In a reprieve for Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff, the Kerala High Court yesterday stayed proceedings against him in three cheque bouncing cases. The stay order was issued by Justice R Basant on a petition by Shroff to quash the cases pending against him before the Judicial First Class Magistrate court at Kodungaloor in Thrissur.

Shroff's counsel Hariraj said there were eight cases against the actor of which six had been stayed earlier. Three cases came up before the court yesterday.

The petitioner said the lower court had no jurisdiction to consider the complaints filed against him in the cases.

He said due to some business transactions, his wife had given to the first complainant Bijay Chukani of Mumbai seven cheques issued by the petitioner. No amount was due to Chukani either from him or his wife, it was stated.

Shroff said it was only to harass him that Chukani issued a power of attorney to the second complainant, V K Mathew of Thrissur and presented the cheques.

The cheques were returned for lack of funds and the petitioner got notices demanding the amount mentioned in the cheques. Since this was not paid, Mathews filed the complaint.

Shroff said the complainant's motive was to create unnecessary media hype by compelling him to come to Kerala as an accused and tarnish his image.

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