Uttarakhand: Film Director Cons Businessman Of Rs 1.25 Cr On Pretext Of Making Web Series Starring Hemant Pandey

A businessman and film producer from Uttarakhand’s Doon was defrauded of about Rs 1.25 crore by a film director from Mumbai. The accused, Chandrakant Singh lured the victim into a partnership deal for shooting a web series named Fashion Street in Uttarakhand. 

The businessman, Tarun Singh Rawat said the accused director kept asking for money from him for various expenses such as labour, equipment, vehicles, hotel and location for about six months. However, the shooting never took place and Rawat realised that he had been cheated by the film director.     

Rawat filed a complaint at Nehru Colony police station, stating that he is a partner of JSR Production House and makes Hindi and Garhwali songs and films. He said that he met Chandrakant Singh through his partner Zaid Sheikh in November 2021. Chandrakant Singh claimed to be a well-known film director who had worked in many big films and had connections with all the big film producers.

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Rawat initially refused to make a web series with Chandrakant Singh but later agreed after the director convinced him that he had roped in 17 actors, including Hemant Pandey for the project. The story of the web series was also finalised and the talks continued through phone and email.

On January 23, last year Chandrakant Singh came to Doon and stayed in Rawat’s hotel. He asked Rawat to invest in the ratio of 62.5 per cent to 37.5 per cent in completing the project. He also promised to provide equipment at a rate lower than the cost of film production.

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Rawat booked lighting equipment, labour, two big vehicles, location and hotel rooms from March 24, 2023, to April 19, 2023. Chandrakant Singh stayed in his hotel several times and enjoyed free food and other facilities. However, the shooting did not start and Chandrakant Singh went back to Mumbai.

Rawat spent about Rs 64 lakh on the expenses incurred during this time. Chandrakant Singh re-booked all the items and facilities for more than 15 days in June 2023, but the shooting still did not happen. Rawat then realised that he had been duped and approached the police.

The businessman registered a complaint against the accused director at the Nehru Colony police station and an investigation is underway.