Chennai, Jun 25 (PTI): The Madras High Court today asked the deputy commissioner of police of the state's Central Crime Branch to appear before it on July 2 to apprise it of the status of probe into a cheating case involving actor-turned-politician J K Rithesh.

Justice PN Prakash sought the CCB DCP's appearance before it while considering the bail plea of the cheating case co-accused Suresh.

The CCB had booked Rithesh, a former MP, on charges of cheating an American citizen of Indian origin to the tune of Rs three crore.

According to the prosecution, Rithesh had promised Athinarayanan a lucrative business deal and transfer of ownership of a plot of land in the year 2014.

Athinarayanan later paid Rithesh Rs three crore which was never returned to him despite several demands for it. Rithesh had given three cheques of Rs 1 crore each to the victim which had bounced.

Following this, Athinarayanan filed a complaint, on the basis of which an FIR was lodged by the CCB against Rithesh and his associates.

The Madras High Court had directed the police later to probe the case.

The petitioner, Suresh is arrayed as accused number six in the case.

In his plea, Suresh has said he is in no way connected with the offence committed by Rithesh who had cheated Athinarayanan.

He claimed he too had been cheated by Rithesh.

Stating that he would co-operate in the investigation, the petitioner sought anticipatory bail.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)