Palaash Muchhal slams reports after being accused of cheating Sangli man of Rs 40 lakh; police probe on

Music composer and filmmaker Palaash Muchhal made headlines last year after his wedding to Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana was called off. Soon after, multiple women leaked alleged chats shared between them and Palaash while he was in a relationship with Smriti Mandhana.

Following the cheating allegations and leaked chats that went viral, Palaash's sister, singer Palak Muchhal, was seen defending her brother. However, all efforts went in vain as Smriti Mandhana called off the wedding, emerged stronger, and chose to prioritise her career.

Palaash Muchhal accused of cheating Maharashtra man of Rs 40 lakh; complaint filed

Now, months after the cheating allegations and wedding drama, Palaash has found himself embroiled in a fresh controversy. Several claims have emerged alleging that he duped people in a film project, and a police complaint has been filed against him for fraud and cheating.

The music composer has been accused of committing a financial fraud worth Rs 40 lakh in Sangli, Maharashtra. According to news agency PTI, actor and producer Vidnyan Mane approached the police in Maharashtra's Sangli district, accusing Palaash of cheating him in connection with a film titled Nazaria. Vidnyan reportedly submitted an application to the Superintendent of Police seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the composer.

As per the complaint, Palaash and Vidnyan met in Sangli on December 5, 2023, where Vidnyan expressed interest in investing in film production. Palaash allegedly offered him a producer's role in Nazaria, assuring that an investment of Rs 25 lakh would fetch profits of up to Rs 12 lakh after the film's release on OTT platforms. Vidnyan was also reportedly offered a role in the project.

The complaint further stated that after two follow-up meetings, Vidnyan transferred a total of Rs 40 lakh to Palaash by March 2025. However, the project allegedly remained incomplete. When Vidnyan sought a refund, he claimed he received no response, prompting him to approach the police. Officials confirmed that no FIR has been registered yet and that a preliminary inquiry is currently underway.

The controversy comes just days after Palaash's next directorial venture, starring Shreyas Talpade, was announced.

Amid the controversy, Palaash released an official statement and took to his Instagram Stories to respond, calling the allegations "baseless and factually incorrect."

"In light of the allegations made by Sangli-based Vidnyan Mane on social media, I wish to state that these claims against me are entirely baseless and factually incorrect," Palaash wrote. He further claimed that the allegations were made with malicious intent to damage his reputation.

Palaash added that he would ensure the claims do not go unchallenged. "My lawyer, Shreyansh Mithare, is exploring all legal avenues, and this matter will be dealt with strictly through the appropriate legal channels," he said.

Work Front 

The filmmaker recently announced his new film starring Shreyas Talpade. Set in Mumbai, the movie will feature the actor in the role of a common man. Filming for the project is expected to commence soon. This marks Palash's first project since his wedding was called off in December 2025.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the news in a post on X on Tuesday.

He wrote, "SHREYAS TALPADE TO STAR IN PALASH MUCHHAL'S NEXT FILM... #ShreyasTalpade will head the cast of director #PalashMuchhal's upcoming, as-yet-untitled film, stepping into the role of a common man. Set against the backdrop of #Mumbai, filming is expected to commence soon."