Ameesha Patel surrenders before court in fraud case

Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel surrendered before Ranchi Civil Court on Saturday in connection with a cheque bounce case.

Senior division judge DN Shukla granted her bail and ordered her to appear before the court on June 21.

The actress was charged with fraud and cheque bounce in 2018, by Jharkhand-based film producer Ajay Kumar Singh.

"Previously, the court issued her summons numerous times in the case, but she did not appear. The court later issued a warrant against her," stated the complainant's lawyer, Vijaya Lakshmi Srivastava. 

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Fraud case warrant against Ameesha Patel

The accusation claims that Singh sent Rs 2.5 crore to the actor's bank account for the development of a film called "Desi Magic." Patel, on the other hand, abandoned the project later on. She mailed a cheque for Rs 2.50 crore, but it bounced.

In August 2022, the Supreme Court suspended criminal proceedings against Patel for the offenses of cheating and criminal breach of trust in connection with summons issued by the trial court in Jharkhand.

However, the Supreme Court ruled that procedures for offences punishable under Section 138 (cheque bounce) of the Negotiable Instruments Act might be continued in conformity with the law.

The Supreme Court's decision followed an appeal filed by Patel against a May 5, 2022 judgement of the Jharkhand High Court, which dismissed a plea seeking quashing and setting aside of the trial court's order in Ranchi in connection with a complaint against her.