The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) II court has directed Cantt police to register a case against four individuals, including Bhojpuri actor and singer Pawan Singh, in connection with an alleged fraud of ₹1.25 crore.
The order came following a complaint filed by Vishal Singh, a hotel and travel businessman from Varanasi.
Vishal Singh alleged that the accused lured him into investing in a Bhojpuri film project with promises of profit-sharing, but later denied him his rightful share despite the film’s success.
How The Deal Began
According to Vishal Singh, while studying in Mumbai, he met Prem Shankar Rai and his wife Seema Rai, who claimed to be associated with film production. They frequently visited his Mumbai residence and persuaded him to invest in a Bhojpuri film project.
Later, they introduced him to actor Pawan Singh at his Varanasi office. Convinced by their assurances, Vishal transferred ₹38 lakh in installments from his company, Riddhika Enterprises, to Shreyas Film Pvt. Ltd., owned by the Rai couple.
Film Production & Agreement
The shooting of the Bhojpuri film Boss began in November 2018. Vishal stated that during a meeting at Hotel City Inn in Nadesar, he, along with Prem Shankar, Seema Rai, Pawan Singh, and their associate Arvind Choubey, finalized a written agreement on company letterhead.
The document named Vishal Singh as the producer of the film and outlined the profit-sharing terms:
- 50% for the producer
- 25% for the co-producer
- 20% for the actor
- 5% for the director
Following this agreement, Vishal bore all expenses of the production, amounting to ₹1.25 crore, including hotel and travel agency bills.
Alleged Fraud & Threats
Despite funding the entire project, Vishal claimed he received no share of the profits. He later learned that the film had been sold and had earned crores in revenue, but his investment was never returned.
He further alleged that when he demanded his dues, Pawan Singh threatened him with dire consequences, including death threats.
Court’s Intervention
Vishal initially filed a complaint at Cantt police station in Varanasi, but no action followed. Left with no choice, he approached the court.
After reviewing his application, the CJM court directed police to register a case against Pawan Singh, Prem Shankar Rai, Seema Rai, and Arvind Choubey.
The matter is now set to proceed under judicial scrutiny, with police action expected as per the court’s directive.
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