Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma Acquitted in Cheque Bounce Case After Reaching Settlement

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has been acquitted by a Mumbai Sessions Court in a cheque-bouncing case.

After settling the matter by paying ₹3 lakh to the complainant company through a Lok Adalat. The court set aside his earlier conviction and sentence. Varma was initially convicted in January 2025 by a Magistrate court in Andheri and sentenced to three months’ simple imprisonment under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which deals with dishonoured cheques.

The dispute originated in 2018 when Shree, a supplier of hard disks to Varma’s production company, raised invoices totaling ₹2,38,220. Cheques issued against these invoices were dishonoured, prompting the company to initiate legal proceedings.

During the trial, Varma denied issuing or authorising the cheques, but the Magistrate court found enough documentary evidence, including invoices and correspondence, to convict him.

After challenging the conviction in the Dindoshi Sessions Court, and following an initial rejection of his bail plea, Varma opted to settle the dues. With the settlement confirmed by the Lok Adalat, the Sessions Court acquitted him and set aside his previous conviction.