Veteran actor Dharmendra has been summoned by Delhi Court and two others in a cheating case related to Garam Dharam Dhaba. Summon is issued on a complaint filed by a Delhi businessman who alleged cheating by luring him to invest in the franchise of the restaurant.
The magistrate has directed all three individuals to appear before the court for proceedings related to the allegations of financial misconduct.
“The evidence on record prima facie indicates that the accused persons induced the complainant in furtherance of their common intent and the ingredients of the offense of cheating are duly disclosed,” the judge said in the summoning order passed on December 5.
“Accordingly, let the accused persons at serial number 1 (Dharam Singh Deol), 2, and 3 be summoned for the commission of offenses under section 420, 120B read with section 34 IPC. Let the accused persons at serial no. 2 and 3 be also summoned for the offense of criminal intimidation under section 506 of IPC,” the court ordered.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on February 20, 2025.
As per ANI, the Court stated that at the summoning stage, it is necessary to examine whether a prima facie case exists, and a detailed analysis of the merits and demerits is not required.
The court noted that the documents related to Garam Dharam Dhaba, including a letter of intent bearing the restaurant’s logo, clearly indicate that the transaction involves Garam Dharam Dhaba and was being pursued by the co-accused on behalf of the accused, Dharam Singh Deol.
On October 9, 2020, the court rejected an application requesting the registration of an FIR. However, the court acknowledged the complaint and directed the complainant to provide evidence.
Advocate DD Pandey represented the complainant, Sushil Kumar. According to Kumar’s case, in April 2018, a co-accused approached him on behalf of Dharmendra with an offer to open a Garam Dharam Dhaba franchise on NH-24/NH-9 in Uttar Pradesh.
The complainant claims he was persuaded to invest in the franchise under the false impression that the branches of the restaurant in Connaught Place, Delhi, and Murthal, Haryana, were generating a monthly turnover of Rs 70 to 80 lakh.