A fresh legal controversy has hit actor and Trinamool Congress MLA Soham Chakraborty just ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Fellow actor and politician Shahid Imam, popularly known as “Shubham” in the entertainment industry, has filed a case against Chakraborty in the Calcutta High Court, accusing him of defaulting on a substantial loan transaction.
The high-profile legal challenge follows a formal police complaint lodged by the petitioner at the Charu Market Police Station.
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The Roots of the Financial Transaction
According to the legal documents submitted by the petitioner, Imam and Chakraborty share a long-standing personal and professional acquaintance. Seizing on this relationship, Imam reportedly extended a significant credit loan to Chakraborty to help fund a regional film production titled Manikjor. At the time of the transaction, Imam was active as a youth leader within the regional political circuit.
The situation grew complex when Imam was arrested by law enforcement units in connection with a prominent state school service commission scam. After spending extended time in custody, Imam secured bail and was released, subsequently turning his focus toward recovering his personal outstanding financial assets.
Default Accusations and Broken Agreements
In his petition, Imam alleges that despite repeated assurances, a major portion of the principal loan balance remains completely unpaid. According to the complaint, out of the total financial arrangement, only a portion was initially handled, leaving a significant, un-refunded deficit outstanding.
Imam stated that after multiple administrative attempts to establish a structured repayment timeline failed, he felt compelled to seek formal judicial intervention through the local police station and the High Court to freeze the transaction cycle and secure his capital.
Chakraborty Responds: Citing Industry Stagnation
Responding to the legal filings, the actor-legislator did not deny receiving the financial credit but strongly disputed the malicious framing of the default accusations. Chakraborty explained that he had explicitly communicated his intent to clear the remaining balance of the loan to Imam on multiple occasions.
He highlighted that several of his major film projects have faced prolonged operational bottlenecks and distribution delays, pointing to the generally volatile commercial state of the regional cinema market as the primary cause for the payment disruption. Chakraborty maintained that without active film releases or incoming box office returns, executing immediate high-value capital settlements remains a major structural challenge.
Political Tensions Mount Ahead of Elections
The timing of the lawsuit has added a heavy political layer to the private contract dispute. Chakraborty expressed deep disappointment over the escalation, alleging that the resurrection of a multi-year-old financial transaction is a pre-planned attempt by adversaries to smear his reputation and damage his standing right before voters head to the polls.
As the High Court prepares to review the case files and the Charu Market police examine the transaction trails, the entertainment and political sectors are closely watching how the legal gridlock will influence upcoming campaign dynamics.
