Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has heaved a sigh of relief as his next, Omerta starring Rajkummar Rao, has cleared the censor hurdle. But, he’s also caught in a legal wrangle as far as his earlier directorial Kangana Ranaut-starrer Simran (which he co-produced with Shailesh Singh) is concerned. Amit Agarwal, of the Kolkata-based Adarsh Telemedia Pvt Ltd, who lent Rs 8.30 crore to them for the film, has sued them in Kolkata High Court for non-payment of dues, along with interest accrued on the principal amount.
On Friday, the Arbitrator passed the judgement that Hansal deposit the proceeds he earns from Omerta in a separate account in a nationalised bank and disclose the details to the Arbitral Tribunal by way of affidavit. Hansal, also called Respondent No 3 in the Arbitrator's order, is injuncted from in any manner whatsoever, dissipating or disposing of withdrawing or howsoever otherwise dealing with the money which may be received by him and/or his company towards and in connection with the film Omerta without leaving a sum of Rs 7.05 cr in such account. Moreover, Hansal’s company, Karma Pictures Pvt Ltd, named as Respondent No 4, is to follow the same too.
Amit has also filed a case of contempt against the producers. He says, “The Kolkata High Court had passed an order asking Hansal and Shailesh to deposit Rs 1.5 crore, which they didn’t. So, I filed the case of contempt against them. And since there was a clause of arbitration, I could get the Arbitrator appointed by the Supreme Court.”
Amit Agarwal, who got only Rs 1.25 cr from the two producers earlier, dragged them to court when they failed to repay his dues despite repeated follow-ups. He says, “Shailesh was also said to be the producer of Omerta, but it seems he got his name removed to avoid being made to pay his dues from its proceeds. Both, Shailesh’s and Hansal’s present and future films are in lien till they clear my dues.”
We tried contacting Hansal and Shailesh, but they didn’t revert to our text messages till the time of going to press.
