The Supreme Court has stayed criminal proceedings against Bollywood actor Ameesha Patel and one more person in connection with summons issued to them by a trial court in a cheque bounce case.
The Apex Court Bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice P.S. Narasimha on Friday issued notice to the Jharkhand government over it’s appeal, challenging the Jharkhand High Court, which had refused to reject the petitions filed by Patel and one Kunal Ghoomer.
Rancho Police had booked Patel and Ghoomer on charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
A trial court had issued summons to the actor and Ghoomer under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of IPC and Section 138 (dishonour of cheque) of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
As per the Apex Court, the notice was limited to the offences of criminal breach of trust and cheating, while the cheque dishonouring case will be proceeded with as per law.
The plea before the Supreme Court sought quashing of summons issued in connection with a complaint filed in Ranchi.
The complaint was filed by Ajay Kumar Singh alleging that Ghoomer had issued cheques of ₹2 crore, and 50 lakhs, as refund of and interest on his investment into a film that was eventually never made.
The cheque bounced leading to the complaint against the actress and Ghoomer.
Patel was represented by Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal, briefed by Poovayya & Co. Her plea was filed through Advocate Sujoy Chatterjee.
For the respondents, Advocates Subodh K Pathak and Dharmendra Kumar Sinha appeared.