Drishyam 2 producer gets bail in Chinese rights cheating case

A Delhi court has granted anticipatory bail to film producer Kumar Mangat Pathak in a case involving allegations of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy over the Chinese language rights to the movie Drishyam 2.

Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Courts granted the relief on Tuesday, noting that the Rs 75 lakh in question was not paid to Pathak personally and that his custodial interrogation was not necessary.

“It is directed that in the event of arrest, Pathak shall be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 1,00,000 with one sureties of the like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting officer/SHO/IO,” the court ordered, directing him to cooperate with the investigation.

The case stems from a first information report lodged by the Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing after businessman Rajinder Kumar Goel alleged he had been induced to invest Rs 4.3 crore for exclusive Chinese language rights to the film in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Goel claimed that intermediary Bharat Sevak, posing as an authorised representative of Pathak’s Panorama Studios, relied on forged documents and misrepresentations to finalise the deal. He alleged that Rs 75 lakh from Sevak’s company was transferred to Panorama.

Pathak told the court that he did not personally receive any payment and that the Rs 75 lakh credited to Panorama’s account related to another film. He added that his company had responded to Goel’s email of November 14, 2024, stating that the signed documents were forged.

After reviewing the case, the judge concluded that Pathak had made out grounds for grant of anticipatory bail.