January 23, 2025: The Andheri Magistrate Court in Mumbai has sentenced acclaimed filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma to three months in jail for a cheque bounce case. The court delivered the verdict on Tuesday, marking the end of a seven-year-long legal battle.

Varma, known for his films 'Satya' and 'Rangeela', was absent during the hearing, which led to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant for his arrest. The case stems from a cheque issued by Varma's firm that could not be encashed, an offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. This section deals with the dishonour of cheques due to insufficient funds or amounts exceeding the arranged limit.

In a statement, Varma clarified the context of the case: "With regard to the news about me and Andheri court, I want to clarify that it is to do with a 7-year-old case of Rs 2 lakh 38 thousand amount, relating to an ex-employee. It is not about settling the meagre amount but is about refusing to be exploited in the attempts to fabricate. Anyway, that's all I can say for now as it's in court."

Additionally, Varma has been ordered to pay Rs 3.72 lakh in compensation to the complainant within three months. Failure to do so will result in an additional three months of simple imprisonment.