Marans face a setting sun, Jaya is sticking to her script

Media baron Kalanidhi Maran, who was summoned by the Chennai police this morning in a cheating and intimidation case against Sun Pictures, has been granted more time to appear before it after he cited prior engagement.

The counsel for Kalanidhi sought time saying his client was out of station and would return only on 26 July. Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Kumar told reporters that the plea has been accepted.

The police said Kalanidhi, chairman and managing director of Sun TV Network with a turnover of Rs 1,900 crore, was issued summons following a complaint from a Salem-based film distributor who has accused the company’s movie division, Sun Pictures, of cheating and threatening him when he asked for return of the money.

TS Selvaraj of Kandan Films claimed that he bought the distribution rights for Tamil movie  Theerada Vilayattu Pillai produced by Sun Pictures for Rs 83 lakh. But instead of using him, Sun allegedly released the film directly in theatres. Selvaraj submitted that Sun Pictures chief operating officer Hansraj Saxena threatened him when he asked for his money to be reimbursed.

Many feel the movie ran its course and that the case is a dated affair. They believe the heat that Maran is facing draws from Jayalalithaa’s determination to punish the Maran brothers , who have long been her political rivals. Jayalalithaa was re-elected to power in May after ousting DMK chief M Karunanidhi, the grand-uncle of the Maran brothers.

Kalanidhi is the elder brother of Dayanidhi Maran who recently resigned as Union textile minister following allegations of corruption. While Kalanidhi has been summoned for the first time in the case, Saxena has already been arrested on the complaint filed by Selvaraj.

After his arrest on 3 July, Saxena has been named in eight more cases involving production and distribution of two other Tamil films, including Rajnikanth-starrer Endhiran, which was produced by Sun Pictures and released last year. Saxena is now under 15 days of judicial custody.

Sun TV Network shares slump

Meanwhile, shares of Sun TV Network slumped more than seven per cent in early trade on television reports of its founder being summoned by the Chennai police. At 9.16 am, shares had pared some losses but still down 3.6 per cent at Rs 295.75 in a firm Mumbai market.

On Tuesday, the broadcaster named Vijay Kumar, the chief operating officer of the company, as the new chief executive officer.

(With inputs from Agencies)