Dubai: The cheque bouncing case involving Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) leader Thushar Vellappally is getting murkier by the day. When Thushar and petitioner Nasil Abdullah appeared before a court at Ajman in the UAE, more evidence was produced by Nasil against his former business partner.
Moreover, both traded allegations before the court. While Nasil told the court that the settlement money offered by Thushar was insufficient, the latter alleged that the controversial cheque leaf with his signature was stolen property.
Thushar, who had been arrested in the case, later secured bail. The court proceedings picked up pace following the intervention of leading non-resident Keralite businessman in the Gulf, M A Yusuff Ali. The surety amount for the bail amounted to 10 lakh dirhams, which is around Rs 1.9 crore.
Later, compromise talks were initiated between Thushar and Nasil, but they reportedly fell through.
Though he has secured bail, Thushar’s passport has not yet been released.
The case history
Thushar was arrested based on a complaint filed by Nasil, who belongs to Thrissur. Twelve years ago, when Thushar operated a construction firm in Dubai, Nasil was a sub-contractor to his company. In his complaint, Nasil alleges that an amount of 90 lakh dirhams (around Rs 17.1 crore) is due to him for work completed.
However, Thushar contests Nasil’s claim and says that the cost of the contract work done by the latter amounted to a mere six lakh dirhams. All of Nasil’s dues have been cleared, according to Thushar.
The Kerala politician also alleges that he was trapped. A woman reportedly invited him to a five-star hotel in Dubai to discuss a property deal on August 20. When he reached there, the arrest took place, claims Thushar. He was subsequently handed over to the Ajman police.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Police inspected Nasil’s house at Puthiyakavu, Mathilakam in Thrissur. They spoke to Nasil's parents and relatives.
The rules regarding bounced cheques are more severe in Ajman compared to Dubai. Recently, Dubai had relaxed some of these regulations. In UAE, the police arrest the accused as soon as a cheque case is filed. The defendant is subsequently produced before the court. However, Indian rules say that any arrest in this regard can be made only based on a court directive.