HC allows release of Rajnikanth's 'Linga' tomorrow, directs producer to deposit Rs 10 crore in bank

Madurai, Dec 11: Madurai Bench of Madras High Court today gave the go ahead for release of Rajnikanth's 'Linga' tomorrow with a rider that the producer deposit Rs 10 crore as guarantee since a claim by a director that the film was based on his story is to be settled in a civil court.

A division bench comprising Justice V Dhanabalan and Justice V M Velumani directed 'Linga' producer Rockline Venkatesh to deposit Rs five crore in cash in an Indian Bank branch here and give a bank guarantee for the balance amount through the court Registry before tomorrow noon and then release the film.

The bench gave the direction while declining to entertain an appeal from Director K R Ravi Rathinam, the maker of film "Mullai Vanam 999" against a single judge order dismissing his petition which contended that the storyline of multi-lingual Linga, set to hit the screens on Rajnikanth's 63rd birthday tomorrow, was the same as that of his movie.

The bench said it could not find fault with the single judge’s Dec 3 order and said the Ravi Rathinam should approach the concerned civil court within four weeks from the date of receipt of the judgment copy.

But before that Linga's producer should deposit the money as a guarantee. The judges said they were giving the direction on the basis of "justice, equity and good conscience".

PTI