Yash Shah, son of late film financier Raju Shah (T.A. Shah group of companies), has obtained a stay order against the release of Rajkumar Santoshi’s Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh on 27th January. The stay order, passed on January 20, will come into force if Santoshi does not deposit Rs. 50 lakh in the court within five days of the passing of the order.
Rajkumar Santoshi had several years ago accepted Rs. 50 lakh by way of signing amount from Raju Shah for a film he was directing for producer Sami Siddiqui. That project never got made. However, Santoshi did not return the money he had received from Raju Shah. In the arrangement between Raju Shah and Rajkumar Santoshi, the latter agreed that he would repay the amount with interest failing which he would not be allowed to release a film produced and directed by himself.
Santoshi’s lawyer argued in the sessions court at Dindoshi (Borivli division, Bombay) that his wife was the producer of Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh while Rajkumar Santoshi was merely the film’s director. But the advocate for Yash Shah told the court that Rajkumar Santoshi was a shareholder in Santoshi Productions LLP under which banner the film had been made.
After hearing both the sides, the court ruled that five days’ time be given to Santoshi to deposit the cash security of Rs. 50 lakh in the court. Santoshi is likely to appeal against the order.