2024-06-01 11:35:12
While refraining from disclosing confidential information, Merchant said that the case has no base to stand on. He added that from 2016-2024, the contract has not been performed, and further went on to explain why it has happened. He said that in 2016, a legal contract was drawn up between the two parties (Sunny Deol and Sourav Gupta) that mentioned all monetary compensation and legal consequences likely to ensue if either party fails to perform. When that compensation did not turn up, a demand notice was sent to the other party (Sourav Gupta), mentioning that if the amount is not paid up, the contract will be be terminated, and the amount forfeited. This was followed by another demand notice, both went unanswered. The contract was then terminated (like it was mentioned in the contract) and the amount was forfeited. However, even then, there was no challenging to the same in the civil court, nothing. There was no reply to the termination notice too.
The allegation of changing a page in the agreement and introducing the clause of termination and forfeiture amounting to forgery is a baseless allegation, in as much as if the complainant was so aggreived by such alleged change of pages, he sould have brought up the said issue in replies to mails he recieved from the office of sunny deol, firstly proposing termination, secondly terminating the contract and forfeiture. Such allegations of forgery are raised for the first time with an obvious intention of arm twisting Mr Sunny Deol to succumb to false extorted demands of 25 crores which are now a part of th false complaint.
Vishal Rana, a producer and close associate of Sunny Deol, who has worked with him for nine years, said that he was a witness to the same contract when it was being drafted in 2016. He said that at that time, the complainant Sourav Gupta had told Sunny that his wife is an actress, who is currently not in Mumbai, hence he will take the contract and return it the following Monday. That never happened, says Rana.
Earlier, Ashok Saraogi, representing Gupta, said, “My client, a reputable builder, ventured into the entertainment industry, collaborating with Sunny Deol for a film. Initially, a signing amount of Rs 1 crore was paid, which later increased to about 5 crore.”
Saraogi continued, “Subsequently, Sunny Deol claimed the story was stale and demanded a new film with a different subject, leading to several changes and increased payments.”
Saraogi alleges that Sunny Deol now seeks further compensation following the success of Gadar 2 and proposed a subject on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, desiring to portray a lawyer.
Saraogi revealed that Sunny Deol was summoned by the Juhu police but cited being out of town.
Producer Sourav Gupta disclosed that Sunny Deol was initially given a signing amount of Rs 1 crore, later requesting an additional Rs 1 crore before disappearing and ceasing communication. Gupta stated, “Sunny made excuses not to do the film, working on other projects and eventually becoming an MP.”
Gupta asserted that Sunny Deol’s requests for changes in the creative team were accommodated. Additionally, in 2023, Sunny proposed a film on the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi case, seeking to portray a lawyer, and asked for money before his son’s wedding, to which Gupta obliged.
Finally, Rizwan Merchant said that Sunny will co-operate with the police and will be producing all the documents to prove his innocence. All what Saurav gupta has tried to do is extortion. He also insisted that that no FIR has been filed till now.
