The Bombay High Court, on April 8, has passed an interim order restraining filmmaker Santosh Kumar RS from making comments concerning the script of the Hindi film Dhurandhar. For the unversed, Santosh Kumar RS accused Dhurandhar makers, including writer-director Aditya Dhar, of copying the script. The latter flagged Santosh`s comments as defamatory.
Aditya Dhar gets relief from Bombay HC
Justice Arif S Doctor, while hearing the defamation suit filed by Dhar against Kumar on Wednesday, passed the order, noting that while Kumar had been served notice of the case, none appeared for him. The Court then proceeded to grant Dhar limited interim relief, noting that he had made out a prima facie case for the grant of such relief.
The court ordered, “Until the next date, the defendant (Kumar) shall be restrained from repeating words set out in the suit, and all other words of a similar nature. Issue notice,” while clarifying that the order is specifically against Kumar. It also noted that it will not operate till April 16, when the matter is next listed for further hearing.
Senior Advocate Birendra Saraf, who appeared for Dhar before the Court, argued that Kumar`s comments were deeply prejudicial and defamatory. “All I seek is, if he has a grievance about infringement, he himself said I am going to initiate legal proceedings. He can initiate legal proceedings, and I will respond to the same appropriately. But in the meantime, he can`t use such language,” Saraf told the court.
The Court granted Dhar interim relief, noting that the allegedly defamatory comments had been widely shared. The court concluded, “In my view, the plaintiff has made out a case for the grant of limited ad-interim relief.”
About the plagiarism case
Dhar`s defamation case comes after comments made by Kumar at a press conference held days after the release of the film Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Kumar allegedly accused Dhar and the makers of Dhurandhar of copying his registered script titled D Saheb.
After the press conference, Dhar sent a legal notice to Kumar, in which he denied any plagiarism and even cautioned Kumar against making any such further comment. However, when Kumar failed to respond to the legal notice, Dhar approached the Bombay High Court for relief. Dhar’s plea also sought an injunction and damages for statements made by Kumar, which the director claims are baseless and defamatory.
