VISAKHAPATNAM: Vangalapudi Anitha, the state president of the Opposition Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) women's wing, appeared in the 7th Special Magistrate's Court here on Monday in a cheque bouncing case.

As per reports, Anitha who was then a TDP MLA from Payakaraopet had taken a loan of Rs 70 lakhs from one Vegi Srinivasa Rao of Rajupeta village of Kotavuratla mandal in Anakapalli district in October 2015 for her personal expenditure and elections funds. A promissory note was written and it was agreed that she would pay 18 percent interest. Three years elapsed and she had not returned the principal amount, nor had she paid the interest amount.

Vexed, Srinivasa Rao demanded that she repay his loan. On July 30, 2018, Anitha gave him an HDFC bank cheque of Rs 70 lakhs and he deposited the same in his ICICI Bank account on August 13, 2018. The cheque was dishonored and the bank officials issued a memo stating that the cheque had been withheld for other reasons including insufficient funds.

After the cheque bounced and Anitha refused to repay the amount Srinivasa Rao filed a case in the 1st Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in the city in 2019 for recovery of the money. Anita rejected the legal notice sent by his lawyer. Later the case was transferred to the 7th Special Magistrate's Court. Bank officials recently submitted the memo and evidence to the court that the cheque had bounced due to insufficient funds in the bank account.

The TDP Mahila leader was asked to appear in court on Monday, but she asked for time citing reasons of ill health and left the court. The magistrate adjourned the case and posted the matter on May 4 for the next hearing. Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act states that any bounced cheque is a criminal offense and punishable under the Act and can lead to up to two years of imprisonment, a monetary refund, or both.

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