The Patiala House Court in Delhi has recently summoned veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra in connection with a cheating case linked to the ‘Garam Dharam Dhaba’ franchise.
The summons, issued on December 5 by Judicial Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal, also includes two other individuals involved in the case. This legal action follows a complaint filed by Sushil Kumar, a businessman from Delhi, who claims to have been deceived into investing in the franchise.
The court, after reviewing the evidence provided, determined that the accused parties had induced the complainant into making an investment. The judge found that the elements of the offence of cheating were established, leading to the summons.
The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on February 20, 2025. Along with the charges of cheating under Sections 420, 120B, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), two of the accused have also been summoned for criminal intimidation under Section 506 of IPC.
According to the court’s order, the evidence suggests that the transaction at the heart of the dispute pertains to the Garam Dharam Dhaba. This includes a letter of intent, which bears the logo of the restaurant and indicates that the co-accused acted on behalf of Dharmendra, also known as Dharam Singh Deol, in pursuing the deal.
The matter had previously come under scrutiny in 2020, but it was only after a thorough review of the case that the court decided to summon the individuals involved.
The complaint centres on an alleged investment scam that took place in 2018. Sushil Kumar claims he was approached by the co-accused on behalf of Dharmendra, with an offer to open a Garam Dharam Dhaba franchise in Uttar Pradesh, specifically on the busy NH-24/NH-9 highway.
The co-accused allegedly enticed Kumar by claiming that the Dhaba’s existing branches in Delhi’s Connaught Place and Murthal, Haryana, were generating substantial monthly turnover, roughly between Rs 70 lakh and Rs 80 lakh.
They promised a lucrative return of a seven per cent profit on a Rs 41 lakh investment, alongside full assistance in setting up the franchise.
The complainant asserts that several meetings were held, including one at the Connaught Place branch of the Dhaba, where further discussions were made about the investment.
However, the situation took a turn when the co-accused later insisted that Kumar invest an additional Rs 63 lakh, plus tax, and also secure land for the business.
A letter of intent was signed in September 2018, outlining these terms and stipulating that the payment be made by January 31, 2019, for the franchise rights.
Kumar complied by issuing a cheque for Rs 17.70 lakh, which was encashed by the co-accused. The complainant then purchased land for the business near Gajraula, Uttar Pradesh, in November 2018.
Despite fulfilling these requirements, Kumar claims that no further action was taken by the accused parties. The promised assistance in setting up the franchise never materialised, and attempts by Kumar to contact the accused were met with no response.
The situation worsened when Kumar alleges that he was threatened with severe consequences if he continued to pursue the matter. Frustrated and feeling cheated, Kumar reached out to the authorities for redressal.
The police conducted an inquiry into the complaint, but the initial report suggested that the case might be one of breach of contract, rather than criminal activity. However, following further investigation, the case was referred to the court, which ultimately issued the summons.
Follow us
