Mumbai: Producer booked for defrauding financier of Rs 40 lakh

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A case of cheating has been registered against a producer based on the complaint of a real estate businessman and financier of films, TV serials, and web series. The financier alleges that the producer defrauded him of Rs 40 lakh by luring him into investing in a TV serial on Doordarshan.

According to police sources, the accused promised good returns on the investment, claiming that the channel was popular and would benefit from their show named ‘Jai Bharti'.

The complainant, identified as Sameer Thakur Prasad Singh, 29, resides with his friend in Adarsh Nagar, Jogeshwari West. In March 2023, Singh met Mahesh Pandey, who presented him with an investment opportunity in ‘Jai Bharti', a television serial on DD National TV. Pandey explained that the serial was running at a loss and required investment.

In May 2023, Singh, who had accumulated money from his business, agreed to invest Rs 40 lakh in the channel. After proper documentation and agreement, Singh transferred the amount to Pandey's account.

Singh stated to the police that Pandey initially provided him with a profit of Rs 80,000 every month, totalling to about R4 lakh until October 2023. However, Pandey then stopped making the payments. Despite Singh's repeated requests for his profit and the return of the Rs 40 lakh investment, Pandey procrastinated and eventually refused to return the money. Realizing he had been cheated, Singh approached the Goregaon police station and filed a complaint last month.

"This person was a writer who has worked with famous film and serial producers and directors, made his own production house with the name "Mahesh Pandey Production" and I too had invested in the same considering his status and after proper documentation. Now I have come to know that apart from me, this person has cheated many other people which included Many artists, assistants, and shooting location staff who have not been paid," said Sameer Singh while speaking with mid-day."

"We have registered a case under various Sections of IPC 420 and 419 and are searching for the accused," said an officer from Goregaon police station.