Mumbai: A financial dispute involving a Rs.1.58 crore investment in film projects has led to cross FIRs between actor-couple Puja Banerjee and Kunal Verma, residents of Malad West, and film producer-financier Shyam Sunday Dey.
The case, spanning Mumbai and Goa, involves allegations of cheating, kidnapping, extortion, and assault.
In April 2025, Dey approached Puja and Kunal, seeking investors for the rights to 16 films slated for release on OTT platforms. To gain their trust, Dey claimed ongoing negotiations with Viacom18 and shared an email screenshot. He promised a profit of Rs.50 lakh on their investment.
On April 9, 2025, the couple signed an agreement with Dey. Between April 17 and May 5, 2025, they transferred Rs.1.68 crore from Kunal’s HDFC Bank account to accounts held by Shadow Films, Madhav Enterprises, and Ultra Travels in ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda, and IDFC Bank.
When Dey fell ill, the couple admitted him to Kokilaben Hospital and covered his medical expenses. After his discharge, they demanded repayment of their principal amount along with the promised profit by June 2025. Dey returned Rs10 lakh on June 2, 2025, but allegedly failed to repay the remaining amount and began avoiding their calls.
Frustrated, Puja filed a complaint at Bangur Nagar police station in Mumbai. On July 16, 2025, the police registered a case against Dey and two associates under Sections 3(5) (general explanation), 316(4) (criminal breach of trust), and 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In a counter-complaint, Malabika Dey, Shyam’s wife, filed an FIR with the Goa police, accusing Puja and Kunal of kidnapping, torturing, and extorting her husband. According to the complaint, on May 31, 2025, while Dey was on a business trip in Goa, the couple confronted him over the unpaid investment. Malabika alleged that a group led by Puja stopped Dey’s rented car, took him to an undisclosed location, and subjected him to torture.
