The Kerala High Court on Friday declined to quash criminal proceedings in a cheating case involving the producers of Malayalam blockbuster Manjummel Boys, including popular actor-producer Soubin Shahir.

Justice VG Arun, heading the single-judge bench, dismissed the petition filed by Shahir and co-producers Babu Shahir and Shawn Antony.

The trio, who produced the film under the banner Parava Films, sought to terminate the ongoing criminal case registered by the Kochi Maradu police.

The case stems from a complaint filed by Siraj Valiyathara Hameed, a resident of Aroor, who claimed he was promised a 40 per cent share of the profits in return for a Rs 7 crore investment in the film.

Despite Manjummel Boys becoming a major commercial success, Siraj alleged that he was not paid the promised share of the profits.

The producers refuted the allegations, asserting that Siraj failed to provide the investment amount on time, which allegedly caused delays and disruptions in the film’s shooting schedule. Nevertheless, the complaint was taken forward following directions from the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ernakulam.

Manjummel Boys that released in 2024 is the second highest grossing Malayalam film of all time. The film was reportedly produced on a budget of Rs 20 crore, ended up earning Rs 250 crore globally. The film, which is based on a real story, received rave reviews. The survival thriller is an ode to friendship. Soubhin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese, Ganapathi S Poduval, Deepak Parambol and several others played pivotal roles in the film.