Ranchi: Ameesha Patel pleaded not guilty at a court here on Monday in a case of fraud and cheating.
The Bollywood actress arrived at the court amid tight security, with her face covered.
Complainant Ajay Kumar Singh, a film producer from Jharkhand, has accused Ameesha and her partner Kuunal Goomer of fraud, intimidation and cheque bounce.
Singh alleged that Ameesha and Goomer borrowed Rs 2.5 crore from him for the making and publicity of a film called ‘Desi Magic’ but failed to repay the loan after multiple delays and excuses.
The agreement was that the principal amount, plus interest, would be returned on completion of the film.
Ameesha gave two cheques — one for Rs 2.5 crore and the other for Rs 50 lakh — in October 2018 in favour of the complainant’s company, but both bounced.
A complaint was then lodged against her at Ranchi’s Argora police station.
A warrant was issued against Ameesha on April 6 after she and her lawyer failed to appear before the court despite being summoned.
The ‘Gadar’ actress finally put in an appearance at the Ranchi court on June 17, and was granted conditional bail.
The court of judicial magistrate DN Shukla ordered her to appear again on June 21, but she stayed away citing unavoidable reasons.
She turned up today to plead not guilty.
