Radha–Ambika Family Dispute: What We Know About the Alleged ₹46 Crore Cheque Controversy

A family dispute involving veteran South Indian actors Radha and Ambika has taken a legal turn after Radha approached the Greater Chennai Police with allegations concerning old signed cheques and a claimed financial transaction worth around ₹46 crore.

The matter has attracted attention because both sisters have had long and prominent careers in South Indian cinema. However, the allegations are currently part of a police complaint and have not been established by a court.

What Did Radha Allege?

According to reports, Radha submitted a complaint to the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner on September 21, 2026, naming her sister and actor Ambika and their brother Mallikarjuna Kunjan Nair.

Radha has alleged that some signed blank cheques that she had kept at her Chennai residence were accessed without her knowledge and subsequently presented for encashment in Ambika's name.

The total value involved was reported to be approximately ₹46 crore.

Radha has further alleged that she had not handed over the cheques to Ambika and had not entered into a financial arrangement that would justify such payments.

How Did the Issue Come to Light?

The alleged cheque issue reportedly came to Radha's attention on September 17, when she received information from her bank about five old cheques being presented for payment.

According to the complaint, the cheques belonged to an older cheque book connected with Radha's business account. She reportedly instructed the bank to stop payment after learning about their presentation.

Reports say the account was earlier associated with ARS Garden Studio. After the business was renamed RR Gardens in January 2025, Radha began using a new cheque book and says she no longer used the older one.

Why Were Signed Blank Cheques Kept at Her Home?

Radha's complaint reportedly states that she had kept some signed blank cheques at home for practical business requirements.

These were intended for expenses such as:

• Employee salaries
• Electricity and other utility bills
• Taxes
• Garden maintenance
• Other routine business payments

She has alleged that the older cheques remained at her residence after she stopped using that cheque book.

What Has Radha Alleged About Her Brother?

The complaint also names Radha and Ambika's brother, Mallikarjuna Kunjan Nair.

Radha has alleged that he filled out the cheques and has claimed that the siblings acted together in the alleged attempt to use the documents for financial gain.

These are allegations made in the complaint and will have to be examined by the investigating authorities. There has been no judicial finding establishing the allegations at this stage.

The Case Is Also Connected to a Property Dispute

The reported cheque controversy is not an isolated financial issue.

Radha's complaint also reportedly refers to a long-running family property dispute. She has alleged that she has been unable to access her portion of the property for around one-and-a-half years.

According to the reports, she has expressed concern about personal belongings, jewellery, property documents and other records that she says are located there.

This has brought an older family disagreement back into focus, with the latest complaint now involving allegations relating to both property access and financial documents.

Who Are Radha and Ambika?

The controversy has generated considerable interest because Radha and Ambika are both well-known names from South Indian cinema.

Radha made her acting debut with Bharathiraja's Alaigal Oivathillai in 1981 and went on to work in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. Her filmography includes movies such as Muthal Mariyathai, Amman Kovil Kizhakale, Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu and Rajadhi Raja.

Ambika also established herself as a leading actor, particularly through films in Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada cinema. The sisters have appeared together in several films during their careers.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus is likely to be on the investigation into the old cheques, including:

• How the cheques were accessed
• Who filled them out
• How they came to be presented for payment
• Whether any financial agreement existed between the parties
• The circumstances surrounding the wider property dispute

At present, the reported allegations remain claims made by Radha in her complaint. The police investigation will have to establish the facts, and the accused parties' responses are also relevant to the overall picture.

The Bigger Picture

The case has moved a long-standing family disagreement into the legal arena, but it is important not to treat allegations in a police complaint as proven facts. The investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings will determine what actually happened with the cheques and the related property issues.

For now, the ₹46 crore figure, the alleged misuse of old signed cheques and the involvement of three members of the family have made this one of the major South Indian cinema-related developments being discussed this week.