KUNAL KOHLI CHARGED WITH PLAGIARISM, SC TO DECIDE

NEW DELHI: Jyoti Kapoor, a woman film writer from Mumbai, has dragged noted filmmaker Kunal Kohli to the Supreme Court, accusing him of plagiarising her story. Kapoor alleged Kohli has based his forthcoming film Phir Se, a romantic comedy, on the story she shared with him more than a year ago.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra is scheduled to hear Kapoor’s petition on Monday against the Bombay high court order allowing Kohli to release the movie later this month. The HC had directed Kohli to pay `50 lakh to Kapoor. The SC might even view the movie to ascertain whether the script is actually stolen, as accused by Kapoor.

However, during a preliminary hearing last week, Justice Misra hinted the court might determine the quantum of compensation since the movie was ready for release. But Kapoor’s counsel has demanded recognition for his client in the movie credits.

“Money is not the issue. Her creativity has been stolen by somebody without even telling her. Compensation is not the issue but he can at least say the story is inspired by her,” senior counsel Shyam Divan argued for Kapoor.

On July 2, the HC bench of two judges had set aside the single judge’s order, which allowed Kapoor’s plea of plagiarism. It cleared the release of the movie after holding Kapoor had moved the court too late. She knew that the movie had gone on the floors and should have availed judicial remedy on time, the court had held.

Kapoor, the co- writer of Daawat-E-Ishq, alleges the story of Phir Se was originally written by her and she met Kohli in December 2013 following which she sent her manuscript to him. She has attached the exchange of e-mails between the two to prove she had sent her story to Kohli. The director allegedly never got back to her.