Tamil Actor Radha Files Fraud Complaint Against Siblings

Radha, a veteran actress in Tamil cinema, has lodged a police complaint against her sister, Ambika, and her brother, Mallikarjuna Kunjan Nair, alleging misuse of her signed blank cheques. The complaint, submitted to the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner on September 21, addresses the forging of cheques valued at approximately ₹46 crore.

According to her statement, Radha had stored these signed blank cheques at her home in Chennai for routine financial obligations related to her business. She maintained an account with IDBI Bank specifically for covering costs such as salaries, utilities, taxes, and garden maintenance. Initially, this account was operated under the name ARS Garden Studio. However, after changing the business name to RR Gardens in January 2025, she ceased using the cheques from the previous account.

On September 17, Radha received a notification from her bank indicating that five old cheques, meant for smaller routine payments, had been presented for encashment in her sister's name. The amounts varied from ₹11 lakh to ₹27.73 crore, leading her to swiftly instruct the bank to halt payment.

Radha stated that she had neither authorised the issuance of these cheques nor entered into any financial agreement with her sister that would justify such transactions. She alleges that her brother filled out the cheques, implicating both siblings in a conspiracy to benefit unlawfully from her finances.

Additionally, Radha raised serious concerns regarding her access to family property. She claims to have been barred from entering her property for over a year and mentioned that valuables, including jewellery and essential documents, remain there. She has urged law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation and pursue criminal charges if the allegations are substantiated.

Radha launched her acting career in 1981 with Bharathiraja’s film, Alaigal Oivathillai, and subsequently gained prominence in the Tamil film industry throughout the 1980s. She has shared the screen with notable stars such as Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, featuring in acclaimed films like Muthal Mariyathai and Amman Kovil Kizhakale.

Ambika Nair, Radha’s elder sister, began her acting career earlier and has made a significant mark in Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films. The sisters have appeared together in several productions, further intertwining their careers within the film industry. The police are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the cheque issues as well as the broader allegations concerning family property access.