Veteran actresses Radha and Ambika, who were among the most recognisable sister pairs in South Indian cinema during the 1980s, are now caught up in a family dispute involving allegations of cheque misuse.

Radha has approached the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner with a complaint against her sister Ambika and their brother Mallikarjuna Kunjan Nair, alleging that signed blank cheques kept at her residence were accessed and subsequently used without her knowledge.

According to Radha’s complaint, the cheques were presented in Ambika’s name in an attempt to obtain around Rs 46 crore. The allegations are yet to be established, and the circumstances surrounding the cheques will be determined through the police inquiry.

What does Radha’s complaint say?

Radha has said that she maintained a current account for her business, which was previously operated under the name ARS Garden Studio. She kept a few signed blank cheques at her residence so that routine expenses such as employee salaries, utility bills, taxes and garden maintenance could be paid while she was travelling.

The business was renamed RR Gardens in January 2025. Following the change, Radha said she received a new cheque book and stopped using the older one. She claims that the unused cheques eventually slipped from her memory.

That changed on September 17, when her bank informed her that five of the old cheques had been presented for encashment in Ambika’s name.

Radha has alleged that she immediately instructed the bank to stop the payments, maintaining that she had neither handed the cheques to Ambika nor entered into any financial arrangement with her that would require such payments.

Radha alleges cheques were accessed from her room

In her complaint, Radha has further alleged that the cheques were filled in by her brother Mallikarjuna. She has accused him and Ambika of acting together in using the documents for unlawful financial gain.

She has also alleged that the cheques were taken from her room without her knowledge while she was away from Chennai.

The complaint extends beyond the alleged cheque transactions. Radha has claimed that she has been prevented from accessing her share of the family property, where she says valuables, jewellery, property documents and other important records are kept.

The actor has requested the police to investigate the allegations and take criminal action if the claims are established. The complaint was submitted to the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner on September 21.

Both sisters went on to become prominent names in South Indian cinema during the 1980s, working with several leading actors and building successful careers of their own. The police investigation is expected to establish how the cheques were accessed, who filled them in and under what circumstances they were presented for payment.