Ram Gopal Varma sentenced to 3 months jail in cheque bounce case; non-bailable warrant issued: Report

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma explained in a post on X (formerly Twitter) why he was sentenced to 3 months in jail. Here's what he said.

Director Ram Gopal Varma has reportedly been sentenced to three months simple imprisonment in a cheque bounce case by the Andheri Magistrate Court in Mumbai on Tuesday. A Telangana Today report states that after hearing the case for seven years, the Mumbai court issued a non-bailable warrant in his name. (Also Read: Ram Gopal Varma vows to 'wash away cinema sins of past few years' with new film titled Syndicate)

Ram Gopal Varma convicted in cheque bounce case

Ram Gopal Varma was found guilty in a cheque bounce case and a non-bailable warrant was issued.

According to the publication, Ram Gopal Varma was found guilty under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which ‘penalises cheque dishonour due to insufficient funds or exceeding the account’s arranged amount’. The director must also pay ₹3.75 lakh to compensate the complainant. If he fails to pay the amount within three months, it will result in an additional three months imprisonment.

The cheque bounce case was filed in 2018 by a company named Shree through Maheshchandra Mishra against RGV’s firm. In June 2022, the director was granted bail after providing a personal bond and a ₹5000 security deposit. The magistrate who pronounced the sentence reportedly clarified there would be no ‘set-off under Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure’ as RGV was ‘not in custody during trial’.

RGV last directed the 2024 film Vyuham which revolves around the untimely death of former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Rajasekhara Reddy. He also features in a cameo role in Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD.

The director recently announced that he will helm a film titled Syndicate. Announcing it, he wrote on X, “The film is called SYNDICATE. It’s about a terrifying organisation which threatens the very EXISTENCE of INDIA.” He added, “SYNDICATE will be a very SCARY FILM not due to any super natural elements, but because it will SCARILY expose, what HORRORS HUMAN BEINGS CAN DO.”