The Delhi High Court on Thursday, June 10, has refused to stop the release of Nyay: The Justice, a film based on the life of Sushant Singh Rajput. The court further dismissed a petition filed by the actor’s father, Krishna Kishore Singh, who had claimed that the movie had been shot without the family’s consent and was backed by persons accused in the actor’s suicide case. KK Singh had also alleged that many people were taking advantage of his son’s death. Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide on June 14, 2020. He was found hanging in his Bandra, Mumbai home. Nyay was scheduled to release on June 11.

DELHI HC REFUSES TO STAY RELEASE OF FILM BASED ON SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT

The Delhi HC has refused to stop the release of the film, Nyay: The Justice, based on the life of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. KK Singh, Sushant Singh Rajput’s father, had filed a plea restraining anyone from using his son’s name or likeness in movies. The court rejected Sushant’s father’s plea, as well as refused to stay the release of the film.

The Delhi High Court, however, has directed the producers to maintain an honest account of the revenue earned from the film, through the sale of rights, etc.

SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT’S FATHER vs NYAY MAKERS

The makers of the upcoming film Nyay: The Justice, which is purportedly based on Sushant’s life, opposed KK Singh’s plea and told the HC that the film does not depict the late actor’s caricature, name, or likeness as it is not a biopic on him. The film was scheduled to release on June 11.

A week ago, the court had reserved judgement in the matter, asking the producers and director not to release the film till the court pronounces its verdict. It had also added that in case they were unable to deliver a verdict, the movie’s release should be held back.

KK SINGH’S PLEA AGAINST FILMS BASED ON SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT

Some of the upcoming or proposed movie projects, based on Sushant’s life are Nyay: The Justice, Suicide or Murder: A star was lost, Shashank, and an unnamed crowd-funded film. According to a petition by KK Singh, the filmmakers are taking advantage of the situation for commercial gains, and therefore, the right to freedom of speech and expression would not apply to them.

Claiming that the movies could harm the reputation of his son, he sought damages of over Rs 2 crore from the filmmakers for “loss of reputation, mental trauma and harassment”.

The petition ]also claimed that in case a “movie, web-series, book or any other content of similar nature is allowed to be published or broadcasted, it would affect the right of the victim and deceased for a free and fair trial as it may cause prejudice to them”.

The suit has also contended that Sushant being a well-known celebrity, “any misuse of his name/ image/ caricature/ style of delivering dialogues also amounts to infringement of the personality right vested with the plaintiff besides amounting to acts of passing off”.