Sonu Sood locks horns with Sheetal Talwar

MUMBAI: Producer Sheetal Talwar has filed a case of fraud against actor Sonu Sood. The conflict over a property that Sood rented to Talwar for one of the latter's pub, has come to a flashpoint with neither party willing to relent.

"We rented this property in Yari Road (Mumbai) from Sonu Sood for my chain of pubs. Sonu said the land was completely clear of any legal dispute. I can show you all the documents and the false affidavit saying the land is all-clear," said Talwar.

"But when we applied for licences, we realised there was no clearance from the BMC(Bombay Municipal Corporation) and we were refused a licence to start a bar. So, my bars in the Fort and Lower Parel areas of Mumbai have opened. But not in Yari Road, thanks to Sonu's misrepresentation of the premise he rented to us.

"We kept paying rent to Sonu till June 2012 and then I told him to get me the licences, and only then will I pay him more rent," he added.

Now Talwar has imposed a case of fraudulency on Sonu, who denies all the accusations.

"Three weeks ago, we wrote to the Economics Offences wing and put a case on him. I have tried to resolve the matter amicably with him. Sonu has given a false affidavit stating there is no litigation regarding the rented property when in fact the BMC has sent him a notice. This fact was withheld in the contract. Now the BMC is not giving me health licence to start the restaurant.".

On Thursday, Sonu's representatives reclaimed the property leased to Talwar and put their lock on it. On his part, Talwar has taken action against the act.

"We have filed a case for trespassing. I have all my paperwork in place. I didn't want this to go to the media. But Sonu Sood took it to the public domain. Now it is an all-out fight to the finish. He has signed a fraudulent contract.

"I am going to see him in court. He has taken my money and locked me out of the property. Sonu is displaying a very avaricious attitude. I wanted us to get together to resolve crisis. Someone from my company has joined hands with him to mislead him," he added.

Sonu has another story to tell.

He says after a lot of dilly-dallying, Talwar signed the contract with him in March 2012.

"After paying rent for five months, he stopped. He hasn't paid a single paisa in the last five to six months. Everytime I call, he has some personal problem or the other... I have all Sheetal's messages and call records proving how he has been avoiding a meeting with me," said Sonu.

Thereafter, he sent him two notices, which "went unanswered".

"Finally I filed a non-cognisable complaint in the police... He hasn't even paid the broker who negotiated between us. I have all his agreements and messages. He even did some illegal construction on the property when I asked him not to.

"He now says my property is under dispute. It took him 11 months to realise it? If it is disputed, then leave it. If he can't get the licences to start his pub, how can I do the same for him?

"When he didn't pay me rent for six months, I requested him to simply return my property. When he didn't, I had to him lock out."