Old time Bollywood singer Hemalata has filed an FIR against actor Sonali Bendre's mother-in-law Madhu Behl charging her of cheating, reports Mumbai Mirror.
Hemlata Bali, a popular playback singer in the 1970s, has alleged actor Sonali Bendre's mother-in-law Madhu Behl cheated her of Rs 30 lakh in a deal over a 3,000 sq ft bungalow at Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri. In an FIR filed at Oshiwara Police Station, Hemlata said she and Behl struck a deal in which the latter agreed to sell the bungalow for Rs 2.5 crore.
Despite making a part payment of Rs 30 lakh in 2008, Behl sold the property to another party and is now refusing to return Hemlata's money, the FIR said.
Hemlata, who sang in hit movies like Akhiyon Ke Jharokon Se and Nadiyaa Ke Paar, said she made the part payment through four cheques issued between February and July 2008.
Hemlata said in the complaint, “When I asked Behl and estate agent Raju Manwani for a receipt or an acknowledgement for the transactions, they told me it was not needed and we can simply finalise the agreement.”
She further stated that Behl asked her for Rs 25 lakh cash through an agent. She said in the complaint, “I insisted that cash transaction should be done in the presence of Manwavi. A few days later, when I tried contacting him, I was told he was out of town. His staff told me they suspected that the property was sold off to another party...Behl too was evasive and that's when I realised I had been tricked.”
A case of cheating and criminal breach of trust has been registered against Behl, following the Andheri Metropolitan Court order with regard to a private complaint filed by Hemlata asking the local police station to investigate the matter, her lawyer Anil Kapur said.
Hemlata said, “They shouldn't have sold the property to another party when I had made the part payment. Even if they did that, they should at least return my hardearned money. I have been chasing them for over a year-and-a-half now. My husband, who was Sonali Bendre's teacher, was not even allowed to enter the Behls' residence when he went to discuss the issue.”
Behl filed an anticipatory bail application on Saturday, which is likely to come up for hearing today. Court sources said Behl, in a sevenpage application, said since Hemlata did not pay the remaining amount on time, they were forced to sell the bungalow to another party at a loss for Rs 1.2 crore. Behl is said to have shown the willingness to deposit the disputed amount in court.
Her advocate Junaid Shabwany said, “The matter is sub-judice and all I can say is the sale didn't happen because Hemlata backed out (of the deal).”
