Samantha’s Producer In Jabardasth Trouble, Arrest Likely

Hyderabad:Telugu film producer Bellamkonda Suresh is likely to face arrest for failing to repay Rs 3.5 crore to a leading entertainment channel, which was the satellite rights amount for the Samantha -Siddharth movie Jabardasth. It is reported that an arrest warrant has been issued for his arrest after he failed to pay the amount as directed by the court.

It may be recollected that the Delhi High Court has held that Yash Raj Films' 2010 movie Band Baaja Baaraat starring Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma was "blatantly copied" by the makers of Telugu film Jabardasth and the copyright of the Bollywood flick was infringed. The court issued orders restraining the makers of the Telugu film from releasing the movie in any format, including DVDs, VCDs, Blu-ray discs and television.

Despite the orders the Telugu film Jabardasth was released in February 2013 across various screens in India. In March 2013, the high court passed an interim order restraining its makers Sri Sai Ganesh Productions from releasing it in any format.

Yash Raj Films, in its suit, said that after its film's release in September 2010, it decided in April 2011 to remake the movie in Tamil and Telugu languages. But they got know that the producers had intended to remake the same film in Telugu. Various legal notices were sent to the defendant, asking it to forthwith stop plans, if any, on the remake of any of the plaintiff's films but no response was received. Yashraj Films has approached the Delhi High Court alleging that 19 scenes have been copied.

The Telugu film which was directed by Nandini Reddy starring Samantha and Siddharth, was eventually released in March 2013.

Against this backdrop, Bellakonda Suresh went ahead and produced the film with Siddharth and Samantha. Even as the film was in production stage the producers sold the television satellite telecast rights to a major entertainment channel for Rs 3.5 crore. The court also ordered the film not to be telecast on television and the channel owners approached the court explaining that he had to pay them the amount. Bellamkonda was reportedly evading the whole issue for the past 6 years.

However, the total amount of Rs.3.5 crore taken by Bellamkonda has now increased to Rs.11.75 crore for which court has issued an arrest warrant against Bellamkonda for failing to repay the amount.

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