Rahul Raj gets interim relief in cheating case

Rahul Raj Singh, accused of abetting television actress Pratyusha Banerjee's suicide, was yesterday given interim protection from arrest by the Bombay High Court in an unrelated cheating case.

Rahul Raj Singh (left) promised Heer Patel he would make a movie starring her and took Rs 25 lakh from her family

mid-day had earlier reported on this case and other allegations of cheating levelled against Rahul by four women (‘Rahul a conman for whom only money matters', April 6). Geeta Patel had registered a case against him at Versova police station on July 2, alleging that Rahul had cheated her daughter in 2011.

"Rahul had dictated a script to Heer, Geeta's daughter and told that she could be the lead actress in the film and, if her family paid Rs 25 lakh, he could also make her father the co-producer," said an officer from Versova police station.

The movie never materialised, but Rahul kept the money. Her mother lodged a cheating case against Rahul last month with the Versova police. The government pleader told Justice PN Deshmukh that a special pleader was likely to be appointed in the case and asked for an adjournment till August 8.

Abad Ponda, who appeared for Rahul, asked the state pleader to ensure that Rahul wouldn't be arrested till then.

After discussing the matter with the investigating officer, the state pleader agreed and protection was given to Singh till August 8. He had fled after the Dindoshi court rejected his application for anticipatory bail on July 20.