Kerala HC extends stay in case against Nivin Pauly, Abrid Shine

Kochi: High court has extended by four months the interim stay on further proceedings in a cheating case registered against actor Nivin Pauly and film director Abrid Shine at the Thalayolaparambu police station.HC had earlier referred the matter for mediation. However, the mediator reported that the mediation was unsuccessful. Accordingly, the bench of Justice C S Dias extended the stay on further proceedings in the case and adjourned the matter for a detailed hearing. HC was considering petitions filed by Pauly and Shine seeking to quash the case against them.The case arose from a complaint filed by P S Shamnas of Thalayolaparambu, alleging that the duo had swindled him out of Rs 1.90 crore in connection with the production of the film ‘Action Hero Biju 2'. In his complaint, Shamnas stated that he had invested Rs 1.90 crore in the film's production, but a dispute later arose regarding the budget. He further alleged that the accused conspired to defraud him by selling the film's overseas rights to another company for Rs 5 crore and receiving a Rs 2 crore advance. Meanwhile, Pauly has also filed a complaint against Shamnas at the Palarivattom police station, alleging that Shamnas obtained the film's title registration using a forged letter purportedly issued on Pauly's behalf.In an effort to resolve the dispute through mediation, HC referred the case on Feb 13. However, during the mediation process, the petitioners argued that mediation is not a legally permissible remedy in this matter because it involves non-compoundable offences, including forgery and cheating. The mediator subsequently reported the matter back to HC.