Sivaji’s son informs HC that he has no share in house

Days after the Madras High Court ordered attachment of a portion of the house of legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan in a loan non-repayment case involving his grandson, the actor’s elder son Ramkumar on Wednesday told the court that he has no share in the house and sought to lift the attachment order.

A submission in this regard was made before Justice Abdul Quddhose by Ramkumar informing that he did not have any share, at present, in his father’s house and that it belongs to Sivaji’s younger son Prabhu.

Justice Abdul Quddhose had on Monday ordered attachment of a portion of the late legendary actor’s sprawling house in the city over non-payment of loan borrowed by his grandson Dushyanth Ramkumar.

The Judge said that 13,310 sqft out of the 53,240 sq ft., property should be attached.

After recording oral submission made by Ramkumar’s counsel, the judge asked the parties concerned to file an appropriate application to lift the attachment order, while advising both the parties to settle the monetary dispute amicably instead of choosing to litigate the matter endlessly.

The Judge issued the attachment order on a petition filed by Dhanabakkiam Enterprises that he had given Rs 3.75 crore loan to Eshan Productions of Dushyanth and his wife Abirami for producing a film “Jagajala Killadi”.

As Dushyanth failed to repay the loan amount as promised, the issue was referred for arbitration and a decree was issued in favour of Dhanabakkiam Enterprises allowing all the rights to it including the OTT rights of the said film.

Further, the quantum of amount to be paid by Dushyanth was fixed at Rs 9.02 crore, including 30 per cent interest.

As the film was not completed, the decree could not be executed, Counsel for Dhanabakkiam Enterprises said, prompting him to move move the High Court seeking to the attach the house of Sivaji Ganesan ‘Annai Illam’ located at Chevaliar Sivaji Ganesan street in the upmarket T.Nagar area in the city, from the share of the late actor’s eldest son Ramkumar, who is the father of Dushyanth.

Justice Abdul Quddhose issued the attachment orders after mediation efforts ended in vain, with Dhanabakkiam Enterprises, represented by its partner Akshay Sarin, demanding a settlement of Rs 9.39 crore (including the principal amount of Rs 3.74 crore, along with 30% interest, working out to over Rs 5 crore till July 31, 2023).

The actor’s family members, however, said they were willing to pay an one-time settlement of only Rs 2.75 crore (apart from the payments already made).

Following the court order, the Sub-Registrar made an entry in the property’s Encumbrance Certificate to the extent of 13,310 sqft out of the total extent of around 53,240 sqft.

The petitioner enterprise had valued the entire property at Rs 88.50 crore and said Ramkumar’s one-fourth share alone would be around Rs 22.15 crore, and that it would be suffice to recover.