The Kerala High Court on Thursday refused to quash criminal proceedings against producers of the film Manjummel Boys in a cheating case registered against them. [Shawn Antony v. State of Kerala and connected case].Justice VG Arun dismissed petitions filed by producers Babu Shahir and Shawn Antony and actor-producer Soubin Shahir..The case arose after a criminal complaint was lodged by Siraj Valiyathara Hameed, an investor who entered into an agreement in November 2022 with the three producers/partners in Parava Films LLP, to invest ₹7 crore for the production of Manjummel Boys. In return, Hameed was allegedly promised 40 percent of the net profits.Following the movie's commercial success, Hameed claimed that the producers had failed to disburse his agreed share of profits. He initially approached a commercial court, which passed an ex-parte order attaching the accounts of Parava Films.Later, he filed a police complaint against the producers, leading to the registration of a first information report (FIR) alleging commission of offences under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 468 (forgery) of the Indian Penal Code..The producers subsequently moved the High Court to quash the criminal proceedings. They contended that the matter was essentially civil in nature as it arose from an investment contract.While the Court had previously granted an interim stay on the proceedings, it has now declined to quash the proceedings. A detailed copy of the order is awaited..The producers were represented by Senior Advocate S Sreekumar, instructed by advocate Sachin Jacob Ambat, along with advocates Martin Jose P, P Prijith, Thomas P Kuruvilla, R Githesh, Ajay Ben Jose, Manjunath Menon, Harikrishnan S, and Anna Linda Eden.Hameed was represented by Advocates Saiby Jose Kidangoor, Benny Antony Parel, Restem YR, Pramitha Augustine, Nazriya Banu, Irene Mathew and Adrisya S..[Read Order]
