Upholding a lower court’s order that there was prima facie no case against Himesh Reshammiya, a sessions court in Bombay on August 11 rejected a plea by Vijay Taneja who accused Himesh, his father, manager and director Prashant Chadha of cheating. Taneja had invested Rs. 40 crore in Himesh’s debut film as actor, Aap Ka Suroor. He alleged that he never received DCRs of the film or reports of its business or profits, as agreed upon.
Additional sessions judge A.Z. Khan observed, “However, there is no material on record to show that there was any element of deception, manipulation, fraud and embezzlement of funds… from the very inception of the investment, as alleged.”
On December 14, 2021, a magistrate’s court rejected Taneja’s plea seeking directions to the police to register an offence against Himesh and others. Taneja moved a revision application in the sessions court in 2022.
As per the complaint, Vijay Taneja invested Rs. 40 crore to produce Aap Ka Suroor, as per a partnership deed executed in 2006. He claimed that he was not given the partnership deed or the profits, despite several reminders.
The Reshammiyas submitted that all documents, account statements and information in respect of expenses and revenues, including losses, were communicated to Taneja. They said, he had received Rs. 2.27 crore as full and final settlement and had agreed not to make any further claims.
The judge said, “…documents filed by both parties clearly read that there were a number of communications between the complainant and respondent no. 2 (Himesh Reshammiya) through e-mails and through their respective advocates, wherein the respondent made available all documents, account statements and information in respect of expenses and revenue collections etc.” The judge concluded that Vijay Taneja’s subsequent actions seemed unfair and unjust.