The Delhi High Court today issued notice to Bollywood actor Salman Khan and director Anil Sharma for allegedly lifting some concepts from a book without
approval of its author for
their film
Veer.
Justice V K Shali asked the actor, producer and director of the film to file their response on the allegation levelled by author Pavan Choudary, who has sought damages of
Rs. 20 lakh from them for alleged violation of his copyright and making illegal gains by lifting a portion from his book
Trilogy of Wisdom.
The author also pleaded that the court should stay the screening of the film. "The idea and concept that India should not be a
Sone Ki Chidiya (Golden bird) but
BAAJ (hawk) has almost been identically copied and adapted in the film. They have copied the idea/concept from my book and are using the same for their
commercial gains," senior advocate Jayant Bhushan pleaded on behalf of the author.
"The producer, director and story writer are well aware... that use of idea and concept (that India should not be a
Sone Ki Chidiya but BAAJ in the film are violative of the Intellectual Property Rights," the petition, filed through advocates C S Yadav and Pandey Rajiv Rajhans, said.
The Court, after hearing the arguments, issued notice to Salman Khan and others and listed the matter for further hearing on February 4.