‘Even Radha’s handbag has a lock; forgotten signed cheque is a plain lie’

CHENNAI: Actress Ambika and her brother have come forward responding to the allegations raised by her sister and actress Radha in a cheque fraud case. Ambika and her brother said that the allegations levelled by Radha are factually incorrect and that it is difficult to believe that someone as careful as their sister would have casually left behind the signed cheques. Ambika also said that she was not informed about the removal of the initial of her name from ‘ARS Gardens’.

‘My sister is someone who even uses a lock on her handbag. When she sleeps, she keeps her handbag inside a cupboard and secures it with a number lock. It is impossible to believe that such a person would leave a signed cheque in my house,’ said Ambika. There have been disputes between them over property. Ambika alleged that Radha had taken her gold and when she asks about them, no definite answer is given.

When I ask her about my gold, she does not give a reply. My sister has a strong liking for gold. Leaving aside the question of taking the gold belonging to my elder sisters or my mother, gold is a weakness for my sister. She has a considerable amount of gold that belongs to me. There is no response when I ask about it. Even when I think of discussing the matter, she does not pick up the phone.

Even before our mother’s death, she had settled the share of the property among her children. After her demise, we had taken a decision after holding talks on all issues. However, when she talks to us, she says things one way, and after returning home, she speaks in a completely different manner,’ Ambika said.

Radha had filed a complaint alleging that signed cheques of Rs 46 crore kept in the house for business purposes were taken without her permission by her sister Ambika and brother.

Radha said that transactions were done through a present account with IDBI Bank that she used for her business under the name ‘ARS Gardens Studio.’ She stated that while travelling, she had kept a few signed blank cheques in her room to manage expenses such as employees’ salaries, utility bills, taxes and garden maintenance.

After the business name was changed to ‘RR Gardens’ in January 2025, she received a new cheque book and stopped using the old one. She later did not notice what had happened to the old cheque book. According to Radha’s complaint, she came to know about the matter only after receiving a message from the bank on September 17 stating that five of the old cheques had been produced for encashment in Ambika’s name.