Bhagyalakshmi actress Padmaja Rao sentenced to three months imprisonment in cheque bounce case

Actress Padmaja Rao, currently playing the role of Kusuma in the popular Kannada daily soap Bhagyalakshmi, has been sentenced to three months of simple imprisonment and fined INR 40.20 lakh by the 8th Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court in Mangaluru. The court's verdict stems from a cheque bounce case, making her the latest Sandalwood actress to face imprisonment.

The case originated from a complaint by Veerendra Shetty, owner of Veeru Talkies in Mangaluru, who claimed Padmaja Rao borrowed INR 40 lakh and issued a cheque from her ICICI Bank account in Banashankari, Bengaluru, for repayment. However, the cheque bounced due to insufficient funds. Despite being issued a notice on June 30, 2020, demanding repayment within fifteen days, Rao did not settle the amount. Although she denied taking the loan or issuing the cheque, evidence presented in court disproved her claims.

Padmaja Rao's defense argued the cheque was stolen from her home and her signature forged, but they failed to provide evidence. The court ruled that Rao must pay INR 40.20 lakh, with INR 40.17 lakh going to the complainant and INR 3,000 to the government. Along with the financial penalty, she faces a three-month jail term.

Padmaja Rao has set a benchmark in her role as Kusuma, portraying a supportive mother-in-law who stands by her daughter-in-law through thick and thin, in Bhagyalakshmi.

Padmaja Rao has also made her mark in the Kannada film and television industry, with notable performances in films such as Mungaru Male, Gaalipata, Petromax, and Rocky, among others.

On television, she is well-known for her roles in series like Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu, Sama Rekhegalu, Shikhara, Aramane Gili, Jothe Jotheyalli, Hoovi, and Bhagyalakshmi.