Lucknow: A South City, PGI resident music composer, Hemant Kumar Rai, was allegedly cheated of ₹72 lakh by fraudsters who promised him opportunities in the Bollywood music industry. Acting on a court order, the PGI police have registered an FIR against five accused persons in connection with the case and have begun a formal investigation.
Alleged Promise of Bollywood Break
According to the victim, the fraud was orchestrated in 2024 when he was introduced to one Sanjay Singh, an event manager residing in Hazratganj. Sanjay Singh allegedly arranged a meeting between the composer and a Mumbai-based man, Syed Akhtar Hasan, who claimed to have strong connections in the Bollywood entertainment industry.
During the discussions, the accused allegedly promised to secure work opportunities for the composer in music videos and other major entertainment projects. Trusting the assurance, Hemant Kumar was asked to pay money for the arrangement. The victim subsequently transferred ₹72 lakh through RTGS into the bank accounts of Juhi Akhtar, Syed Kadir Hasan and Shridham Builders, as instructed by the accused.
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Car Taken, No Work Delivered
Apart from the cash payment, the accused also allegedly took possession of the victim’s car, valued at around ₹20 lakh. Despite making the payment and handing over the vehicle, the composer did not receive any professional assignment or work opportunity in return.
The victim stated that when he started demanding his money back, the accused initially kept delaying the matter by making false assurances. Later, he was allegedly threatened and told that only ₹50,000 would be returned and the remaining amount should be forgotten. When he objected, the accused reportedly issued threats of murder and also began harassing his family members through phone calls.
Court-Ordered FIR and Named Accused
The complaint was eventually taken to court after which the police registered a case against Syed Akhtar Hasan, Juhi Akhtar, Syed Kadir Hasan, event manager Sanjay Singh and Shridham Builder. Authorities have said that the accused will soon be issued notices for questioning.
Police officials stated that the investigation will examine financial transactions, communication records and the role of each accused in the alleged conspiracy. Efforts are also being made to verify whether similar frauds were committed against other individuals by the same group.
Earlier reports suggest that the accused had represented themselves as individuals associated with the film and entertainment industry to gain the victim’s trust. Investigators are now probing whether the case is part of a larger racket involving fake promises of employment in the film sector.
Probe Into Possible Wider Racket
The police have assured that action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the investigation. Officials are also examining bank records and digital communication trails to trace the flow of money.
Meanwhile, the victim has demanded strict legal action against the accused and restoration of his financial losses. He has also urged authorities to ensure correction of any records affected by the fraudulent transactions.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are expected to summon the accused persons for interrogation soon as part of the probe process.
