Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

Kolkata, Aug 6: The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted interim protection from arrest to actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty in connection with a financial forgery case filed against him by a Kolkata-based interior designer. The case relates to alleged non-payment for interior design work carried out at two hotels reportedly owned by Chakraborty.

The single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta, while hearing Chakraborty's plea to quash the FIR filed at Chitpur police station, restrained the police from taking any coercive action against him until the next hearing on September 10.

However, the court did not stay the ongoing investigation and allowed Kolkata Police to continue their probe. It also directed the state to submit the case diary by September 3, when the matter will be heard next. All parties have been asked to file their affidavits before that date.

The complaint, filed by a woman interior designer, accuses Chakraborty of failing to make payments for interior work done at his hotels located in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, and Kurseong, West Bengal, dating back to 2019. Based on her complaint, the police registered an FIR against the veteran actor, and her statement has also been recorded before a magistrate in a city sessions court.

Following these developments, Chakraborty moved the High Court seeking the quashing of the FIR. The court's interim order protects him from arrest but keeps the investigation active pending further judicial review.