It’s frivolous: Rahul Ram & Amit Kilam of Indian Ocean on ex-bandmate’s complaint

Days after co-founder and former member of the music band Indian Ocean, Susmit Sen, and Sunita Chakravarty, wife of deceased band co-founder Ashim Chakravarty, jointly filed a police complaint against musicians Rahul Ram and Amit Kilam, current members of Indian Ocean, for nonpayment of royalties, Rahul and Amit have released their official statement on the matter.
“We are saddened to learn from the media that a police complaint has been filed against us by Mr Susmit Sen and Ms Sunita Chakravarty. We have not seen a copy of the complaint as yet and thus cannot address it on its merits. There is a pending matter in the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) between the shareholders for more than a year. That case is still in process, and thus everything therein is sub-judice. It is thus quite a surprise to us that a police complaint has been filed with what appears to be the same issue considered by NCLT. Filing a criminal complaint on what is evidently a civil law issue seems to be an afterthought and to arm twist us to agree to their illegal and unwarranted demands. Nevertheless, we shall cooperate fully with the police in any enquiry they choose to carry out. We are quite aware that the complaints are essentially frivolous and mala fide and completely confident about the legality of all procedures carried out by us,” reads the statement.

BACKGROUND
In a press note shared by Susmit, the composer shared that the complaint has been filed against Rahul Ram, Amit Kilam and also against Kandisa Music Productions Pvt Ltd, the company that runs the Indian Ocean band. “Charges made against the two include criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, misappropriation, falsification of accounts, money laundering, embezzlement. Susmit Sen hasn’t been paid royalties/dues by Indian Ocean since 2020, and Sunita Chakravarty hasn’t been paid royalties/dues since 2021.The two complainants have filed that, so far, they have been deprived of due royalty payments totalling more than half a crore rupees per head, as calculated two years ago,” mentioned the note.