A Hyderabad-based businessman has lodged a criminal complaint alleging that a couple defrauded him of Rs 3.5 crore after falsely promising to launch his son as the lead actor in a feature film. The complainant, a resident of Moosapet, came into contact with the accused party, who claimed to be producing a big-budget cinematic project and were actively searching for a suitable lead actor. The film never materialized, and the matter has escalated into a formal investigation handled by regional economic offenses specialists.
False Promises of Stardom and Swift Financial Returns
According to the initial police reports, when the businessman expressed a keen interest in securing a prominent role for his son, the couple allegedly convinced him to invest substantial capital into the production. The accused party assured the victim that his son would be officially cast as the hero and guaranteed that the financial investment would generate significant profits within a six-month window. Relying on these assurances of commercial returns and professional advancement for his son, the businessman reportedly paid the couple a total sum of Rs 3.5 crore in multiple installments over a period of time.
Default on Payments and Extortionate Threats
Despite the substantial financial transfer, the project faced total stagnation, and even after two years had elapsed, the film never went into regular production. Realizing that the cinematic project was non-existent, the businessman repeatedly sought a full repayment of his capital from the couple. Investigators revealed that the accused individuals systematically delayed the matter using various excuses. Earlier this year, under mounting pressure, the couple returned Rs 50 lakh to the complainant and executed a formal legal agreement promising to repay the remaining balance. However, the outstanding balance was never paid back to the investor.
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Case Reassigned to Specialized Financial Crime Unit
The situation deteriorated further when the businessman issued fresh demands for his remaining money. The complainant alleged that the couple refused to clear the debt and instead resorted to criminal intimidation, threatening to ruin his son’s future and cause physical harm to his family members. Following the escalation, the victim approached local law enforcement, and the Kukatpally police initially registered a criminal case under relevant statutory provisions. Considering the financial scale of the fraud, higher authorities subsequently transferred the case files to the Cyberabad Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for a comprehensive investigation.
