Bombay High Court Encourages Amicable Settlement in Aditya Dhar-Santosh Kumar Dispute over Dhurandhar The Revenge Script
Court’s Recommendation for Resolution
The Bombay High Court expressed on Thursday that the defamation case initiated by writer-director Aditya Dhar against Santosh Kumar, concerning plagiarism allegations tied to the film Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge, should be addressed without further escalation. Justice Arif Doctor advised both parties to engage in amicable discussions to resolve the issue.
During the proceedings, the court highlighted that conflicts of such nature can often be settled outside of prolonged defamation litigation.
Public Statements Under Scrutiny
The dispute originated when Santosh Kumar publicly alleged that the sequel’s script had been copied from his previous work. Aditya Dhar refuted these claims, labeling them as defamatory, prompting him to seek intervention from the High Court.
Justice Doctor indicated that if Kumar believes his intellectual property rights were infringed, he is entitled to pursue civil remedies through proper legal channels, but emphasized that these matters should not be aired through public media statements.
The court further asserted that disagreements about authorship should be resolved through established legal processes rather than through public discourse.
Clarification on Authorship Claims
The advocate representing Kumar clarified in court that his client’s concern was primarily focused on claiming authorship of the story. The court recognized Kumar’s entitlement to assert such a claim, yet stressed the need for it to be pursued through legal means.
Senior Advocate Birendra Saraf, who represented Dhar, contended that allegations of plagiarism should not be repeated in public forums and should be addressed through the appropriate legal channels. Kumar’s counsel stated that he would consult with his client regarding the recommendation to limit the dispute to legal resolutions.
Previous Court Orders
On April 8, the High Court had previously issued an order restraining Santosh Kumar from making further allegedly defamatory statements regarding the script. Dhar had approached the court seeking an injunction and damages after Kumar reportedly did not respond to a legal notice disputing the plagiarism claims.
This case highlights the ongoing complexities surrounding intellectual property rights in the film industry, as well as the importance of adhering to legal frameworks when resolving disputes.
