Jamnagar Court Upholds Two-Year Jail Term for Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi in ₹1 Crore Cheque Bounce Case

Jamnagar | Gujarat — In a major legal setback for Bollywood filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, the Jamnagar Sessions Court has upheld the two-year imprisonment and fine of double the cheque amount imposed by the lower court in the ₹1 crore cheque bounce case filed by industrialist Ashok Haridas Lal. The celebrated director—known for hits like Ghayal, Ghatak, and Damini—now faces arrest if he fails to appear before the trial court by October 27, 2025.

According to court documents, Ashok Haridas Lal, a well-known Jamnagar industrialist, lent ₹1 crore to Santoshi on the pretext of friendship and trust. In exchange, the director issued ten cheques of ₹10 lakh each, which were subsequently dishonoured by the bank due to insufficient funds.

Following the dishonour, Lal filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in Jamnagar’s Special Court. Despite repeated notices and reminders, Santoshi allegedly failed to repay the borrowed amount.

Sessions Court Upholds Lower Court’s Order

The lower court had earlier sentenced Santoshi to two years of simple imprisonment and directed him to pay double the cheque amount as compensation to the complainant. Challenging the verdict, the filmmaker filed an appeal in the Jamnagar Sessions Court, which has now rejected the appeal and upheld the earlier decision.

The Sessions Court has ordered Santoshi to personally appear in the trial court by October 27, failing which a warrant of arrest will be executed against him.

Representing the complainant was advocate Piyush V. Bhojani, while Public Prosecutor Rajeshbhai Vasier appeared for the state.

Chronology of the Legal Battle

The case dates back to 2017, when the cheques issued by Santoshi bounced. After legal notices went unanswered, Ashok Lal’s lawyer filed formal complaints in Jamnagar. Santoshi’s team later attempted to transfer the cases to Mumbai, citing jurisdiction issues.

However, the Jamnagar Sessions Court ruled that the cases would remain under Jamnagar jurisdiction, as the cheques were presented and dishonoured there. Summons and bailable warrants were later issued after the accused avoided court appearances.

Eventually, the Mumbai Police executed a bailable warrant, compelling Santoshi to appear before the Jamnagar Court, where he was released on bail of ₹15,000 per case. His multiple applications seeking discharge from the case were subsequently rejected by the court.

Court’s Final Observation and Sentence

After a lengthy trial and detailed examination of evidence, the Special Negotiable Instruments Court of Jamnagar found Santoshi guilty. The judgment, based on strong submissions and evidence presented by advocate Bhojani, sentenced him to two years of simple imprisonment under Section 138 of the Act.

The court also ordered Santoshi to pay double the cheque amount—a total of ₹2 crore—to the complainant as compensation.

Rajkumar Santoshi’s Legal Troubles Continue

Once a Filmfare Award-winning director behind Bollywood classics like Damini and Ghayal, Rajkumar Santoshi now faces one of the most serious legal challenges of his career. The Rajkumar Santoshi cheque bounce case underscores a growing trend of financial litigations involving film personalities and business dealings gone wrong.

As per the latest court order, if Santoshi fails to appear before October 27, 2025, authorities will execute the warrant and produce him before the Jamnagar Court to face imprisonment.