Legal troubles for Bollywood actor Ameesha Patel have escalated significantly this week as a local court in Moradabad issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against her. The order, passed on Monday, February 16, 2026, stems from a long-standing legal battle involving a 2017 breach of contract and a subsequent cheque bounce.
The court of the Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) took this decisive step after the Gadar 2 star repeatedly failed to appear for hearings despite multiple summons. The judiciary’s move to secure her presence underscores the increasing pressure on high-profile figures to comply with the legal process, regardless of their celebrity status.
The case dates back nearly a decade to November 16, 2017. According to the complaint filed by Pawan Verma, a Moradabad-based event organizer and owner of a local event management firm, he had contracted Ameesha Patel to perform at a high-profile wedding ceremony for Ayush Agrawal.
Verma alleged in his submission that he made an advance payment of ₹14.50 lakhs to the actor to secure her appearance. Furthermore, his firm had reportedly finalized lavish stay arrangements at a prominent hotel on Delhi Road in Moradabad. However, the event took a sour turn when Patel allegedly failed to travel from Mumbai to attend the ceremony on the scheduled date.
The complainant claims that the sudden absence caused not only financial losses but also significant reputational damage to his event management firm.
The legal dispute isn’t just about the “no-show” but also the failed refund process. Pawan Verma stated that after the incident, he engaged in discussions with the actor’s team to recover the advance. He alleged that while ₹10 lakhs was eventually returned in cash, the remaining balance of ₹4.50 lakhs was paid through a bank cheque.
However, the situation worsened when that cheque bounced upon being deposited, leading Verma to initiate proceedings under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The complainant has further alleged that the actor has been intentionally evading legal proceedings for years, prompting the court to shift from bailable to non-bailable warrants.
The Moradabad court expressed frustration over the repeated delays. Citing the actor’s persistent absence from the witness box, the judge issued the non-bailable warrant to ensure her presence for the next hearing.
While the warrant is active, the court has directed the actor to appear personally on March 27, 2026. Legal experts note that an NBW typically empowers the police to arrest the individual to produce them before the court, unless the individual seeks a stay or anticipatory bail from a higher judicial body. The case currently involves charges under sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy), 406 (Criminal Breach of Trust), 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
Ameesha Patel has not remained silent amidst the brewing legal storm. Taking to her Instagram Stories shortly after the news broke, the actor dismissed the reports as a “public spectacle.”
She termed the case a “very, very old and settled matter,” asserting that a settlement deed was signed years ago. According to her statement:
“I wish to inform one and all that this is a v v old matter… in which the said Pawan Verma had signed a settlement deed and received the entire agreed amount. Despite this, it seems he has lodged proceedings making false allegations.”
Patel further clarified that her legal team is not just defending the case but is now initiating criminal proceedings of cheating against Pawan Verma to “expose his lies and deceit.” She maintained that she prefers to focus on her work rather than people seeking attention on false pretexts.
This is not the first time the Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai star has navigated the corridors of justice. In 2023, she surrendered before the Ranchi Civil Court in a separate ₹2.50 crore cheque bounce case involving businessman Ajay Kumar Singh.
The current development in Moradabad also comes just days after fellow actor Rajpal Yadav faced his own cheque bounce crisis, eventually securing interim bail from the Delhi High Court. The back-to-back legal woes of prominent Bollywood figures have reignited discussions about financial compliance and contract management within the entertainment industry.
As of now, the ball is in the actor’s legal court. To avoid the humiliation of a potential arrest, her lawyers will likely move to challenge the NBW or seek a stay from the High Court. If she fails to present a valid settlement deed to the Moradabad court by March 27, the legal pressure could intensify.
While the Gadar 2 box office success brought her back into the limelight as a bankable star, these persistent legal shadows threaten to complicate her professional resurgence.
