In the "Kochadaiiyaan" case, the SC reinstates allegations against Rajinikanth's wife Latha

 In the "Kochadaiiyaan" case, the SC reinstates allegations against Rajinikanth's wife Latha

In a case involving the Tamil movie "Kochadaiiyaan," the Supreme Court on October 10 reinstated purported criminal proceedings against Superstar Rajinikanth's wife Latha. During a hearing on petitions contesting the Karnataka High Court ruling, a bench presided over by Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh issued the verdict. 

The SC requested that Latha urge the trial court to quash charges of forgery and cheating made against her in a criminal case. Ad Bureau Advertising Pvt Ltd, situated in Chennai, has appealed the Karnataka High Court's decision to dismiss the cheating case against Rajnikanth's wife.

The SLP(Crl) Nos. 9818/2022 and 8327/2022 are disposed of by reinstating the final report submitted, according to the SC ruling. However, the petitioner(s) in SLP(Crl.) No. 8327/2022 are free to submit a suitable application, if instructed, in order to seek discharge.

The findings made under the challenged decision will not stand in the way if such an application is submitted on behalf of the petitioner(s), and the Trial Court is instructed, it said. 

"Taking into consideration depending on how far submissions made, the in-person presence of the petitioner-accused shall not be dispensed with until and unless the same is deemed necessary by the Trial Court," the highest court said.

"We further make it apparent that we have not expressed any opinions on the merits of the instance and it is well open to the parties to reach an agreement on the issue, also through mediation," it said. After hearing from both parties, the court came to the conclusion that the petitioners had two options: make an application for discharge or go to trial in light of the prior ruling issued by this Court in a criminal appeal on July 10, 2018.

Both competing parties have raised objections to the impugned decision of August 2, 2022, issued by the High Court of Karnataka in Bengaluru. Latha received some comfort from the Karnataka High Court earlier in August when it dismissed the cheating accusations against her but upheld the forgery cases. Additionally, she appealed the HC ruling to the Supreme Court. Rajinikanth and Deepika Padukone appeared in the Ad Bureau and Mediaone Global Entertainment Limited produced Tamil film Kochadiiyaan. The film marked Soundarya, Rajinikanth's daughter, as a filmmaker for the first time.