The Patiala House Court in Delhi has issued summons to veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra and two others in connection with an alleged cheating case related to the Garam Dharam Dhaba franchise. Judicial Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal passed the summoning order on December 5, following a complaint by Delhi-based businessman Sushil Kumar.
The court has directed the accused—Dharam Singh Deol (Dharmendra) and two co-accused—to appear on February 20, 2025, for alleged offences under sections 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intent) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The co-accused are also charged under section 506 (criminal intimidation).
The court noted that at the summoning stage, only a prima facie case needs to be established without a detailed review of the evidence. Magistrate Chahal stated, “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 offence of cheating are duly disclosed.”
According to the complaint, Sushil Kumar was approached in April 2018 by the co-accused, who claimed to represent Dharmendra, proposing an investment in a Garam Dharam Dhaba franchise in Uttar Pradesh. He was promised a 7% profit on a ₹41 lakh investment along with complete operational support.
Encouraged by the perceived success of other Garam Dharam branches, Kumar signed a letter of intent in September 2018 for ₹63 lakh. He paid ₹17.70 lakh upfront and acquired land in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, for the project. However, Kumar alleges that the respondents failed to fulfill their commitments, causing him financial losses. When he sought repayment instead of the franchise, Kumar claimed he faced threats from the co-accused.
Documents submitted in court, including a letter of intent bearing the Garam Dharam Dhaba logo, suggest that the transaction was pursued by the co-accused on behalf of Dharmendra.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for February 20, 2025, to further examine the case. Dharmendra, who recently celebrated his 89th birthday, has not yet responded to the allegations.
This case highlights the growing scrutiny on celebrity-linked business ventures and the legal liabilities tied to endorsements and partnerships.
