In a relief to director Nagashekar, producer Sundar Gowda and stunt master Ravi Verma, the High Court of Karnataka has quashed the homicide charge sheet filed against them. The police had filed a charge sheet in which they were charged under culpable homicide not amounting to murder which carries a punishment of maximum of 10 years imprisonment.
However, the high court has said that the death of the two actors, Uday and Anil was not homicide but death due to negligence. It has directed the lower court in Ramanagara to get the investigation done under the charge of negligence death. This charge carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment.
The High court has quashed the charge sheet and asked the police to file a fresh charge sheet in the case. The case will continue but with a charge that is milder in comparison.
During the shooting of the climax of “Maastigui”, Vijay, Uday and Anil jumped into the Tippagondanahalli lake on Magadi Road, 35 km west of Bengaluru. Since Vijay was provided with a safety harness, he managed to swim his way to the shore. However, owing to lack of safety standards being met, Anil and Uday drowned.
