SC orders Rs 50 lakh refund to action director Veeru Devgan

New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the Tamil Nadu government to return Rs 50 lakh charged as penalty from Bollywood action director Veeeru Devgan for damaging the environment in the hill resort of Ooty during the shooting of Hindi movie 'Raju Chacha' starring his son Ajay Devgan and Kajol.

A Bench comprising Justice C K Thakkar and Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta allowed the appeal of Veeru Devgan against the Madras High Court judgement directing him to pay a fine of Rs 50 lakh for damaging the environment of the picnic spot in violation of the rules during the shooting of his high budget film in 2003.

The High Court had dismissed his petition against the order of the Tamil Nadu government.

The apex court in its judgement found the impugned judgement of the High Court as unsustainable and allowed the appeal while directing the state government to refund the fine money taken from the appellant.

UNI SC AKJ RP UCS1706