One more complaint filed against Sun Pictures COO

Chennai,Jul 16: Police today (Jul 16) filed yet another case against Hansraj Saxena, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Sun Pictures, owned by Kalanidhi Maran, media magnate and grand-nephew of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, following a complaint by a film producer.

Police slapped charges such as cheating and extortion and re-arrested Saxena and his aide Ayyappan, both already in prison in connection with another case, and two others including a relative of Saxena.

They were arrested based on a complaint by Tamil cinema producer T D Raja who alleged that he was forced to sell the satellite rights of his film ''Vallakottai,'' for Rs 70 lakh though Sun TV had initially offered him Rs 1.25 crore, a police release here said.

Raja alleged that Suresh, at the behest of Saxena, bought his film for Rs 70 lakh but sold it to Sun TV for Rs 1.25 crore.

When Raja took up the matter with Saxena, also a top official in the Marans-owned Sun TV, he intimidated and abused him, the release said adding that the producer had filed a complaint on July 13.

Saxena and Ayyappan are already in jail, the release said adding, Suresh and another accused, Thambidurai, are on the run.

Saxena, considered close to the Marans, had been arrested recently on his arrival from Hyderabad by city police on the complaint by a Salem-based producer.

PTI