Gujarat High Court grants bail to filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi in cheque bounce case

Gujarat High Court has granted conditional bail to Bollywood Director Rajkumar Santoshi in an alleged cheque bounce case filed by Industrialist Ashok Haridas Lal through power of attorney holder Praful Lalchand Mehta for 10 cheques of ₹10 lakh. The filmmaker is known for hits like Ghayal, Damini, Andaz Apna Apna and many such films.

Justice Hasmukh Suthar of Gujarat High Court granted ad-interim relief by suspending the sentence against that applicant by Chief Judicial Magistrate, which was later upheld by Jamnagar Sessions Court. This came after advocate appearing for Rajkumar Santoshi had tendered a photocopy of an undertaking that, a sum of ₹5 lakh will be deposited in favour of high court registry today itself. The remaining balance of ₹83 lakh will be paid in two instalments of ₹41.50 lakh on November 30, 2025 and December 31, 2025 respectively.

The court has also asked the filmmaker to furnish a bond of ₹10,000 with a bail conditional surety that he will not leave India or change the address of residence prior to the approval of high court. The court has told applicants to furnish the original undertaking with high court registry on or before November 7.

The counsel appearing for applicant Santoshi submitted before the court that the complaint is not maintainable on the count that the alleged transaction took place in 2014 and another set of complaints is filed in 2017 based on the alleged transaction which took place in December, 2016. The complaints were filed by the power of attorney holder Praful Lal Mehta, who had no authority to represent the complainant for a particular transaction as he doesn’t have the knowledge about the transaction.

Further, he stated that without any authority or license, the alleged loan transaction had taken place, which is not permissible under the Gujarat Money Lenders Act. No legally enforceable debt does exist and cash transactions without support of any legally enforceable debt. The complaint is filed and merely based on presumption, without appreciating the evidence.

The lawyer appearing for the complainant has asked for the adjournment by submitting that time to surrender has expired on October 27 and during the vacation, revision applications were being filed by the applicant.

The Magistrate’s Court in Jamnagar had convicted Rajkumar Santoshi under the provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 and had sentenced him to undergo 2 years simple imprisonment and ordered to pay fine twice the amount of cheques to the complainant within 30 days. This order was upheld by Jamnagar Sessions Court on October 15 and the applicant was asked to surrender for execution of the sentence. After this a criminal revision application was filed by the applicant before Gujarat High Court.