Ex-Uttarakhand CM's daughter accuses 'Aankhon Ki...' producers of ₹4cr fraud
What's the story
Aarushi Nishank, daughter of former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, has reportedly filed an FIR against the producers of the upcoming Bollywood film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan.
The complaint was lodged at Kotwali police station in Dehradun against Mansi Bagla and Varun Bagla.
Nishank alleges that she was defrauded by the duo of ₹4cr after being promised a significant role in their film, which stars Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor.
Investment details
Nishank's investment and promised returns in 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan'
Per the complaint, the Baglas approached Nishank to invest ₹5cr in their film.
In return, they promised her a significant role and a share of the profits.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Nishank's company Himshree Films and Mini Films, owned by the Baglas, on October 9, 2024.
Subsequently, Nishank made several payments totaling ₹4cr between October 10 and November 1.
Promised returns
Nishank was promised 20% profit and creative control
The complaint further adds that Nishank was promised a 20% profit from the film's earnings, which was estimated to be around ₹15cr.
She was also assured creative control over her role in the script, with a clause that if she was not satisfied with her role, she would be refunded her investment with an annual interest of 15%.
Discovered deceit
Nishank discovered role recasting and alleged photo manipulation
On February 5, Nishank learned that the shooting for Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan had been completed and another actor had been signed on for her promised role.
She also alleged that during a film event in Dehradun in December, attended by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the producers posted a morphed photograph on their company's official page without her.
Charges filed
Producers face multiple charges including extortion and forgery
The Baglas have reportedly been booked under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code.
These include extortion, cheating and fraud, forgery with intent to cheat, forgery of valuable documents, using forged documents as genuine, criminal intimidation by threatening death or grievous hurt, an intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and criminal conspiracy.
Nishank wrote in the FIR: "This electronic forgery...was used to defraud me and embezzle ₹4cr through a fraudulent MoU."
Alleged threats
Nishank alleged intimidation and derogatory remarks
Nishank further alleged she was intimidated with threats of defamation and extortion by the Baglas.
"They made derogatory comments about my Garhwali background and warned that if I pursued legal action, they would file false charges against me and my father, leading to severe consequences," she claimed in the FIR.
The investigating officer SI Manmohan Singh Negi said, "Based on her complaint, an FIR has been lodged at Kotwali police station in Dehradun."