Supreme Court Verdict in Dil Raju’s Copyright Case.. What Happens Next?

Producer Dil Raju has received relief from the Supreme Court in the copyright dispute involving the film ‘Mr Perfect’. The apex court declined to lift the stay imposed in February last year on proceedings before the Hyderabad trial court. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan passed the order. Writer Mummidi Shyamala Rani had filed a complaint on July 12, 2017, alleging that ‘Mr Perfect’ was based on her novel ‘Naa Manasu Korindi Ninne’, published by Sahithi Publishers in August 2010. The trial court subsequently issued notices under Section 420 of the IPC and Section 63 of the Copyright Act on October 27, 2018.

Dil Raju challenged the notices before the High Court, which quashed the complaint against him under IPC Section 420. However, in December 2024, the High Court allowed the trial court to proceed with the case under Section 63 of the Copyright Act. Dil Raju then approached the Supreme Court on February 6, 2025. On February 24, the Supreme Court had stayed the trial court proceedings while seeking responses on the limitation issue under Section 468 of the CrPC. On Wednesday, Shyamala Rani’s counsel sought removal of the stay, citing her age of 71 and requesting that the trial be allowed to continue. The Chief Justice declined the request, observing that the stay had been granted after considering all relevant aspects.