BHOPAL: According to written complaints submitted to the Commissioner of Police, Bhopal and other Bhopal police authorities, including the TI (Thana In-charge) of Misrod police station, goods and equipment worth Rs 70 lakh belonging to a Mumbai-based businessman Ayaz Mohammad Isshaque has been illegally “stolen” and “confiscated” by Hotel Abhinandan Palace, Hoshangabad, Bhopal and a travel agency based nearby, owned by one Akhil Khan. Similarly, a tempo and other film production equipment owned by another Mumbai-based businessman Vithal K Mane has also been illegally seized and taken to unknown locations.
According to the written complaints, the businessman Ayaz Isshaque had given film shooting lights and other related equipment on hire to Alok Kumar Choube of M/s Sky Space Films of Mumbai who had lined up two film shoots in Bhopal, starring actors Anushka Sen and Nirmrit Kaur Ahuwalia, besides other well-known Bollywood actors.
Similarly businessman Vithal Mane had given a tempo and other production equipment on hire. The total value of the material is over Rs 70 lakh, said the lawyer for the two aggrieved parties, who have approached the Bhopal police commissioner and other police authorities in the city.
Due to some dispute and non-payment of dues by the production house M/s Sky Space Films to the travel agency and the hotels, both the parties, ie: Hotel Abhinandan and Akil Khan confiscated and took custody of all the material lying on their premises.
However, according to the two businessmen from Mumbai Ayaz and Vithal, the equipment does not belong to Sky Space Films. It was only rented to Alok Kumar Chaube who has not even paid their rental charges. “We are not asking for our rent, we only want our material back, which has been illegally stolen and confiscated by Abhinandan Hotel and Akhil Khan of Bhopal. We have nothing to do with the hotel bills. They are to be paid by M/s Sky Space Films. We are also victims. Why is our equipment confiscated? Misrod police are not ready to help us. The Thane in-charge said ‘you pay the money and take your material’. “Payment has to be made by Alok Kumar Choubey, why is our equipment confiscated, without informing us,” asked Ayaz Mohammad?
“We are trying to negotiate with Akhil Khan who is the travel infra provider in Bhopal, but he is adamant. He is not ready to listen. He said don’t talk, just give me cash,” said a spokesperson for Sky Space Films.
According to the Mumbai-based businessmen, the TI of Misrod police station is not ready to take their complaints. “The Misrod TI is only supporting the local travel agency and the hotel. We understand the hotel owners are well-connected with the Bhopal police. It is our material and equipment. We do not owe hotel Abhinandan a single penny. We do not know the local Bhopal travel agency. We are in Mumbai. We rented out equipment to Alok Kumar Choubey. How can some third party confiscate our material,” asked the aggrieved vendors.
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