AR Rahman sends legal notice, demands Rs 10 cr from Surgeons' association over defamation claims

AR Rahman has taken the legal route against the Association of Surgeons of India for 'defaming' him over a canceled musical program. The music composer has also demanded Rs 10 crore unless an apology is rendered in a fortnight.

Hyderabad: Music composer Rahman has taken legal action against the Association of Surgeons of India, accusing them of defaming him. They had previously filed a complaint against him for alleged fraud related to a canceled musical program. In 2018, AR Rahman was contracted to arrange a musical event for the Society of Surgeons, receiving an advance payment of Rs 29.5 lakh. However, due to the Tamil Nadu government's refusal to grant permission, the event was canceled.

When the surgeons' association requested a refund of the advance, AR Rahman's team issued a cheque that later bounced. This led to a complaint by Senthil, an executive of the association. In response, AR Rahman has sent a legal notice, asserting that their contract specified no refund of the advance in case of event cancellation. He also claims that the complaint was made to damage his reputation and demands a Rs 10 crore compensation unless an apology is issued within 15 days.

Additionally, in a separate incident last month, an AR Rahman concert in Chennai called Marakuma Nenjam faced criticism due to mismanagement by the organizers, resulting in a stampede-like situation and reports of molestation. The event's organizer, ACTC Events Founder and CEO Hemanth, publicly apologized and clarified that AR Rahman was not involved in organizing the event and should not be held responsible for the unfortunate incidents.

READ |Stampede, molestation, children missing: Angry fans slam organisers for chaos at AR Rahman Chennai concert