The Supreme Court on Monday (May 5) issued notice to actress Sridevi and Maharashtra Government on a petition filed by film financiers alleging that Rs 10 crore cheques issued by her had bounced. A bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan sought responses from the actress and the state government on the petition filed by Mumbai-based raw photo film suppliers and financiers - G G Photo Ltd, Photo Film Industries and Foto Industries.����� They had approached the apex court challenging a Bombay High Court order that stayed criminal proceeding initiated against Sridevi in the case. Madhu Gupta and Sushil Gupta, the owners of the three firms, alleged that the three cheques issued by the actress against a loan for production of films bounced due to insufficient funds in her account in Vijaya Bank, Santacruz branch. "The accused in the course of her business under different banners availed financial assistance and credit facilities from the petitioner. The accused to discharge her legally enforceable liability gave these cheques and all the three cheques were returned due to insufficient funds," the petition filed through KK Mani stated. The court of Kurla Metropolitan Magistrate, on a criminal complaint filed by Guptas, had issued summons against the actress under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. In a counter complaint with the Juhu police station, Sridevi had alleged that Guptas had forged her signatures on blank cheques given to them by her husband Boney Kapoor during some transactions.���� The Bombay High Court on March 26 this year while staying the proceedings in the Metropolitan Magistrate's court had directed the suburban Juhu police to complete the probe within three months into the forgery case filed by Sridevi. (With inputs from PTI) ... read more »