Bombay HC Grants Bail To Producer Mehmood Usman Ali In Cheating Case Against Him over OTT Rights Of Film “Yaaram”
The High Court granted bail to film producer Mehmood Usman Ali in a cheating case registered against him for duping the producer of the film “Yaaram” for Rs.1.25 crore. Bail was granted to Ali after he swore on an affidavit that he would submit all the hard copies and scripts and will not claim any right over the movie.
A Single Judge Bench of Justice Bharati Dangre has granted bail to the web series maker and film producer Mehmood Usman Ali in the cheating case registered against him by Vijay Mulchandani who produced the film “Yaaram”.
The Bombay High Court granted bail to Ali after he swore before the jail authority of Mumbai Central Jail on an Affidavit that :
“In view thereof, I am giving the present undertaking to this Hon’ble Court that I hereby release all my rights and/or the right of my company M/S. DON INFOTAINEMNT in respect to the said movie YAARAM which was agreed to be sold to my company by the First Informant as per Agreement dated 18.03.2020. In compliance of the assurance given before this Hon’ble Court I have handed over the original hard disk and copy of the script of the said movie to the first informant before this Hon’ble Court on 18.10.2022 on the date of hearing. I undertake to this Hon’ble Court to handover the poster, trailer and all the material related to the said movie to the first informant within 10 days from the date hereof.”
He also stated in his affidavit that he shall not have any claim or right over the movie and shall cooperate with the first informant for all the documentation.
“I say that I have no claim in respect of the said movie 'YAARAM' and shall not claim any right in future. I also undertake to this Hon’ble Court that pursuant to my release from jail in the present case I shall cooperate with the first informant and execute all the documentation if any, required by the first informant for effective release of all the rights in the movie YAARAM in favour of the first informant,” he stated.
The High Court in its order noted that the applicant has handed over the original hard disk and the copy of the script to the counsel for the complainant, however, the same is subject to verification at the instance of the complainant.
The judge while granting bail to the applicant noted,“Since the complainant has expressed his inclination to believe the applicant in the wake of the undertaking given by him to the Court in form of an affidavit sworn on 17/10/2022, I do not think that further incarceration of the applicant is necessary.”
Therefore, court allowed the release of the applicant but made it subject to handing over the Poster, Trailer, and all other material.
Background of the Case:
A case was registered against Mehmood Usman Ali by Amboli Police Station after Vijay Mulchandani filed a complaint stating that he had produced the film “Yaaram” which was released in 2019. The complainant wanted to release the movie on OTT for which he approached Ali and Dr. Irani of the M/S Don Infotainment, and a deal of 1.25 crore was made. Ali and Irani did not pay Mulchandani the agreed amount and further sold the rights of the movie to Rajshri Production for Rs. 15 Lakhs. In June 2021, when two more cheques that were given to Mulchandani were bounced, he was told by the bank officials that the bank account was shut in March 2021, after which he registered a complaint against Ali and Irani.
Case Title: Mehmood Usman Ali vs State of Maharashtra & Anr.