A Chennai court has ordered the issuing of bailable arrest warrants against Tamil actor Radikaa and husband Sarath Kumar and their business partner Listin Stephen in connection with a case of alleged financial fraud. Listin Stephen is the producer of the Malayalam hit Ustad Hotel which went onto bag three National Film Awards in 2012.
A fast track court in Saidapet was on Monday hearing a petition by Radiance Media, a film financing company. Radiance had alleged that Radikaa, Sarath Kumar and producer Listin Stephen, who are partners at a production company called Magic Frames, had borrowed Rs 1.5 crore Radiance in 2014. To repay this amount, Magic Frames reportedly issued two cheques.
Later, actor Sarath Kumar, who is chief of the Samathuva Makkal Katchi, had taken a hand loan of Rs 50 lakh from the company. To repay this amount, Sarath Kumar issued five cheques worth Rs 10 lakh each.
However, all cheques bounced and Radiance Media decided to approach the court against the three.
In May this year, the Madras High Court refused to quash criminal proceedings against the couple for the Rs 1.5 crore repayment, directing a fast track court to complete the trial within six months. However, the court quashed criminal proceedings against Radikaa Sarath Kumar and Listin Stephen in relation with the bouncing of five cheques for Rs 50 lakh.
Since the actor couple did not appear in person, the court ordered that bailable arrest warrants be issued against the duo. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 12.
Going by their social media posts, Radikaa and Sarath Kumar appear to be in the United Kingdom. Posting pictures from Manchester, Radikaa announced on her Facebook account on June 27 that she was watching India vs West Indies Cricket World Cup match at Old Trafford in Manchester.