Kerala High Court grants interim relief to Manjummel Boys producers in cheating case

The Kerala High Court recently granted interim relief to actor-producer Soubin Shahir and producer Shawn Antony in a cheating case registered against them in connection with their recent Malayalam blockbuster film Manjummel Boys. [Shawn Antony v. State of Kerala].Soubin and Antony are accused in a case registered at the Maradu Police Station, Ernakulam, alleging commission of various offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating and forgery.Justice P G Ajithkumar granted them interim protection from arrest until May 22, on which date their application for anticipatory bail will be heard by the Court..Soubin and Antony (petitioners) are partners in Parava Films LLP. They entered into an investment agreement with the de-facto complainant in this case, one Siraj Valiyathara Hameed, in November 2022. In said agreement, Hameed agreed to invest ₹7 crore in a time-bound manner for the production of Manjummel Boys, in return for 40% of the net profit. .After the movie's release, based on reports that it had collected over ₹250 crore, Hameed demanded payment as per the agreement. According to Soubin and Antony, they assured Hameed that the same would be done after all the revenue and expenses are accounted for..However, Hameed moved a commercial court seeking an order restraining the petitioners from utilising the profits from the movie and from releasing it on OTT platforms. An ex-parte order was issued by the commercial court attaching the accounts of Parava Films.Hameed subsequently filed a complaint before the police based on which a criminal case was registered against Soubin and Antony. It was alleged that they have failed to pay him as per the investment agreement. .Subsequently, the petitioners moved the present application for anticipatory bail arguing that Hameed's demands were premature, as the entire revenue and expenses related to the film had not been accounted for. They cited clauses from the investment agreement, which stipulated that Hameed would receive their share of profits only after all financial aspects were settled.The petitioners further alleged that Hameed had already initiated arbitration proceedings against them and that the private complaint filed by him was only to gain publicity and an attempt to pressure them into settling the civil dispute..The petitioners were represented by Advocates Thomas J Anakkallunkal, Vijay V Paul, Deepa Jose George, Anupa Anna Jose Kandoth, Jayaraman S, Dhanya Sunny and Ann Milka George..[Read Order]