Kochi: In a setback for Malayalam actor and producer Soubin Shahir, the Ernakulam Magistrate Court on Monday rejected his plea seeking permission to travel abroad to attend an award show in Dubai. In June, the Kerala High Court had restricted the actor from leaving the country while granting him anticipatory bail in a fraud case related to the popular movie ‘Manjummel Boys’.

Upholding this travel ban, the local court denied permission to the actor to fly to Dubai on September 5. He was invited to the South India International Movie Awards (SIIMA) to receive the award for 'Manjummel Boys'. According to reports, the actor is likely to approach the Kerala High Court seeking relaxation of the bail conditions.

Maradu police booked Soubin and the co-producers of ‘Manjummel Boys’ over a complaint filed by Siraj Valiyathura. Siraj accused the trio of cheating and alleged he was not given his share of the movie's profits as agreed. Siraj allegedly invested ₹7 crore in instalments for the film's production. When he did not get the promised profit, he filed a complaint, and the Maradu police registered a case as per the direction of the Magistrate court.

The case is registered under Sections 120B (Punishment for criminal conspiracy), 34 (common intention), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (forgery for cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.

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