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The television industry has been rocked by a shocking fraud case involving 25 TV personalities, including Ankita Lokhande, Tejasswi Prakash, Adrija Roy, and Aayush Sharma. These celebrities were allegedly duped in a Rs 1.48 crore scam linked to an Indore-based energy drink company, Sky 63 Energy Drinks. The Mumbai police have booked five individuals in connection with the case as investigations progress.
The Energy Drink Scam: How It Unfolded
The fraudulent scheme was orchestrated by individuals identified as Tanish Chhajed, Manu Shrivastava, Faizal Idrii, Abdul, and Riitik Panchal. These suspects allegedly deceived Ayman Entertainment, a celebrity management firm owned by Roshan Bhinder. A formal complaint was lodged at the Chembur police station.
According to reports, Chhajed and Shrivastava approached Bhinder in 2024, claiming to own Sky 63 Energy Drinks. They sought to promote their brand through celebrity endorsements on social media and ad campaigns. Bhinder’s firm was assigned the task of arranging these promotions, trusting the legitimacy of the business.
Celebrities and Management Firm Deceived
Bhinder secured 25 celebrities for the brand promotion under an agreement stating that the celebrities would receive Rs 1.32 crore in total, while Bhinder’s commission was set at Rs 16.91 lakh. To establish trust, the accused presented an image of a Rs 15 lakh cheque as a payment guarantee, reassuring Bhinder that the amount would soon be transferred.
Despite not receiving an initial payment, Bhinder proceeded with the campaign. On August 10, 2024, he organized a grand promotional event in Dadar, Mumbai, which saw the presence of around 100 celebrities, including Arjun Bijlani, Abhishek Bajaj, and Harsh Rajput. From this event, 25 celebrities were chosen to participate in the ad campaign.
Delayed Payments and Fraud Discovery
Shrivastava initially claimed to have transferred Rs 10 lakh as an advance, but Bhinder never received the funds. Despite this, Bhinder continued the promotional activities, investing Rs 35 lakh from his own pocket to pay some celebrities.
The accused continued to delay payments, providing false assurances that the full amount would be transferred within 35 days. Meanwhile, the celebrities had already started filming and sharing promotional content on social media, unaware of the scam.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
Upon realizing that he had been defrauded, Bhinder filed a police complaint against the accused individuals. The Mumbai police have launched an investigation to track down the suspects and recover the lost funds.
This case serves as a stark warning to celebrities and entertainment industry professionals to conduct thorough financial verifications before engaging in promotional deals. As the investigation unfolds, the industry eagerly awaits justice for the victims of this high-profile scam.
