In a twist worthy of a courtroom drama, Delhi’s Saket District Court has slapped ‘Gandhi Godse – Ek Yudh’ producer Rajkumar Santoshi with a bailable warrant. This legal curveball comes after co-producer Jhoolan Prasad Gupta filed a cheque dishonour case against him.
Despite clear summons, Magistrate Aakash Sharma noted Santoshi’s conspicuous absence, calling it a deliberate dodge. “Accused no. 2 has not appeared deliberately before the court today,” the court order remarked, setting the stage for the next act in this legal saga.
The ₹1 crore cheque in question was supposed to fund the film’s production, as per an agreement between Santoshi Productions LLP and Gupta. But the plot thickened when Santoshi’s legal counsel sought exemption, citing a delayed receipt of summons on July 2—a claim swiftly countered by Gupta’s legal team.
Summons had been served as early as April 14, the court highlighted, painting a picture of Santoshi’s intentional evasion. The result? A bailable warrant of ₹10,000, with a 30-day deadline, returnable on September 11.
This isn’t Santoshi’s first legal skirmish over bounced cheques. He was previously sentenced to two years in prison and fined ₹20 lakh on February 18 in a separate case. As the legal drama unfolds, Santoshi is represented by advocate Dilip Kumar, while Gupta’s corner is manned by Sangeet Rai of Rayasa Law Partners.
