Mangaluru: The Eighth Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court in Mangaluru has sentenced renowned Kannada actor Padmaja Rao to three months of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 40.2 lakh in connection with a bounced cheque linked to a loan she allegedly took.
The case was initiated after Veerendra Shetty, a resident of Maryhill and owner of 'Veeru Talkies' in Mangaluru, filed a complaint against Rao. Shetty claimed that Rao had borrowed Rs 40 lakh from him and provided a cheque dated June 17, 2020, as security for the loan. However, when Shetty attempted to encash the cheque, it was dishonored due to insufficient funds in Rao's account. Following the cheque's rejection, Shetty issued a notice to Rao on June 30, 2020, demanding repayment of the loan within 15 days, but the actor allegedly failed to fulfill this obligation.
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During the court proceedings, Padmaja Rao denied the allegations, asserting that she never borrowed money from Shetty and did not issue him any cheque as security. Rao further accused Shetty of stealing a cheque from her possession and forging her signature to build a false case against her. However, she was unable to provide substantial evidence to support her claims.
After reviewing the case, Judge Fawaz P.A. sentenced Padmaja Rao to three months of imprisonment. Additionally, she was ordered to pay a fine of Rs 40.2 lakh, which includes Rs 40.17 lakh to be paid to the complainant and Rs 3,000 as a penalty to the government.
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Ranchi: Champai Soren, a prominent figure in Jharkhand’s statehood movement, is contesting the 2024 assembly elections from Seraikela, a seat he has consistently held since 1991.
However, there is a surprising shift in his political journey this year. Having resigned from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) earlier this year, Soren is now representing the BJP, a move that could significantly impact the electoral dynamics in the state.
Soren’s switiching is seen as a strategic benefit for the saffron party, which has been working to expand its appeal among Jharkhand’s tribal communities, a demographic traditionally aligned with the JMM. His departure from the JMM, led by Shibu Soren and his son Hemant Soren, was fueled by dissatisfaction with the state government’s policies, which he claimed had failed to address tribal concerns.
Also known as "Jharkhand’s Tiger" for his instrumental role in the statehood movement of the 1990s, Champai Soren has respect and influence among tribal voters. His decision to switch the party could be a turning point in the BJP’s efforts to gain a stronger hold in a state where tribal votes often decide the outcome.