Munnabhai in need of a jaadu ki jhappi

Following HC order, Sanjay Dutt's residence was attached for causing alleged Rs 2 cr loss to producer Shakeel Noorani by failing to complete shooting for his film

RESIDENTS of Imperial Heights at Pali Hill were witness to some intense drama yesterday as officials from the Mumbai Sheriff's office attached a house belonging to actor Sanjay Dutt over a financial dispute with a producer.

They announced the attachment loudly by banging a piece of wood against a metal plate to grab residents' attention.


Producer Shakeel Noorani talks to the media outside Dutt's Pali Hill residence last night

The Bombay High Court had ordered the attachment of two properties belonging to Dutt the house and his production house's office in Mayfair Melody at Santacruz over a financial row with producer Shakeel Noorani.
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The decision followed an arbitration award passed by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) in Noorani's favour in January.

Noorani's lawyer Ashok Saraogi said his client had, in 2002, paid Sanjay Dutt a signing amount of Rs 50 lakh for his film Jaan Ki Baazi, but Dutt failed to complete the shooting.

Noorani had claimed Rs 2.03 crore in damages from the actor.

Saraogi said the arbitration award by IMPPA was sent to Dutt in January and he was given 90 days to respond. When the actor failed to do so, IMPPA applied for the execution of the decree in the High Court.

"I lost my house and I was left with nothing. This caused my family to suffer and now I want Dutt to pay for it. I want this case to be an example for other producers to stand up against injustice," said Noorani.

"The actor has an option to pay the money claimed by the producer within 30 days or else his properties (residence and office) would be auctioned.

He can challenge this order in High Court. So far, Dutt has not challenged IMPPA's arbitration order and, hence, notices of attachment of properties were pasted on his premises," said Saraogi.

Dutt's lawyer Sanjay Maneshinde said they will take appropriate action after the court vacation gets over on January 3.

"We will appeal in the High Court next week. That will also give us time to go through the notice by IMPPA," he said.