Bombay HC grants interim protection from arrest to two women accused of cheating actor Vivek Oberoi

MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Monday granted interim relief from arrest to Nandita Saha and Radhika Nanda in a 2023 crime of allegedly cheating actor Vivek Oberoi of over ₹1.5 crore.
The actor had alleged that the accused duo along with co-accused Sanjay Saha made him invest in an event and film production firm promising lucrative profits and later used the same money for wrongful self-gain.
Advocate Prateek Deore for the informant sought time to file a reply and Justice Sarang Kotwal adjourned the matter to February 22.
The first information report (FIR) was lodged by one Deven Bafna, a chartered accountant on behalf of Vivek Oberoi and Priyanka Oberoi. Oberois had formed a firm in 2017 to market organic products throughout India but since it was not doing well in 2020 decided to diversify into films and met Sanjay Saha.
Nandita is Sanjay Saha’s mother. A separate firm was set up with the Sahas and Nanda to have equal shares, said the FIR citing various alleged instances of “cheating’’.
Advocate Abhishek Yende assisted by advocate Surbhi Agrawal for the duo however argued that the FIR registered with the MIDC police station in Mumbai also for offences of criminal breach of trust shows that all the decisions were taken by Sanjay Saha.
The main allegation against the duo was that Rs 15 lakhs were invested in Life Insurance schemes –Rs 5 lakh for Nandita and Rs 10 lakh for Radhika by way of her salary, which Yende said was part of the agreement in 2020.
“In any case, at the highest, this dispute is between the partners and for that criminal offence is not made out," he argued.
Justice Kotwal said, “Considering these submissions", he has made out a case for grant of urgent protection in the interim to both accused, till February 22. The HC ordered in case of their arrest, they will be released on bail on a bond of Rs 3,000 each.