Pooja Banerjee cheated; files complaint against film producer
Pooja Banerjee cheated; files complaint against film producer
Television and film actress Pooja Banerjee, acknowledged for her roles in Hindi television series ‘Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna’ and ‘Kumkum Bhagya’, and Telugu film ‘Veedu Theda’, was cheated by Bengali filmmaker Shyam Sunder Dey to the tune of Rs.1.58 crores by luring her and her husband Kunal Verma to invest in OTT film rights investment scheme. She has lodged a complaint at the Bangur Nagar police station.
In her detailed statement to the police, Banerjee alleged that the accused Shyam Sunder Dey posed as a film financier and producer convinced her and her husband in April to invest in the broadcasting rights of 16 upcoming films, claiming that the movies were set to premiere on major OTT platforms, including platforms under the Viacom18 banner. To gain their confidence, the filmmaker allegedly showed forged emails and fake correspondence with executives from Viacom18.
Regardless initial scepticism from acquaintances, the couple approached Dey for co-investment and signed a formal agreement on April 9. They transferred a total of Rs 2.68 crore to several bank accounts associated with Dey and his alleged company Shadow Films, between April 17 and May 25.
As per FIR, Dey had ensured a guaranteed profit of R50 lakh and assured them of zero financial risk. However, shortly after receiving the funds, Dey reportedly claimed to have fallen seriously ill. The couple stated they even bore his medical expenses at Kokilaben Hospital amidst his hospitalisation.
After recovery, Dey allegedly began dodging calls and avoiding contact.
In WhatsApp chats now submitted as evidence, the accused filmmaker is seen ensuring to return Rs 50 lakh by the end of June and the remainder by the end of this month. However, only 9.5 lakh was returned in two payments — Rs 5.5 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh — on June 2, after which all communication ceased, and Dey reportedly blocked Banerjee and Verma’s numbers.
The Bangur Nagar police, based on the complaint by the actress, have registered a case against the accused Shyam Sunder Dey and his associates under relevant sections of BNS 316(4), 318(4), and 3(5), and an investigation is currently underway.
As per a police officer, Initial investigations revealed that a similar kind of fraud case had already been registered against the filmmaker at Kolkata’s Jorasanko police station. The accused had allegedly cheated an individual named Manish Singhania of Rs 2.76 crore by luring him into investing in film production.
News Edit KV Raman
