After Punjabi singers Daler Mehndi and Sukhwinder Panchhi, it is the turn of danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, against whom a case of cheating has been registered in Naranpura, Ahmedabad.

Joint Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad, P C Thakur, said on Saturday that an inquiry has been initiated against Sarabhai on the basis of a complaint filed by one Manuben Shah that the danseuse did not refund a portion of money that she took for taking her to the United States.

The case has been registered under sections 420 (cheating), 120 (concealment) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code, Inspector M K Katariya said.

Sarabhai said, "Officially, I am not aware of any such inquiry, and if at all there is any, I have to say that there is not an iota of truth in it. I have come to know about the inquiry from the press only and have nothing comment until I get the things officially."

Sarabhai, who is also director of the Ahmedabad-based Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, had applied for visas for the US and Brazil in December 2002 for her troupe to participate in 'Folklore Arts in World Fest - 2003'.

The consulates general of both the countries had refused the visas.

The complainant alleged that Sarabhai had not refunded a portion of the amount collected for the visit.