A ₹40-lakh film investment dispute involving music composer and singer Palash Muchhal has taken a legal turn, with Muchhal filing a ₹10-crore defamation suit against actor-producer Vidnyan Mane over allegations of cheating and claims related to his personal life.
In an official statement, Muchhal said the allegations levelled against him were false, baseless and malicious, and aimed at causing serious damage to his professional standing and public image. He confirmed that a ₹10-crore legal notice has already been issued to Mane through his counsel.
The notice alleges that statements made on public platforms and social media were factually incorrect and deliberately intended to malign his reputation.
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The ₹40-lakh investment claim
Earlier, according to a PTI report, 34-year-old Vidnyan Mane had lodged a complaint in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, alleging that he invested ₹40 lakh in a proposed film project associated with Muchhal but neither received returns nor saw the project completed.
Mane claimed that during a meeting in Sangli in December 2023, he was offered a role in the project along with assurances of profit-sharing following an OTT release. The project, however, allegedly failed to take off at a later stage.
As of now, no FIR has been registered in connection with the complaint, and the matter is said to be at a preliminary stage of examination.
Personal allegations add to controversy
The dispute escalated further after Mane made allegations concerning Muchhal’s personal life, including references to an alleged marriage proposal involving cricketer Smriti Mandhana and other private claims.
Muchhal has categorically denied these allegations, calling them entirely fabricated and untrue. He stated that dragging personal matters into a financial dispute was not only unethical but also amounted to a serious legal violation.
Muchhal’s stand
Muchhal maintained that he was being deliberately pulled into a controversy through selective narratives circulated on social media and certain platforms. He said he had full faith in the legal process and would pursue all available remedies to protect his reputation.
He added that strict action would be taken against anyone spreading false or defamatory content in connection with the matter.
What lies ahead
Legal experts note that defamation cases typically involve close scrutiny of public statements, supporting documents and intent behind the allegations made by both sides. Until the legal process is completed, no claim can be treated as conclusive.
For now, the matter remains sub judice, with further action dependent on court proceedings and legal directions.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
