Fresh trouble for Sun Pictures COO

Chennai, July 16: Yet another complaint of cheating to the tune of `55 lakh was filed against Sun Pictures COO Hansraj Saxena on Friday.A film producer filed a complaint of cheating with the Virugambakkam police, alleging that he was cheated of `55 lakh on the sale of satellite rights for the film Vallakottai.
T D Raja (39) of Saligramam, who produced the film under his banner, ESK Films International, held talks with Saxena and his aide Thambidurai on October 30 last year to sell the satellite rights of the movie at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore. A deal was also reportedly signed. The movie was then released on November 5. Meanwhile, Raja called Saxena over phone on November 22 to discuss the satellite rights to the film. Saxena reportedly asked him to come to a company at Choolaimedu that was owned by his brother-in-law Suresh.
Later, the producer had met Saxena, his aide Thambidurai and Iyyappan at Suresh’s office. The COO gave ` 70 lakh to Raja, saying that he would buy the satellite rights for the movie for a lesser rate, as it did fare well in the box office. Raja, who did not have a choice but to take the money, lodged a police complaint later. Based on the complaint, Saxena and Iyyappan were arrested.
Saxena was earlier held for his involvement in three other cases, following complaints filed by Salem-based distributors T S Selvaraj and Shanmugavel and producer Nemichand Jhabak.

—Agencies