Ayushmann Khurranna and team 'Bala' accused of cheating; called by Thane cops

Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana and two others from the Hindi film industry have been called for questioning by the Thane police in connection with a cheating complaint filed against them by a director, said an official Monday.

In March, a case was filed by assistant director Kamal Kant Chandra against the Vicky Donor actor along with director Amar Kaushik and producer Dinesh Vijan for allegedly plagiarising the story of Bala.

A letter of memorandum was sent to Khurrana, director Amar Kaushik and producer Dinesh Vijan, both of Maddock Films, a leading production house, Sunday by the Kashimira police station after receiving the complaint, the official said.

The complaint against the trio has been filed by 39-year-old film director Kamalkant Nanak Chandra, a resident ofMira Road, a suburb of Mumbai located in Thane district, hesaid.

The episode dates back to the time when Chandra was working on the script of a film which was to be directed by him, the official said, quoting from the complaint.

According to the complainant, he had sent the script of the story to Khurrana on his WhatsApp number. The `Vicky Donor' actor allegedly passed on that script to Kaushik and Vijan and they started making a movie based on it, Chandra claimed. This caused financial loss and mental anguish to Chandra, who felt cheated by the trio, the official said, citing the complaint.

Acting on the complaint, he said, the police have called Khurrana and the other two Bollywood personalities forquestioning and to know their point of view in the matter. "We want to know their side over the complaint. Hence,we have sent them a letter, asking them to remain presentbefore the police as early as possible," the official said. "If the actor and the two others fail to appear beforethe police, it will be construed that they don't want to sayanything in connection with the complaint and necessary actionwill be initiated, he said.

Meanwhile, Khurrana's legal team has rejected the claim of plagiarism and asserted that their script is original. It maintained the matter is already before the court,which has not given any relief to the complainant. "In fact, Mr Chandra also moved the Bombay High courtin vacation (May 29) in this regard and was not granted any relief.

"In any event as the matter is sub-judice and since the next date of hearing is June 10, 2019 we are notcommenting any further. In any event our script is originaland we will show that to the court when the matter comes up,"the legal team said.