Director Rajkumar Santoshi Sentenced to Two Years in Jail in Cheque Bounce Case
Rajkot (Gujarat), 18th February 2024: Renowned filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, known for his work on the upcoming film ‘Lahore 1947’, has found himself entangled in legal troubles. A Gujarat court has sentenced Santoshi to two years in jail in connection with a cheque bounce case.
The complainant, Ashok Lal, a prominent businessman from Jamnagar, alleges that he received 10 cheques, each amounting to Rs 10 lakh, from Rajkumar Santoshi, totaling Rs 1 crore. However, all 10 cheques bounced when deposited in the bank within the stipulated time. Lal claims that he attempted to contact the director regarding the matter, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
Piyush Bhojani, the lawyer representing businessman Ashok Lal, explained, “Ashok Lal had contributed Rs 1 crore to Rajkumar Santoshi’s film. The director sent 10 cheques of Rs 10 lakh each to the businessman to repay the money. When the cheques bounced, an attempt was made to contact the director, but he could not be reached. Subsequently, a case was filed under the Instruments Act.”
During the court hearing on Saturday, Rajkumar Santoshi was sentenced to two years in jail, and he was also directed to pay double the amount to Ashok Lal.
The acclaimed director, who was set to produce the film ‘Lahore 1947’, featuring actors like Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, has now garnered attention for legal complications rather than cinematic endeavors. The film, produced by Aamir Khan, had generated significant buzz with its star-studded cast and historical theme.
This legal setback for Rajkumar Santoshi adds a new layer of complexity to the filmmaker’s career, and it remains to be seen how it will impact his upcoming projects, especially the highly anticipated ‘Lahore 1947’. The industry and fans alike will be watching closely as this legal drama unfolds.
