In a significant development in a long-running financial dispute connected to the Tamil film Kochadaiiyaan, the Madras High Court has confirmed the conviction of Mediaone Global Entertainment Ltd in a cheque dishonour case while modifying the sentence and imposing a substantial monetary penalty.
By its order dated February 6, 2026, the High Court upheld the conviction under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and directed the accused company to pay a fine of ₹2.52 crore within four weeks. The Court further ordered that failure to comply with the payment direction would result in six months’ simple imprisonment for the company’s director Dr. Murali Manohar,.
The case stems from financial transactions related to the production and post-production work of Kochadaiiyaan, directed by Soundarya Rajinikanth and starring Rajinikanth. Mediaone Global Entertainment Ltd, the film’s producer, had issued a cheque for ₹5 crore to Ad Bureau Advertising Pvt. Ltd in connection with these transactions. The cheque was later dishonoured upon presentation, leading to criminal proceedings under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
Following the cheque bounce, Ad Bureau Advertising Pvt. Ltd initiated legal action. In December 2021, the Metropolitan Magistrate Court convicted the accused and ordered payment of ₹7.70 crore, including the cheque amount and interest. The court also sentenced the company’s director Dr. Murali Manohar to six months’ simple imprisonment.
The accused subsequently challenged the conviction before the Sessions Court through a criminal appeal. However, in August 2023, the appellate court confirmed the trial court’s order in full, including the conviction and sentence.
With the amount remaining unpaid, the matter reached the Madras High Court through a criminal revision petition. After examining the case records and submissions from both sides, the High Court confirmed the conviction and upheld the liability to pay ₹7.70 crore as earlier directed by the lower courts.
However, taking into account the circumstances of the case and the compensatory nature of cheque dishonour proceedings, the High Court modified the sentence of imprisonment. The Court relaxed the jail term subject to compliance with monetary directions and imposed an additional fine of ₹2.52 crore on the accused company.
The High Court directed that the fine amount be paid within four weeks. It also clarified that in the event of default, the accused Dr. Murali Manohar would face six months’ simple imprisonment.
The order marks a major legal development in the financial dispute linked to Kochadaiiyaan, bringing renewed focus on accountability in high-value transactions within the film industry and reinforcing the legal consequences of cheque dishonour under the Negotiable Instruments Act.