A court here on Saturday issued a non-bailable warrant against Congress MP from Moradabad and former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin following his repeated failure to appear in a cheque-bounce case against him.
Metropolitan Magistrate Vikrant Vaid issued the warrant for March 1 after rejecting the plea of Mr. Azharuddin's lawyer for exempting his client from personal appearance on the ground that the he was campaigning for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. On the last date of hearing, the court had ordered Mr. Azharuddin to be present for Saturday's hearing.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
According to the complainant, Delhi businessman Sanjay Solanki, an advance amount of Rs.1.5 crore was paid by him to Mr. Azharuddin for purchase of the latter's property in Mumbai — jointly owned with his spouse Sangeeta Bijlani, and valued at Rs. 4.5 crore.
But the deal fell through for various reasons and Mr. Solanki sought reimbursement of the amount. Mr. Azharuddin allegedly issued him a cheque for Rs.1.5 crore thrice — in 2008, 2009, and in 2010 — but on all three occasions it was dishonoured by the bank, following which the businessman moved court.