Chennai

Jan.25.2002

The Madras High Court has enhanced the fine amount imposed on actress Roja to Rs four lakh from Rs 5000. The fine was slapped by the trial court in a cheque bounce case and in case of default she will have to undergo imprisonment for one year.

Justice M Karpagavinayagam, passed this order, on a criminal revision petition filed by financier Mukanchand Botra against the judgement of the XV Metropolitan Magistrate dated 8 June 1999. Since the actress had already paid Rs 5000 as fine, she was directed to deposit Rs 3.95 lakh in the trial court within four weeks.

Roja was convicted by the court for an offence under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and sentenced to undergo imprisonment till the rising of the court and pay Rs 5000 as fine in default to undergo simple imprisonment for two months. Roja had earlier borrowed a loan of Rs five lakh from Botra and executed a promissory note on 5 July 1996. In order to pay back the loan, she issued two cheques for Rs one lakh each which were returned when Botra presented them in the bank. Following this, Botra filed a complaint before the George Town Magistrate Court.