The Madras High Court today stayed till January 29 criminal proceedings against absconding film financier G N Anbuchezhian in a case relating to the alleged suicide of a producer.
Justice MS Ramesh passed the interim order on a petition by Anbuchezhian who went into hiding after a case of abetment of suicide and charging exorbitant interest was registered against him.
Ashok Kumar, relative of noted filmmaker M Sasikumar, had allegedly committed suicide here last month and a purported suicide note recovered from the spot blamed Anbuchezhian for pushing him to take the extreme step.
Kumar reportedly had accused the financier of charging exorbitant interest on some loans obtained by him, and harassing him for the same.
Contending that director Sasikumar had lodged a complaint against him with an intention to prevent him from taking steps to recover the money due, the petitioner sought to quash the criminal charges against him.
Sasikumar had borrowed money for the production of his film but cleverly suppressed the fact and he also failed to state that the deceased, Ashok Kumar, had not borrowed any money, he alleged.
The petitioner also denied the allegation that he had demanded an exorbitant interest from Ashok Kumar and submitted that the deceased had nothing to do with the loan and it was only Sasikumar who had actually borrowed the money.
Hence, Anbuchezhian prayed the court to quash the criminal proceedings pending with the central crime branch, Chennai.
The alleged suicide of Ashok Kumar had shocked the Tamil film industry.
( Source – PTI )
