Additional sessions judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Courts on August 13 granted anticipatory bail to producer Kumar Mangat Pathak in a cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy case related to the Chinese rights of Drishyam 2. The judge passed the order after noting that the payment of Rs. 75 lakh was not made to Kumar Mangat personally and, therefore, his custodial interrogation was not indispensable.
“It is directed that in the event of arrest, the applicant Kumar Mangat Pathak shall be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 1 lakh with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer/SHO/IO,” the court ordered. It directed Kumar Mangat to cooperate in the investigation.
The Delhi police’s Economic Offences Wing had registered an FIR against Mangat and others after businessman Rajinder Kumar Goel claimed that he was duped into investing Rs. 4.30 crore for exclusive Chinese-language rights to Drishyam 2 for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan territories.
Goel alleged that an intermediary named Bharat Sevak, posing as an authorised representative of Mangat’s Panorama Studios, used forged documents and misrepresentations to secure the deal. He added that funds amounting to Rs. 75 lakh were diverted from Sevak’s company to Panorama. Meanwhile, Mangat said that no payment was made to him personally and the amount of Rs. 75 lakh was transferred to Panorama’s account in relation to another film. He added that his company had replied to Goel’s email on November 14, 2024, stating that the documents signed were forged.
After considering the arguments of the two sides, the judge said that Mangat had made a case for grant of anticipatory bail.
Advocate Vineet Dhanda appeared for Kumar Mangat Pathak. The Delhi police was represented by additional public prosecutor Mukul Kumar.
