CHENNAI: A magistrate court here awarded two years imprisonment to three persons, including former Congress MP R Anbarasu and his wife Kamala Anbarasu, for dishonouring a cheque and failure to repay Rs 35 lakh to a financier.
Magistrate N Kothandaraj of Fast Track Court-IV passed the order on Thursday while disposing a criminal petition moved by financier S Mukanchand Bothra. The court further directed to repay RS 35 lakh along with interest Rs 25.2 lakh to the petitioner.
In his petition, Bothra stated that Trustees of Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Educational Charitable Trust, R Anbarasu, P Mani, Kamala Anbarasu, S Paramasivam Pillai, TKT Nathan, M Shanmugaselvi and M Paramasivam had taken a loan of Rs 35 lakh in 2002. They handed over a cheque dated April 12, 2006, drawn for Rs 35 lakh in favour of Bothra.
However, the cheque was returned due to insufficient funds. Despite repeated requests, they failed to return the amount. Hence, he registered a case against them under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (Dishonour of Cheque).
After eight years of trail, the magistrate convicted the accused and sentenced Anbarasu, Mani and Kamala to two years imprisonment.
However, Paramasivam Pillai, Shanmugaselvi and Paramasivam, were acquitted from the case. Nathan died during the course of trial.