A Delhi court on Tuesday has summoned veteran actor Dharmendra, along with 2 others, in a cheating case linked to the Garam Dharam Dhaba restaurant franchise.
The summons comes after a complaint filed by businessman Sushil Kumar, who alleged that he was misled into investing in the restaurant chain under false pretenses.
The magistrate, in a December 5 order, directed all three accused to appear before the court. “The evidence on record prima facie indicates that the accused persons induced the complainant in furtherance of their common intent, and the ingredients of the offense of cheating are duly disclosed,” the judge remarked.
The accused, including Dharmendra (identified as Dharam Singh Deol), have been summoned under sections 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intent) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Additionally, the co-accused are also charged with criminal intimidation under section 506 IPC. The case is scheduled for its next hearing on February 20, 2025.
At the summoning stage, the court clarified that a prima facie examination of the evidence is sufficient, and a detailed evaluation of the case’s merits is unnecessary. The judge highlighted that documents, including a letter of intent bearing the Garam Dharam Dhaba logo, suggest the accused parties acted on behalf of Dharmendra in pursuing the investment deal.
The complaint, represented by Advocate D.D. Pandey, alleges that in April 2018, a co-accused approached Kumar with an offer to open a Garam Dharam Dhaba franchise on NH-24/NH-9 in Uttar Pradesh. Kumar claims he was lured into investing based on promises of high profits, with the impression that existing branches in Connaught Place, Delhi, and Murthal, Haryana, were generating a monthly turnover of ₹70–80 lakh.
In a previous development, the court rejected an application for an FIR registration on October 9, 2020, but acknowledged the complaint and directed the complainant to present evidence.
The court’s summons marks a significant step in the case, and the upcoming hearing will shed more light on the allegations and the defense presented by Dharmendra and the other accused.
