Mumbai's television industry has recently been shaken by a significant fraud case involving 25 popular celebrities, including well-known names like Ankita Lokhande and Tejasswi Prakash. These stars were allegedly duped out of ₹1.48 crore (approximately $180,000) in a scam related to an energy drink advertisement. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and trustworthiness of celebrity endorsements in the entertainment sector.
How the Scam Unfolded
The scam came to light when Roshan Binder, a celebrity manager and owner of Ayman Entertainment, filed a complaint with the Chembur police in Mumbai. According to Binder, she was approached in July 2024 by individuals claiming to represent Sky 63 Energy Drinks. They promised to hire 25 celebrities for a promotional campaign, assuring her that an advance payment of ₹10 lakh would be made. However, no money was ever transferred.
Despite this lack of payment, Binder proceeded with the arrangements, believing in the credibility of the accused. She organized a lavish promotional event on August 10, 2024, in Dadar, Mumbai, which attracted around 100 celebrities. Among those present were Arjun Bijlani and Abhishek Bajaj. From this gathering, 25 artists were selected for the advertisement campaign.
The Agreement and Promises
The agreement stipulated that the total payment for the celebrities would be ₹1.32 crore, with Binder's commission set at ₹16.91 lakh. To establish trust, the accused even provided a photo of a ₹15 lakh cheque as a guarantee for future payments. This led Binder to believe that everything was in order and that payments would be made within 35 days.
As filming commenced and promotional content was shared on social media platforms, it became evident that the promised payments were not forthcoming. The accused continued to delay payments under various pretexts.
Bounced Cheques and Growing Concerns
The situation worsened when several cheques issued to celebrities bounced. For instance, Tejasswi Prakash received a cheque for ₹6.5 lakh that did not clear, while Adrija Roy's cheque for ₹1.25 lakh also bounced. This raised alarm bells among the involved celebrities.
In total, multiple cheques issued by the accused failed to clear, leading to financial losses for many artists who had already invested time and resources into the project based on these agreements. The fraudsters had initially promised substantial payments but ultimately left many without compensation.
Police Investigation
Following Binder's complaint, Mumbai police registered a case against five individuals: Tanish Chhajed and Manu Shrivastava, along with their associates Faizal Idrii, Abdul, and Riitik Panchal. The police are currently investigating the matter further by examining financial transactions and communication records to track down these suspects and recover the lost funds.
Reactions from Celebrities
The news of this scam has sent shockwaves through the television industry. Many celebrities expressed their disbelief at being targeted in such a fraudulent scheme. The incident highlights not only the risks associated with celebrity endorsements but also raises questions about how such scams can be prevented in the future.
Conclusion
This energy drink scam serves as a cautionary tale for both celebrities and management firms involved in endorsements and promotions. With investigations underway, it is hoped that justice will be served and that measures will be put in place to protect artists from similar scams in the future.
As this story continues to develop, it is crucial for all parties involved to remain vigilant and ensure that proper verification processes are established when entering into agreements involving significant financial commitments. The entertainment industry must learn from this incident to safeguard its members against fraudulent activities moving forward.
This unfortunate event underscores the importance of trust and transparency within celebrity endorsements and serves as a reminder for everyone involved in such deals to conduct thorough due diligence before proceeding with any contracts or agreements.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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