A fraud case involving over 25 celebrities and crores of rupees has come to light. These stars were contracted for an energy drink advertisement campaign, but were not paid their fees after completing the shoot.
Mumbai: A fraud case has been filed against a celebrity management company related to an energy drink advertisement. Approximately 25 prominent celebrities have not received their payments. A complaint has been lodged with the Chembur police station in Mumbai by the celebrity management company. The accusation is that many well-known personalities promoted the energy drink, but were not compensated.
The complaint mentions outstanding dues of approximately ₹1.5 crore. The police have registered a case against five individuals: Tanish Chheda, Manu Srivastava, Faisal Rafiq, Abdul, and Ritik Panchal. The complaint was filed by Roshan Gary, the director of the celebrity management company, following which the police have initiated an investigation.
How the Fraud Occurred?
According to the complaint, the fraud was perpetrated through a celebrity management company that connects film and television actors with advertisements and events. Company head Roshan Gary stated that in July 2024, she received a call from an individual who identified himself as a representative of an energy drink brand. He requested 25 actors and promised an advance payment.
During the initial conversation, the accused claimed to have transferred ₹10 lakh as an advance payment, but no money was actually received. Subsequently, an event was held in Dadar, Mumbai, with approximately 100 actors participating. Of these, 25 were selected for the advertisement, and an agreement was reached to pay them a total of ₹1.32 crore.
Dishonored Checks and Bounced Transactions
After the ad shoot, several checks were issued as payment to the actors and the company, but all bounced. These included checks for ₹6.5 lakh for actress Tejasswi Prakash and ₹1.25 lakh for Adrija Roy. Two checks of ₹35 lakh and ₹45 lakh were issued on October 18, 2024, but they also failed to clear.
Complainant Roshan Gary stated that she had advanced payments to several actors based on promises. These actors included Jay Bhanushali, Ankita Lokhande, Ayush Sharma, Kushal Tandon, and others.
Total Fraud of ₹1.5 Crore, Police Initiate Investigation
In this entire scam, ₹1.32 crore was supposed to be paid to the actors, while Roshan Gary had paid ₹16.91 lakh in advance from her personal funds. Thus, a total fraud of ₹1.5 crore occurred. After the complaint was registered, the police have begun an investigation. A case has been registered against five individuals: Tanish Chheda, Manu Srivastava, Faisal Rafiq, Abdul, and Ritik Panchal. The police are interrogating the accused and investigating their bank transactions and other records.
This case is a major setback for the Bollywood and television industry, as it demonstrates how fraudulent brands and con artists can deceive even major celebrities. The police may soon take the accused into custody for questioning. Meanwhile, the affected actors are hopeful of receiving justice.
