Bombay High Court dismisses film producer's petition against Sanjay Dutt

The Bombay High Court today dismissed a petition filed by film producer Shakeel Noorani seeking registration of a criminal case against actor Sanjay Dutt for allegedly threatening him.

The division bench of Justice BH Marlapalle and Justice UD Salvi said Noorani may approach the metropolitan magistrate's court with a private complaint against Dutt.

The magistrate can direct the police to lodge an FIR if he or she finds any substance in the allegations, high court noted.

Noorani had claimed in the petition that an anonymous person had threatened him over phone with dire consequences if he did not withdraw a complaint against the actor.

Noorani has a dispute with Dutt over an incomplete film. He had approached Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) in this regard.

He had claimed Rs2.03 crore from the actor, which includes Rs50 lakh paid to Dutt as a signing amount for the under-production film Jaan Ki Baazi. Noorani alleged that Dutt did not give dates for shooting, so the film remained incomplete, causing a loss of Rs1.53 crore.

IMPPA passed an order in Noorani's favour on January 28 last year, and subsequently two properties belonging to Dutt were attached in December.