Flop movie producer Raghukumar, caught for dodging the cops and allegedly looking for a hidden treasure, finds support from an estranged brother

MOVIE producer Raghukumar, arrested on a treasure hunting charge, was only returning after offering prayers to the family deity, his brother Rajkumar believes.

Raghukumar was arrested in Hosadurga, in central Karnataka, last week, when he was travelling in a car with his friends.

Police allege they were returning from a trip to remote temples, where they were trying to dig up hidden treasures.

Happy times:u00a0 Raghukumar spent Rs 18 lakh on his first film's audio release on board a planeu00a0 PIC/KN NAGESHKUMAR

Rajkumar told MiD DAY: "Raghu went to the Bagur Banashankaramma temple. But the police arrested him on a false charge."

Meghave Meghave (clouds, clouds), Raghu Kumar's first film, flopped miserably. He had spent Rs 18 lakh on its audio release. He hired a plane and took 180 people, including journalists, on an hour-long trip, following his director Nagendra Prasad's suggestion that the gimmick would fetch the film good publicity.

Rajkumar said Raghukumar, now in judicial custody, had taken along assistant director Mahesh to check out locales for his next film.

"Some people who were with him happened to be in the police wanted list," Rajkumar said.

Rajkumar does not visit Raghukumar's house in Sudhamanagar, but says he is on talking terms with him.

Rajkumar suspects the police played up the arrests and gave Raghukumar's name to the press because they knew his status as a movie producer and considered him a big catch.

"They went in an Indica, but the police say they arrested 11. Is it possible for so many to sit in such a small car?" Rajkumar said.

The car avoided the police check post, but that wasn't because Raghukumar was on the run, he explained.

"They were in a hurry to reach the temple before it closed," he said.u00a0
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Raghukumar is a real-estate businessman. His first film was shot mostly in Nepal.u00a0u00a0

"He came with me and I introduced him to director Nagendra Prasad, who is also a lyricist. Finally I played the lead role in Meghave Meghave and Raghukumar gave full support to the cast and crew," said Ram, hero of the film.

Raghukumar invested about Rs 3 crore in the film.

"I didn't get any remuneration. Something happened during the making of the film, and they didn't call me even for the audio release," Ram said.u00a0

Police suspect Raghu-kumar was trying to recover money lost by hunting for treasures in old temples.

Happy times:u00a0 Raghukumar spent Rs 18 lakh on his first film's audio release on board a planeu00a0
PIC/KN NAGESHKUMAR