Two photojournalists were assaulted on the sets of 2.0 by the crew members earlier today. According to a report in The News Minute, Lyca Productions (the producer of 2.0) had obtained permission from the Chennai Police to shoot some important scenes in Nochikuppam and Eswardoss Street in Triplicane. The crew is said to have overshot the time limit given to them by the Police.
SR Raghunathan and Bharath, photojournalists from The Hindu, had been passing through the area when they noticed the commotion. When they began to take photographs, they were assaulted by the crew members, reports say. In an FIR filed by Raghunathan, Pappu – a relative of director Shankar, assitant directors Alex and Sundharraj have been accused of the assault. The three members have been booked under section 341 (wrongful restraint), 294(b) (uttering obscene words in public place), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation).
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Chennai Police have reportedly detained Pappu and are still on the look-out for the two other accused in the case.
Director Shankar met the press earlier today to apologise for the actions of his crew. He said, “This incident happened without my knowledge. I feel very sorry for that and I will see to it that it won’t happen again.”
Lyca Productions has also expressed regret at the actions of its film crew, and has said that an internal investigation will be conducted into the matter.