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Bollywood filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi secured bail within 24 hours of being sentenced to two years in prison by the Jamnagar Court. The court had also imposed a fine equal to the imprisonment term. A 30-day stay has been granted on the court order, allowing Santoshi to secure bail. The director’s lawyer, Binesh Patel, confirmed the development.
Background of the Case
Rajkumar Santoshi had borrowed one crore rupees from businessman Ashok Lal, with whom he was once close friends. When Santoshi could not repay the money on time, he issued 10 bank cheques of Rs 10 lakh each to Ashok Lal. However, in 2016, all the cheques bounced, leading to a legal dispute. Ashok Lal filed a case against Santoshi in the Jamnagar court, alleging non-payment of the borrowed amount.
Legal Proceedings and Outcome
During the recent hearing, the court sentenced Rajkumar Santoshi to two years in jail and imposed a fine. However, Santoshi’s lawyer argued that no evidence was presented against the filmmaker. The defense highlighted that the complainant had acknowledged receiving money from a third party, and the cheques were issued without Santoshi’s awareness. Despite these arguments, the court ruled against Santoshi, leading to the appeal for bail.
Director’s Lawyer’s Statement
Santoshi’s lawyer stated, “The magistrate ignored these facts and ruled against us. We will appeal to the higher court with these points.”
Businessman’s Perspective
Ashok Lal, the businessman who lent the money to Santoshi, expressed his side, stating, “The director sent 10 checks of Rs 10 lakh each to the businessman to repay the money. When the cheques bounced, attempts were made to contact the director, but he could not be reached. He filed a case under the Instruments Act.”
The legal battle, which has seen 18 hearings so far, is likely to continue as Santoshi’s legal team plans to appeal the decision in a higher court.
