Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma Sentenced to 3 Months in Jail for Cheque Bounce Case

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has been sentenced to three months in jail by a Mumbai court in connection with a cheque bounce case. The court also issued a non-bailable warrant against him, marking the culmination of a legal battle that spanned several years.

The Andheri Magistrate Court had fixed the date of judgment for January 21, 2025. However, Varma was absent in the court. As reported by Telangana Today, the case is seven years old, and now the court has given its judgment.

The case was filed in 2018 by Shree, a company represented by Maheshchandra Mishra. It alleged that a cheque issued by Varma’s firm had bounced due to insufficient funds. Under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which penalizes cheque dishonour due to insufficient funds, Ram Gopal Varma was found guilty.

Apart from the jail term, the court has ordered Ram Gopal Varma to compensate the complainant with an amount of Rs. 3.75 lakh. If the amount is not paid within three months, then he will have to undergo additional three months of imprisonment as well.

Ram Gopal Varma Responds Through Social Media

Ram Gopal Varma responded to the controversy through his social networking site X (formerly Twitter). He said,

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 lakh 38 thousand amount , relating to my ex-employee .. My advocates are attending to it. and since the matter is in court i cannot say anything further

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) January 23, 2025

“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 lakh 38 thousand amount, relating to my ex-employee. My advocates are attending to it and since the matter is in court, I cannot say anything further.”

In June 2022, Varma was granted bail after furnishing a personal bond and a security deposit of Rs. 5,000. The magistrate clarified that no set-off under Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure would apply, as Varma was not in custody during the trial.