In a recent development, Latha Rajinikanth, the wife of Indian film superstar Rajinikanth, appeared before a Bengaluru court to address a cheating case filed against her by a Chennai-based advertising firm in 2015. Latha Rajinikanth has strongly asserted that there is no “fraudulence” involved in the case, describing it as a matter of “humiliation, harassment, and exploitation.”
The case in question is related to the Tamil film ‘Kochadaiiyaan,’ and Latha Rajinikanth’s appearance in court on Tuesday resulted in the granting of bail, with the next hearing scheduled for January 6.
Latha Rajinikanth expressed her perspective on the matter, stating, “For me, it’s a case of humiliation and harassment and exploitation of a popular person. This is the price we pay for being celebrities. So there may not be a big case, but the news becomes very big. There is no fraudulence…I have nothing to do with the money.”
Supreme Court’s Decision and Subsequent Legal Proceedings
The Supreme Court had previously restored alleged criminal charges against Latha Rajinikanth in connection with the Tamil film ‘Kochadaiiyaan.’ The decision was made on October 10, with a bench headed by Justice AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh. The order came during the hearing of petitions challenging the Karnataka High Court judgment.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, Latha Rajinikanth was directed to seek the trial court’s dismissal of accusations of forgery and cheating in the criminal case. The case was initially filed by Chennai-based Ad Bureau Advertising Pvt Ltd, challenging the Karnataka High Court’s order that quashed the cheating charges against Rajinikanth’s wife.
The impugned order, dated August 2, 2022, by the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru, faced challenges from both the contesting parties.
In August of the same year, the Karnataka High Court had provided partial relief to Latha Rajinikanth by quashing the cheating charges while maintaining the forgery charges. Latha Rajinikanth subsequently challenged this decision in the Supreme Court.
Background of the Case and ‘Kochadaiiyaan’
The case revolves around the production of the Tamil film ‘Kochadaiiyaan,’ which was produced by Ad Bureau and Mediaone Global Entertainment Limited. The film featured Rajinikanth and Deepika Padukone in lead roles and marked the directorial debut of Rajinikanth’s daughter, Soundarya.
The legal dispute stems from allegations related to financial transactions and discrepancies between the production company and the advertising firm. While the legal proceedings have spanned several years, the recent developments, including Latha Rajinikanth’s court appearance, highlight the ongoing complexities of the case.
Latha Rajinikanth’s Assertion of Innocence and Legal Proceedings Ahead
Latha Rajinikanth’s emphatic denial of any fraudulence and her characterization of the case as an ordeal of “humiliation and harassment” underscore the emotional toll legal battles can take, especially for public figures. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus will be on the forthcoming hearing on January 6, where further details and arguments are expected to unfold.