Bengaluru: City police have charged the public relations officer (PRO) of the forthcoming Yash-starrer Kannada film Kottalawadi and four others with cheating.The complaint was lodged by Pushpa Aruna Kumar, mother of actor Yash and producer of the film, at the High Grounds police station. Pushpa accused PRO Harish Urs, along with Manu, Nitin, Mahesh Guru, and Swarnalatha, of taking Rs 64 lakh for publicity but failing to deliver. Instead, she claimed, they discredited the film and engaged in blackmail. “Harish took money for publicity, initially agreeing to work for Rs 23 lakh. Once the film was ready, he threatened the director, saying he could de-promote it if accounts were sought,” Pushpa explained. “We remained silent and requested him (Harish) to show the accounts after the film shooting was completed. The accused then threatened the director and blackmailed him for more money. In light of this, we obtained an injunction order from the court and lodged a police complaint,” she explained. “The film was completed a year ago. Accused Swarnalatha and Guru threatened the film’s director, claiming they had media connections and could generate negative stories about both me and the director,” Pushpa added.
