Duped actor cannot access 34L till case is finally closed

Mumbai: In an interesting development in the cheating case involving film and TV actor Sachin Pilgaonkarand his wife Supriya, the Bombay high court hearing the bail application of the accused Anagha Borikar, has said neither Pilgoankar nor Borikar can withdraw the Rs 34 lakh deposited by latter until the conclusion of the trial or till quashing of the FIR. Borikar had last month deposited Rs 34 lakh in the registry of Bombay High Court after the crime branch started looking for her in connection with the cheating case.
High court judge AS Gadkari while granting interim relief to Borikar has also stated that actor will not be entitled to claim any interest on the said amount. “It is needless to mention here that the amount deposited by applicant in this court is without prejudice to her rights and contention to be raised at the time of trial,” the judge said.
The court while disposing off the bail matter said that Borikar will have to attend the investigating officer as in when required but he should issue notice under Crpc 160 before calling her. Borikar claims she has been dragged into the controversy due to her estranged husband Kartik Borikar.
“He made me believe that the deal with Sachin Pilgaonkar will give him profit and he used my bank account to dupe actor. He has done with ulterior motive. And for his crime I had to take loans and deposit the money in the high court'' said Borikar. But crime branch officials said that they are still verifying whether her husband Kartik Borikar is involved in the crime.
The case pertains to a cheating case filed by the actor alleging that Anagha Borikar under pretext of availing a BMW car has duped him and his wife Supriya to tune of Rs 35 lakhs. Borikar told him that she was his fan and informed him about her business. She promised to arrange a Rs 54-lakh car for Rs 30 lakh only and initially took a cheque of Rs 3 lakh. She submitted the cheque to a dealer and told him to give a car for a test drive.
During Diwali, the dealer sent the car for a test drive, but Sachin thought the new car had been sent by Borikar. After two days, when the BMW dealer’s staff arrived to collect the car, the actor realised he had been cheated.
Sachin then filed a complaint of cheating. Borikar blamed her husband and told the police that she acted at his behest but the police have not found anything against him.