A Mumbai court has reportedly ordered the release of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) worker Ganesh Chukkal in a cheating and forgery case linked to a residential flat associated with actor Akshay Kumar’s sister, Alka Bhatia Hiranandani. According to a report by India Today, the Esplanade 37th Magistrate Court granted Chukkal release on a personal recognizance bond of Rs 1 lakh. The decision reportedly followed arguments that the investigating agency had failed to follow the required legal procedure during his detention.Ganesh Chukkal and his associate Sameer Sawant were arrested in connection with the case. The court’s reported order focused on the circumstances surrounding Ganesh Chukkal’s detention and the delay in producing him before the appropriate court.
Court orders release on Rs 1 lakh bond
According to India Today, the court observed that Ganesh Chukkal should have been produced before it within 24 hours of being taken into custody by the Crime Branch. The defence reportedly argued that the investigating agency had not complied with this requirement after taking over the case.Ganesh Chukkal was initially remanded to police custody until October 5. His custody was subsequently extended until October 9, according to reports. The defence challenged the procedure followed during this period and sought his release on the grounds of alleged illegal detention.
Case concerns flat linked to Akshay Kumar’s sister
The investigation reportedly concerns a residential flat at Hiranandani Estates linked to Melronia Hospitality Private Limited. Alka Bhatia Hiranandani, the sister of Akshay Kumar, is one of the company’s directors.During a court hearing on October 5, the prosecution reportedly stated that the investigation had been transferred from Powai police station to the Crime Branch’s DCB CID Unit 10. The transfer subsequently became relevant to the defence’s arguments about the procedure followed after the agency took charge of the case.
Defence questions delay in producing accused
Ganesh Chukkal was reportedly taken into custody on October 6. However, he was allegedly not produced before a court over the next three days. On October 7, the DCB CID reportedly informed the Andheri court that he would be produced before the Esplanade Court on October 9.Advocates Rajendra Shirodkar, Archit Sakhalkar, Laxman Shahapur and Nihar Ghag represented Ganesh Chukkal. They argued that the investigating agency was required to produce him before the appropriate court after taking over the investigation. The defence sought his release, citing alleged procedural violations and the delay in presenting him before the magistrate.
Court reportedly finds affidavit insufficient
The investigating agency is said to have submitted an affidavit on October 12 to counter the defence’s submissions. However, the court reportedly found no sufficient grounds in the affidavit to reject the arguments presented on Chukkal’s behalf.The magistrate subsequently ordered his release, reportedly holding that he should have been produced before the Esplanade Court within 24 hours of the Crime Branch taking him into custody. The reported ruling addressed the legality of the detention procedure rather than establishing whether the cheating and forgery allegations were true.
Akshay Kumar’s recent film releases
Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar has continued to feature in several film projects. His recent filmography includes ‘Haiwaan’, which premiered on September 11, 2026. The actor also appeared in ‘Welcome To The Jungle’, released on June 26, 2026, and ‘Bhooth Bangla’, which arrived in theaters on April 17, 2026.Disclaimer: The information in this report is based on a legal hearing as reported by a third-party source. The details provided represent allegations made by the parties involved and are not proven facts. The case is ongoing, and a final verdict has not been reached. The publication does not claim that the allegations are true.
