Actress Ambika hits back at sister Radha over bounced cheques, property dispute

Veteran actress Ambika denied allegations by sister Radha that she stole signed blank cheques to fraudulently encash nearly Rs 46 crore. Ambika said five cheques were handed over by Radha’s manager during a financial settlement involving ARS property shares and gold

Chennai: Veteran actress Ambika on Wednesday denied allegations of “wrongdoing” following a police complaint by her sister and actor Radha alleging that the former attempted to defraud her to the tune of Rs 46 crore using stolen cheques.

In a high-profile family feud involving 1980s South Indian screen icons, actress Radha has lodged a formal police complaint with the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner, alleging that her sister, actress Ambika, and their brother, Mallikarjuna Kunjan Nair, stole signed blank cheques from her residence to unlawfully encash nearly Rs 46 crore.

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Addressing the media following the complaint, Ambika categorically denied the charges and said there was “no truth” in Radha’s complaint besides expressing distress over the family matter reaching the police.

With Radha, in her complaint, alleging that Ambika trespassed into her room and stole signed cheques, Ambika firmly rejected the charges, describing Radha as “extremely meticulous” with her personal belongings and number-locked bags, making theft impossible.

“I worked day and night in my youth for my siblings. To be accused of stealing a cheque from a room is deeply painful and completely absurd. How come it is possible, if she (Radha) is so careful with her belongings,” Ambika added.

Ambika also maintained that Radha’s manager handed over five signed cheques as part of a formal financial settlement regarding ARS property shares and gold.

“ARS Gardens was built with my hard-earned money and named with MGR’s blessings. Seeing its name erased and my rightful shares denied forced us to seek legal recourse. We tried repeatedly to settle this within the family. Because legal proceedings are currently underway, I will respect the law and refrain from further public commentary”, she said.