Veteran Film Star Jaya Prada Receives Six-Month Prison Sentence For ESI Funds Violation

Chennai, August 12 (TNA) Jaya Prada, a renowned film star from South and Bollywood, and former Member of Parliament, has been sentenced to six months in prison by the Egmore Metropolitan Magistrate Court. The ruling comes in response to allegations of failing to pay Employees State Insurance (ESI) funds for workers at her cinema theatre in Chennai.

Workers, associated with the closed cinema for a decade, claimed that despite ESI deductions from their earnings, the funds were not remitted. They turned to the judiciary for help.

Jaya Prada and the theatre's management appealed to the Madras High Court to halt the Egmore court proceedings, but their pleas were dismissed. In a subsequent hearing, Jaya Prada offered to settle the owed amount to the workers. However, objections were raised by the ESI's legal representative, leading to the judge's decision for a six-month imprisonment sentence.

Years ago, Jaya Prada and her associates owned a cinema hall in Chennai. The case highlights the importance of fulfilling financial obligations towards workers' benefits. Jaya Prada is currently a BJP member.