Deposit Rs.10 crore for 'Lingaa' release, court tells producer

Madurai, Dec 11 (IANS) The Madras High Court bench here Thursday allowed the release of superstar Rajinikanth-starrer "Lingaa" Friday on the condition that its producer Rockline Venkatesh deposit Rs.10 crore in the court.

According to the order, Rs.5 crore needs to be submitted in cash and the rest in bank guarantee by Friday noon to the court registrar.

Justice V. Dhanapalan and Justice V.M Velumani passed the order on a writ appeal filed by aspiring filmmaker K.R. Ravi Rathinam, who accused the makers of "Lingaa" of stealing his script.

Justice Dhanapalan said the order was passed as a pre-condition to release the film and protect the petitioner's right until he approaches the right forum.

Earlier, a single judge had dismissed the petitioner's petition and directed him to invoke criminal or civil proceedings.

Producer Rockline Venkatesh said he will "abide by the court's decision".

"The film will release globally tomorrow (Friday). There won't be any change in the release," Venkatesh told IANS.

"Lingaa", which also stars Sonakshi Sinha and Anushka Shetty in the lead, is the first Rajinikanth film to release on his birthday. The superstar will turn 63 Friday.