018, in Mumbai. When the money was not paid within the legally stipulated period, the complainant, a firm, filed the complaint against the filmmaker.

Varma’s defence was that the cheque was not issued by him, the complaint did not show that any articles were delivered to him, the cheque was issued without his knowledge, and not for any legally enforceable debt.

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