Susmit Sen Files Police Complaint Against Former Indian Ocean Bandmates Over Unpaid Royalties

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 31st August. Susmit Sen, co-founder of the renowned band Indian Ocean, has lodged a police complaint against former bandmates Rahul Ram and Amit Kilam, alleging non-payment of royalties. The complaint, filed on August 16 at Mukherjee Nagar police station, also names Kandisa Music Productions Pvt Ltd, which manages the band.

Sen, who departed from Indian Ocean in 2013 to form Susmit Sen Chronicles, and Sunita Chakravarty, widow of former band member Ashim Chakravarty, are seeking justice over alleged unpaid dues. The charges include criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, cheating, and fraud, among others, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

Sen claims that he has not received any royalties from the band since 2020, while Chakravarty has not been compensated since 2021. They allege that the unpaid royalties exceed ₹50 lakh each, based on two-year-old calculations. Despite the complaint, an FIR has not yet been registered.

In response, Ram and Kilam dismissed the claims as an attempt to exert pressure. They argue that the matter is already under review by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and criticized the timing of the police complaint. The duo stated that the criminal complaint appears to be a strategy to influence the pending civil dispute and reiterated their commitment to cooperate with the investigation.

The band, known for its fusion of rock with Indian classical, folk, and jazz, has faced internal conflict amidst its popularity. Their notable albums include the self-titled “Indian Ocean” (1993) and “Kandisa” (2000). Sen, Ram, Kilam, and Chakravarty are equal shareholders in Kandisa Music Productions Pvt Ltd, established in 2004.