Actor Sahir Lodhi, associate booked on fraud complaint

They allegedly obtained Rs40m from widow for investment

KARACHI:

Pakistani television host and actor Sahir Lodhi and his associate Faisal Zia have been booked by police over allegations of obtaining Rs40 million from a widow on the pretext of investment.

The case was registered at Shah Latif Town police station in Karachi following a complaint by Naghma Wakeel, a resident of Landhi's Majeed Colony. According to the first information report (FIR), the woman said she was introduced to Lodhi through a person identified as Faisal Lashkar Wala.

Wakeel alleged that she gave Lodhi Rs40 million for investment. She said Lodhi later paid her Rs250,000 on one occasion and Rs400,000 on another, while also issuing seven cheques for the repayment of the remaining amount.

According to her complaint, the cheques, reportedly worth Rs8 million and Rs9 million, were deposited at a Qa'idabad branch on their due dates but were returned unpaid.

Wakeel further alleged that after she informed Lodhi about the failed cheques, he issued another cheque for Rs44 million, which also failed to clear.

She said that after contacting Lodhi again, his friend Faisal Zia issued a cheque for Rs20 million, but that cheque was also dishonoured by the bank.

The complainant said she made several attempts to recover her money before approaching the courts.

She subsequently filed an application before the District and Sessions Court Malir under Sections 22-A and 22-B of Pakistan's Code of Criminal Procedure, seeking directions for registration of a case.

Following the court's order, police registered a case against Lodhi and Zia and have begun investigating the allegations.