Mumbai: An FIR has been filed against filmmaker-writer Manish Gupta for allegedly attacking his driver with a kitchen knife. Gupta had fired the driver on May 30, and the confrontation occurred after Gupta rehired the driver four days later, police said. According to Versova police, who filed the case on Friday, initial enquiries indicate the clash at Gupta’s Andheri (west) residence-cum-office at 8.30pm originated from a payment dispute with Mohammed Lashkar (38). Police are investigating the allegations. DCP (Zone IX) Dikshit Gedam confirmed that an FIR had been filed at Versova police station.The director has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for assault, weapon-inflicted injury, and deliberate insult.Lashkar, who served as Gupta’s driver for three years until his May 30 termination, said his Rs 23,000 salary remained outstanding. His statement reads: “There has been instances when the film director used to indulge in fight whenever I asked for my salary which was never paid on time. This time he removed me from the job when I asked for my April month’s salary which was yet to be paid.”Lashkar’s lawyer Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh said that Lashkar was being treated for his wounds.Gupta could not be contacted for comment. —V Narayan
