The warrant was issued after Dutt failed to appear before it in connection with the alleged case of criminal intimidation. When the court took up the matter on Monday, Dutt’s lawyers submitted an affidavit saying he was in Delhi in connection with another case in the Supreme Court and hence would not appear. However, Noorani’s counsel objected saying Dutt was very much in Mumbai.
Soon, the court issued a non-bailable warrant against Dutt and Noorani later told reporters that he would inform the police about the warrant so that Dutt could be arrested.
But before Noorani could proceed, Dutt appeared before the court, which then granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000.
The criminal intimidation charge against Dutt has its origins in ‘Jaan Ki Baazi’, a Hindi film by Noorani.
The producer had claimed that Dutt took the signing amount of `50 lakh for the film and left it midway, thus causing a loss of `2.03 crore. Noorani then approached the court claiming that Dutt resorted to criminal intimidation when he sought for dates and later for refund of the signing amount.
The film producer had already secured in attaching two property belonging to Dutt, including a flat and office, after he moved the Bombay High Court.
The Supreme Court had recently given Dutt a grace period of four weeks to surrender in connection with the 1993 Bombay blasts case.