In a major legal relief to film producer J. Satish Kumar and his company JSK Film Corporation, a Chennai sessions court has overturned their conviction in three cheque bounce cases and acquitted them of all charges in a long-running financial dispute with Sowcarpet-based financiers Sandeep Bothra and Gagan Bothra.
The XXI Additional City Civil Court, Allikulam, delivered its judgment on February 12, 2026, allowing three criminal appeals filed by Satish Kumar against the earlier conviction passed by the Fast Track Metropolitan Magistrate Court in George Town, Chennai.
The cases arose from complaints lodged by Sandeep Bothra and Gagan Bothra, who alleged that Satish Kumar and his production firm had borrowed substantial sums for business purposes and issued cheques towards repayment. The cheques were later returned unpaid due to insufficient funds, prompting criminal proceedings under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
In June 2024, the trial court had convicted Satish Kumar and his firm in all three cases and sentenced him to six months’ simple imprisonment in each matter. The court had also directed the accused to pay compensation totalling more than ₹1.27 crore to the complainants.
Challenging the conviction, Satish Kumar and his company filed appeals before the sessions court, contending that the cheques had been issued only as security and were later misused. The defence maintained that the actual loan amount was far lower than what was claimed and that the financial dealings between the parties had already been settled years earlier. It was also argued that the complainants had failed to establish the existence of a legally enforceable debt required to sustain a conviction under cheque dishonour laws.
After hearing arguments from both sides and examining the records, the sessions court found merit in the appeals and held that the earlier conviction could not be sustained. The court concluded that the evidence on record was insufficient to prove beyond doubt that the cheques were issued towards a legally enforceable liability.
Setting aside the trial court’s judgment in all three cases, the sessions court acquitted Satish Kumar and JSK Film Corporation of all charges. The court further ordered that any deposits made by the accused during the proceedings be refunded after the appeal period and cancelled the bail bonds executed in connection with the cases.
The judgment brings significant relief to the producer and his firm, bringing to a close a prolonged legal battle with the Bothra brothers over alleged cheque dishonour transactions, unless the verdict is challenged before a higher court.