The Bombay High Court, on Thursday, heard the defamation case filed by Aditya Dhar, the writer-director of Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, against writer‑filmmaker Santosh Kumar. The latter had earlier alleged that Dhar had copied the script from his work. The court urged both parties to resolve the matter, noting that it should not be allowed to spiral.
Bombay HC tells Aditya and Santosh to resolve the matter
Justice Arif Doctor observed, “A matter like this should be resolved. It doesn’t need to escalate into a fight for defamation.” The Court also pointed out that if Kumar believed his script had been copied, he was free to pursue the claim through an appropriate civil lawsuit instead of simply airing his claims before the media.
“You have a civil claim; make it. They will defend it. In that you may seek a settlement. If there has to be a fight, there will be a fight. But it does not need to escalate to this level,” the judge told. Advocate Pravin Faldessai, who appeared for Kumar, clarified that his client’s grievance was restricted to asserting authorship over the story.
“I don’t really enjoy fighting a suit before any court. Because my only claim is that the story is written by me, it’s my original work, and somebody has to make that claim,” he said.
The Court assured Kumar that nobody can stop him from making that claim, while adding that there was scope to de-escalate the dispute and work out a settlement. Justice Doctor said, “My firm view is that this matter can only be de‑escalated and worked out.”
Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Birendra Saraf, who appeared for Dhar, submitted that if Kumar wished to continue asserting his claim to the script, he must do so through proper legal proceedings and not keep repeating allegations in the media. Faldessai responded by stating that he would have a word with Kumar on this proposal.
The judge went on to say, “(In the next hearing), I will pass an order saying that you (Kumar) will refrain from using such words. And you file your claim, keeping all rights and contentions open, whatever case you have against them. This entire proceeding comes to an end. Otherwise, a defamation suit will lie pending, for what purpose?” before adjourning the case till April 30.
About the case
For the unversed, Aditya Dhar sued Santosh Kumar for defamation after Kumar publicly claimed Dhar`s film, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, was copied from his registered script, D Saheb. Dhar sent a legal notice to Kumar denying plagiarism and cautioning him; however, Kumar did not respond. Dhar then moved the High Court, seeking an injunction and damages.
During the earlier hearing on April 8, the High Court restrained Kumar from repeating the defamatory comments about the film`s script and Aditya Dhar.
