Netflix series 'Jamtara' producer charged for Rs 2.5 crore fraud

Manish Trehan, the producer of the popular has been charged by Mumbai Police web series Jamtara, for allegedly cheating a Khar-based businessman, Nihar L, out of Rs 2.5 crore. The complaint alleges that Trehan took the funds from Nihar under the pretense of business expansion and financing a film project, which he claimed would be available on Amazon Prime, according to a report from Indian Express.com.

Nihar, who operates a finance service firm, met Trehan in October 2022 through a mutual acquaintance. According to the FIR, Trehan, presenting himself as the director of the advertising editing company Click On RM Pvt Ltd, assured Nihar that he would return the money within a year, along with interest. Trusting this promise, Nihar transferred Rs 2 crore to Trehan for business expansion through an online transaction.

In October 2013, when the one-year period concluded, Trehan visited Nihar’s office with a man named Satvant Singh, whom Trehan introduced as a senior executive from a well-known OTT platform. When Nihar inquired about repayment, Trehan informed him that the money had been invested in a film, stating it was almost finished, with only editing remaining. Trehan also requested an additional Rs 50 lakh to cover the final expenses, assuring Nihar that the film would soon be sold to the OTT platform, and the money would be returned.

Trusting Trehan’s promise, Nihar transferred an extra Rs 50 lakh on October 5, 2023. This time, Trehan presented a written loan agreement, recognizing the Rs 2.5 crore loan, and issued four post-dated cheques as a guarantee, which were to be cashed by March 31, 2024.

When Nihar tried to deposit the cheques, they were rejected because Trehan had issued a stop payment order. After several unsuccessful attempts to reach Trehan, who allegedly blocked Nihar’s calls, the businessman went to senior police officials to file a complaint.

The Santacruz police have now charged Trehan and Singh under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 34 (common intention). Nihar also alleged that Trehan’s wife was involved, though her name is not mentioned in the FIR.

Trehan’s lawyer, Shivam Deshmukh, contested the allegations, claiming that Trehan had already repaid part of the loan amount and accused Nihar and his father of pressuring Trehan to make an immediate cash payment of Rs 1.6 crore. Deshmukh maintains that Trehan has fully cooperated with the authorities and argues that the FIR was filed to satisfy Nihar’s illegal demands.