MUMBAI: In a case of cheating and forgery against filmmaker Sanjay Gupta for allegedly copying the letterhead of the Mumbai Police Commissioner registered by the Mumbai police, the Bombay High Court has granted him anticipatory bail against a bond of Rs 10,000. Earlier, the Sessions Court had rejected anticipatory bail for Gupta.

Soon after, Gupta approached the HC for justice. Justice A V Nirgude, who was officiating in the matter, said in his order: “This is an innovative invitation, that’s it. The police officers who registered the offence have lost their sense of humour,” he observed.

It was alleged that Gupta Wadala carried the rubber stamp of the Mumbai Police that was used on invites sent out for the unveiling of his film Shootout At Wadala for a press conference at Mehboob Studios last week.

The court observed that no intention to commit fraud was disclosed by the police in the case. The police could not prove any wrongful gain or loss on part of the producers of the movie, the court remarked.

However, additional public prosecutor Rajeshree Gadhvi said that the invitation was misleading and the producers had not taken prior permission from the CP to issue it using the seal of his office.

Shootout at Wadala, based on the first-ever registered encounter by Mumbai police who shot dead gangster Manya Surve at Wadala in 1990s, is being produced by Balaji Motion Pictures along with Gupta’s White Feather Films. The film stars Anil Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, John Abraham and Tusshar Kapoor.