FIR filed against actor-producer Rakshit Shetty for copyright infringement

BENGALURU: An FIR has been registered against actor-director Rakshit Shetty for alleged copyright infringement at the Yeshwantpur police station. A complaint in this regard was filed by Naveen Kumar of MRT Music.

The complaint alleged that two songs, ‘Nyaya Ellide’ from the movie of the same name and ‘Omme Ninnannu’ from ‘Gaali Maathu’ were used unauthorisedly in the movie ‘Bachelor Party’ produced by Rakshit Shetty. Both the actor-director and his Paramvah Studios have been made party in the complaint.

In January this year, discussions were held about using the songs in the movie, but did not proceed further and the talks were stalled. In March, ‘Bachelor Party’ was released on a OTT platform.

Rakshit Shetty’s team told Public TV that they had not received any notice from the police. “We will reply to the notice when we receive it”, Paramvah Studios said.

However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Saidulu Adavath said the concerned have been issued noties regarding the alleged copyright violation and to present themselves for inquiry. “Naveen Kumar of MRT Music has filed a complaint under the Copyright Act and notices have been issued to the movie studio and the producer”, the officer said. “We had called them today for inquiry, but since they are in another state, they have been told to present themselves as soon as they return”, he added.

MRT Music manager Chetan said two songs were used in the movie ‘Bachelor Party’ without securing broadcast rights and in violation of copyright laws. “Paramvah Studios had contacted us on using the songs in the movie and we had told them to pay royalty to which they had agreed. When we tried to contact them on the way forward, there was no response. We came to know about the use of the songs in the movie which was released on OTT in March and we have filed a complaint”, he added.