Madurai: The Additional District Munsif Court, Madurai, has issued notice to actor Rajini and seven others, for suo moto hearing that has been advanced in connection with the Lingaa script case filed in 2015, on March 8.
Issuing the notice to the superstar and also director K. R. Ravirathinam (plaintiff) who alleged that Rajni’s multi-lingual Lingaa’s storyline is the same as that of his story of his film: Mullai Vanam 999 (based on the story of a dam construction, reflecting the Mullaiperiyar reservoir construction) the judge said as per the direction of the Madurai bench of the Madras high court, the suit has to be disposed on or before this April end. “Hence both sides counsels are required to appear on March 8 with their parties without fail,” the judge said.
Passing orders on a petition by the film producer seeking transfer of the case to another court on grounds on prolonged delay in the trial, Justice V M Velumani of the high court had directed the munsiff court to conclude the case within April 30.
Ravi Rathinam of Madurai claimed that his script was stolen by the makers of ‘Lingaa’. He had moved the high court which in December, 2014 ordered the producer to deposit a sum of Rs 5 crore by demand draft and another Rs 5 crore by way of bank guarantee before releasing the movie.
The producer complied with the court order as he needed to release the movie immediately and appealed against it in the Supreme Court which on March 20, 2015, directed him to furnish only Rs 1 crore as bank guarantee and also ordered the trial court to dispose the suit within six months.
The Additional District Munsiff Court judge also summoned film producer Rockline Venkatesh, B Ponkumar, Director K S Ravikumar and the General Secretary of South Indian Film Writers Association directing them to appear tomorrow.
