Palash Muchhal Accused Of Rs 40 Lakh Cheating Allegation By Maharashtra Man

Mumbai: Film composer and director Palash Muchhal, who was recently in the news after his wedding was called off with Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana, is now again in the spotlight over a Rs 40 lakh cheating complaint by an actor.

What is the matter?

A 34-year-old actor and producer, Vidnyan Mane from Maharashtra, on Tuesday submitted a complaint to the Sangli Superintendent of Police, claiming that he was cheated of Rs 40 lakh by Palash Muchhal.

However, the police have not registered an official report yet.

What is the complaint?

According to Mane, Muchhal met him in Sangli on December 5, 2023 and reportedly pitched a film project titled 'Nazariya'. 

He promised that if Mane invested and the film released on OTT platforms, there would be a profit share of Rs 12 lakh from a Rs 25 lakh investment and even offered him a role in the movie.

Influenced by this, Mane says he paid a total of Rs 40 lakh to Muchhal in instalments between December 2023 and March 2025.

What about the project now?

Mane said that the film project was reportedly never completed. When he later asked for his money back, Muchhal initially promised repayment but then stopped responding and allegedly even blocked his calls. 

With no refund and no progress on the project, Mane decided to take the matter to the police late this week. 

What did the police say?

An official on Thursday said that the application is being examined as part of an initial inquiry and also confirmed that a preliminary probe is underway to verify the claims. 

So far, Palash Muchhal has not issued any statement or response to the allegations.

What about the personal background?

Muchhal has been in media attention recently for his cancelled wedding with Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana, which was called off late last year. The couple was scheduled to marry on November 23, but the ceremony was postponed after Smriti’s father, Shriniwas Mandhana, was hospitalised due to a heart ailment. 

However, on December 7, Smriti taking to Instagram confirmed that her wedding with Palash Muchhal had been called off. 

Later after Smriti's announcement, Palash also issued an public statement, saying, "I have decided to move on in my life and step back from my personal relationship. It’s been very difficult for me to see people react so easily on baseless rumours about something which has been most sacred to me. It’s the most difficult phase of my life, and I will deal with it gracefully, holding on to my beliefs."