In a recent settlement at the National Lok Adalat held at a Jharkhand Civil Court, Bollywood actress Amisha Patel has agreed to return Rs 2.75 crore to Ranchi-based businessman Ajay Kumar Singh. This agreement concludes a cheque bounce dispute that has lingered for six years.
The resolution occurred on Saturday, under the oversight of High Court Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, with both parties participating via video conferencing. As part of the settlement, Patel has committed to an initial payment of Rs 20 lakh.
The court stipulated that the remaining amount be paid in five instalments by July 31. Failure to meet this deadline could result in the reopening of the case and potential revocation of Patel’s bail.
The conflict began when Singh loaned Rs 2.5 crore to Patel for a film project that ultimately never materialized. After Singh's repeated attempts to recover his investment, Patel issued two cheques that were subsequently dishonoured by the bank.
In August 2022, the Supreme Court had paused criminal proceedings against Patel for alleged cheating and criminal breach of trust, following a summons by a Ranchi court. Nonetheless, it clarified that legal action related to the cheque bounce under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act could proceed as per the law. This recent adjudication at the National Lok Adalat marks a significant step towards resolving the protracted legal battle.
Follow us
