On June 26, the Kerala High Court granted anticipatory bail to the producers of the blockbuster Malayalam film Manjummel Boys, in a case involving alleged cheating over profit-sharing agreements. The bail was granted after the court observed that the dispute primarily arose from a commercial agreement concerning the distribution of profits from the successful film.
The complaint, filed by investor Siraj Valiyathara Hameed, alleges that the producers – including Shawn Anthony, actor-producer Soubin Shahir, and Shahir’s father – induced him to invest Rs 7 crore with the assurance of receiving 40% of the profits. Despite the film’s commercial success, Hameed claims he received no returns.
While a previous plea to quash the criminal proceedings was denied by a coordinate bench, the High Court noted the presence of potential criminality but concluded that custodial interrogation was not necessary in this case. “The nature of the allegations, although suggestive of criminal intent, is heavily reliant on documentary evidence and business transactions,” the court observed.
The court directed the petitioners to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the Investigating Officer on July 7 between 10 AM and 5 PM, with the possibility of an additional appearance on July 8 if required. This direction was given to ensure the completion of the investigation while safeguarding the petitioners from immediate arrest.
The prosecution, however, opposed the bail plea, arguing that the accused were using the guise of a commercial dispute to avoid accountability for criminal conduct.
