The Patiala House Court in Delhi has issued summons to Bollywood legend Dharmendra and two others in a case of alleged cheating involving the Garam Dharam Dhaba franchise. The summons, dated December 5, 2024, was issued following a complaint by Delhi-based businessman Sushil Kumar, who claims he was misled into investing in the restaurant chain under false pretences.
The complaint accuses Dharmendra (referred to as Dharam Singh Deol in legal proceedings) and his co-accused of inducing Kumar to invest Rs. 63 lakh, citing exaggerated promises of profits from the franchise. Kumar alleges that he was assured the business would generate substantial monthly turnover, comparable to the successful outlets in Connaught Place, Delhi, and Murthal, Haryana. The businessman claims he paid an initial amount of Rs. 17.70 lakh, which was encashed by the accused, but the commitments made to him were never fulfilled.
Judicial Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal, in his summoning order, stated that the evidence on record suggests the accused acted with common intent to deceive the complainant. Charges have been filed under Sections 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Additionally, two of the accused face charges of criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the IPC.
According to Kumar, the proposal for the franchise was presented in April 2018, when he was offered a letter of intent to open a Garam Dharam Dhaba in Uttar Pradesh. The agreement promised a 7% profit share on his investment. However, after paying the amount and acquiring land for the franchise, Kumar alleges that the accused stopped responding to him and even threatened him when he tried to follow up.
Initially, Kumar approached the Connaught Place police, but the case was dismissed as a contractual dispute rather than a criminal offence. Dissatisfied with the police’s response, Kumar pursued the matter in court, leading to the summons.
The court clarified that the summoning process is based on prima facie evidence, and the case’s merits will be evaluated during the trial. The next hearing is scheduled for February 20, 2025.
This legal controversy has brought significant attention to the Garam Dharam Dhaba brand and its high-profile association with Dharmendra, raising questions about accountability in celebrity-backed ventures.
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