Kumar, 94, was honorary chairman of Geekay Exim India Ltd.
By Dileep Thekkethil
Legendary Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar is a relieved man after a Mumbai court on Tuesday acquitted him of an 18-year old check bounce case.
The 94-year-old actor was earlier exempted from appearing before the court in person for the hearing of the case which accused him of furnishing bounced checks when he was the honorary chairman of Geekay Exim India Limited, an export business.
The company had raised several hundred crores from various lenders across the country.
According to reports, the company had issued checks for repayment almost 18 years back but the checks started to bounce and everyone involved with the company was accused of financial fraud.
Even though Dilip Kumar was not actively involved with the company, his role in the company as its honorary chairman made him answerable for the default in the payment.
The present case was the last legal case against the actor.
Earlier, Saira Banu, wife of Dilip Kumar and former actress, asked his fans to pay so that the stress of the 18-year old case doesn’t affect the health of her husband adversely.
Ahead of the hearing on Tuesday, Banu posted an image of her and Dilip Kumar in the twitter handle of the veteran actor.
The government of India in 1991 honored Dilip Kumar with Padma Bhushan and in 2015 with Padma Vibhushan. He is also the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke award, which was bestowed on him in 1994.
Even though Dilip Kumar and Vimal Kumar Rathi were acquitted in the case, Gopal Kishan Rathi, the Managing Director of Geekay Exim India Limited and S Seturaman have been convicted in the case.
Former Petroleum Secretary HA Khan was one of the directors of Geekay Exim India Limited.
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