6 months imprisonment for N Chandra

A local court has sentenced film producer-director N Chandra to six months' imprisonment a Rs 2 lakh fine in a cheque bouncing case.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate B P Kamble held Chandra guilty of offence under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Chandra has been released on bail and has 30 days to file an appeal at a sessions court. Chandra is producer-director of Tezaab, Pratighaat and Style.

Milan Jhaveri, the proprietor of M J Films, alleged he had hired Chandra's services to direct his film in 1995. A sum of Rs 15 lakh was also given as advance to Chandra. The project, however, was shelved with mutual consent. Chandra agreed to return the amount --- he paid Rs 2 lakh initially and agreed to pay the balance in instalments. Accordingly, he gave three cheques worth Rs 50,000 each to Jhaveri.

The cheques bounced.

The complainant then served a statutory demand notice on Chandra asking him to pay the amount due to him or else face litigation. When he failed to reply to the notice, Jhaveri filed a case against him.

PTI