Actor Sudeep serves defamation notice on Rs 10 crore to film producers
Bengaluru, July 08: Multilingual film actor Sudeep Sanjeev, popularly known as Kichcha Sudeep, has served a defamation notice of Rs ten crore on film directors-producers M N Kumar and M N Suresh.
The acclaimed actor who earned national recognition for his movie 'Eega' (Makkhi in Hindi) sent a legal notice through C V Nagesh Associates to Kumar and Suresh. Sudeep has made four movies 'Ranga SSLC', 'Kaashi from village', 'Mukunda Murari' and 'Manikya' with Kumar.
The notice said on July 3, Kumar held a press meet at the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, which was aired via social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and circulated through WhatsApp as well.
At the press meet, Kumar alleged that Sudeep had taken certain money as advance for working in a movie that they would be producing and that they had done 'full settlement' of payment in his favour, according to the notice.
Further, Kumar claimed that they paid advanced money to various people 'on the basis of Sudeep's insistence', the notice said. The film producer said at the press conference that they paid advance money to Sudeep to purchase a residential property in Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru, Sudeep's counsel said.
''Though the damage caused to the image and reputation of our client cannot be measured and compensated in terms of currency, our client however restricts the same to a notional figure (of Rs 10 crore only). You have made yourself to pay to our client a sum of Rs ten crore only as damages,'' the notice said.
While Kumar was not available for comment, Suresh said he being an executive member and former secretary of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce was present during the press conference to support Kumar. ''I did not make any allegations. I only wanted the matter to be resolved amicably,'' Suresh said.
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
