A magistrate court in Chennai dismissed the bail application of W Hans Raj Saxena, chief operating officer (COO) of Sun Pictures, who was arrested last Sunday on charges of cheating and intimidating a film distributor. With regard to a fresh case against Saxena, based on a complaint from another film distributor Shanmugavelu, Saxena was produced before the magistrate court on Friday.

The magistrate, Akila Shalini, dismissed the bail petition after the prosecution said the probe was at a preliminary stage and that the accused could influence the witnesses. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association has filed a cheating case against Sun Pictures and Saxena involving Rajinikanth-starrer Enthiran, produced by Sun Pictures and released last year.

The Association said in its complaint, that Sun Pictures owed it Rs 1.5 crore but had gone over its head and released the film directly in theatres.