The Bombay High Court on Thursday indicated that the defamation suit filed by Aditya Dhar against Santosh Kumar over plagiarism allegations related to Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge should not escalate further.

Justice Arif Doctor suggested that both parties explore an amicable resolution, observing that disputes of this nature can often be settled without prolonged litigation.

The case stems from claims made by Santosh Kumar, who alleged that the sequel’s script was copied from his work. Aditya Dhar denied the accusations, terming them defamatory, and subsequently approached the High Court for relief.

During the hearing, the court noted that if Kumar believes his intellectual property has been infringed, he is free to pursue appropriate civil remedies. However, it cautioned against making such allegations publicly, especially through media platforms.

The court emphasised that disputes over authorship should be addressed through proper legal channels rather than public statements.

Kumar’s counsel clarified that his client’s concern was limited to asserting authorship of the story, a right the court acknowledged. At the same time, it reiterated that such claims must follow due legal process.

Senior Advocate Birendra Saraf, representing Aditya Dhar, argued that plagiarism allegations should not be repeated publicly and must be handled within the legal framework. Kumar’s counsel, meanwhile, informed the court that he would seek instructions from his client regarding limiting the matter to legal remedies.

Earlier, on April 8, the High Court had restrained Santosh Kumar from reiterating the allegedly defamatory statements. Dhar had sought an injunction and damages after Kumar reportedly failed to respond to a legal notice rejecting the plagiarism claims.