Kerala High Court quashes Pauly and Shine proceedings after settlement

The Kerala High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against actor Nivin Pauly and director Abrid Shine after they and complainant P.S. Shamnas settled their dispute over the film Action Hero Biju 2. The court said the alleged offences were not serious and continuing the prosecution would serve no purpose. Justice P.V. Balakrishnan issued the order after the parties told the court they had no remaining grievance and did not wish to pursue the case. The prosecution did not object to quashing the proceedings, according to reports of the court’s decision. The case stemmed from Shamnas’s complaint about financing and rights for Action Hero Biju 2. He alleged he invested about ₹1.9 crore in the film after suffering losses on Mahaveeryar, an earlier movie starring Pauly and directed by Shine. Shamnas said he had been promised a role as a partner or producer in the later film. Shamnas further alleged that the film’s overseas rights were transferred or sold without his consent. One account of his complaint said the rights were sold to a Dubai-based firm for ₹5 crore. These claims were allegations in the dispute and were not findings established by the court’s settlement order. The...