Indian Ocean Co-founder Susmit Sen files complaint against bandmates over unpaid royalties

Indian Ocean

Susmit Sen, co-founder of the iconic Indian Ocean band, has lodged a police complaint against his former bandmates Rahul Ram and Amit Kilam, alleging unpaid royalties.

The complaint, filed at the Mukherjee Nagar police station in New Delhi on August 16, also names Kandisa Music Productions Pvt Ltd, the company behind the band, as an accused.

The charges include criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, cheating, and falsification of accounts under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). Despite the serious allegations, an FIR is yet to be registered.

Susmit co-founded Indian Ocean in 1990 alongside Ashim Chakravarty, who passed away in 2009. After leaving the band in 2013, Sen formed his own group, Susmit Sen Chronicles.

He claims he hasn’t received royalties since 2020, while Sunita Chakravarty, Ashim's widow, has been unpaid since 2021. According to Susmit, both he and Sunita are owed over ₹50 lakh each, based on calculations from two years ago.

The dispute, however, isn't new. A related matter has been pending in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) since March 2023. Rahul Ram and Amit Kilam expressed surprise at the police complaint, stating that the issue is already being addressed in the NCLT.

They see the complaint as an attempt to pressure them into settling the ongoing civil dispute on Susmit’s terms, which they describe as "illegal and unwarranted."

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Susmit alleges that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the band members cited a lack of work as the reason for not paying royalties. However, upon reviewing the company’s balance sheet, he discovered that the band had done business worth ₹1.5 crore. He claims the current amount owed is unclear as the band members have not disclosed updated financial information.

Despite the escalating legal battle, Indian Ocean remains one of India’s most influential bands, known for their unique blend of rock, Indian classical, folk, and jazz music.

The band’s debut album, "Indian Ocean," was released in 1993, followed by the critically acclaimed "Kandisa" in 2000.