The Ludhiana court of judicial magistrate Ramanpreet Kaur Monday discharged actor Sonu Sood in an alleged investment fraud case in which he was summoned to testify as a witness.
Sood appeared in the court via video conferencing and recorded his statement. The court had issued arrest warrants against him on February 7 and had ordered the Mumbai police to arrest him and present in the court.
Advocate Ritesh Mohindra, counsel for Sood, said that the actor was summoned by the court to testify as a witness in the alleged investment fraud case on the complaint of one Rajesh Khanna of Ludhiana.
Khanna, also an advocate, had filed a complaint in the court that he had invested Rs 10 lakh in a company called “Rikeza Coin”, which had promised to triple his money. However, nothing of that sort happened. He had also alleged that Sood was brand ambassador of the company so he must appear in the court to record his evidence.
Mohindra said that the court was duly informed that Sood was never the brand ambassador of the company, and he never promoted the company in any manner. “Sood had only attended one event of the company like he attends hudrends of others as part of his professional commitments. He is not related to the company in any way and the court was told the same, following which the judge announced him as discharged as a witness from the case. His evidence was recorded via video conferencing,” said Mohindra.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Sood said: “I attend several events in a day. I told the court that I had only attended an event which was sponsored by this company. I have no idea why I was summoned in this case as a witness. I have been discharged and have no further link to the case. The court has also rapped the opposite party for causing this unnecessary harassment to me.”
The next hearing of the case was scheduled for March 20.