Rahul Raj gets interim protection from arrest in cheating case

New Delhi: Television producer Rahul Raj Singh, accused of abetting the suicide of actress-girlfriend Pratyusha Banerjee, got interim protection from arrest in a cheating case after police assured the Bombay High Court that it won't do so. Justice P N Deshmukh was hearing an anticipatory bail application filed by Rahul seeking protection from arrest in the cheating case filed against him by model-actor Heer Patel accusing him of duping her of Rs 25 lakh. Rahul's advocate Abaad Ponda told the court that while the alleged incident is of 2010, the FIR has been filed only in July. "There has been a delay of six years in filing the case and hence his custody is not required," Ponda said. Additional public prosecutor Aruna Kamath Pai informed the court that a special public prosecutor is going to be appointed in the case who would argue the matter. "The investigating officer assures that Rahul will not be arrested till this matter is heard and decided," Pai told the court. Following this, Justice Deshmukh posted the bail plea for hearing on August 9. According to Patel's FIR, Rahul had narrated a film script to her in 2010 and asked her to arrange Rs 25 lakh. Rahul allegedly promised to cast Patel as lead actress in the movie and also agreed to show her father's name as co-producer of the movie. Patel had handed over the money to Rahul but he never made a movie and also failed to return her money. Rahul approached the high court after the sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. Recently, police had filed charge sheet against Rahul for abetting the suicide of his girlfriend, who hanged herself on April 1.