Puja Banerjee & Kunal Verma accused of kidnapping & extortion by Bengali producer Shyam Dey's wife

Television couple Kunal Verma and Puja Banerjee have found themselves in the middle of a serious controversy. The duo, along with their associate Piyush Kothari, has been accused of kidnapping, physical assault, and extortion by the family of Bengali film producer Shyam Sunder Dey.

The matter came to public light when Shyam’s wife, Malabika Dey, shared a detailed and emotional post on social media, accompanied by FIR documents, bank transaction slips, WhatsApp screenshots, and other evidence. In her post, Malabika alleged that her husband was forcefully taken, threatened, and pressured into paying money after being falsely accused of being involved in drugs.

This shocking incident reportedly occurred on May 31, 2025, in Goa, where Shyam had travelled for a business meeting. The producer, known for his contribution to Bengali cinema with more than 60 films to his name, was allegedly intercepted by the accused while driving a rented car during his work trip.

Malabika wrote, “I’m sharing a painful experience today—something no family should ever endure. On May 31, 2025, my husband, Mr. Shyamsundar Dey, a renowned Bengali film producer with more than 60 films to his credit, was involved in a shocking incident.”

She went on to claim, “My husband was kidnapped, held against his will, threatened, and physically assaulted by Puja Banerjee, Kunal Verma, and their influential associate Piyush Kothari over several days as part of an extortion attempt. While on a business trip in Goa, my husband drove a rented car when Puja and the others intercepted him and forcibly took him to an undisclosed location.”

According to her, the trio subjected Shyam to mental harassment while pressuring him to pay Rs 64 lakh. “In Goa, my husband was subjected to mental torture, and they demanded Rs 64 lakh from him. They threatened to falsely accuse him of a drug case if he didn’t comply. Terrified, Shyam paid Rs 23 lakh. I’ve saved all the receipts and transaction proofs showing the transfers made to Puja and Kunal’s accounts.” The post further claimed that the accused seized Shyam’s mobile phones and forced him to share private data. “Shyam’s mobile phones were taken by Puja and Kunal, who also forced him to reveal personal details and passwords. They made multiple video recordings compelling him to speak as instructed. For now, he has been safely recovered with the assistance of the Goa Police, headed by the North Goa Superintendent of Police.”

My husband was kidnapped, held against his will, threatened, and physically assaulted by Puja Banerjee, Kunal Verma, and their influential associate Piyush Kothari over several days as part of an extortion attempt. While on a business trip in Goa, my husband drove a rented car when Puja and the others intercepted him and forcibly took him to an undisclosed location.

- Malabika Dey

According to sources close to the family, Shyam was only able to contact his wife after several days of being held against his will. It was then that she rushed to take legal action. A formal FIR has been filed in North Goa, and local authorities are now investigating the matter. This is not the first time Kunal and Puja have been in the news for money-related troubles. Earlier this year, the couple revealed they had lost their entire savings in a scam and were trying to recover financially. They had publicly spoken about the emotional and financial stress they were going through.

Kunal Verma and Puja Banerjee are well-known faces in the Indian television industry. They have appeared in shows like Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna, Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev, Chandra Nandini, and Jag Janani Maa Vaishno Devi. The couple got married in 2020 and have a son together. Despite the seriousness of the accusations, neither Kunal nor Puja has responded to the allegations yet. Their social media accounts have also remained inactive since the news went viral.

The incident has caused a stir online, with many social media users demanding a proper investigation and justice for the victim. Some fans expressed shock and disappointment, while others urged people to wait for the legal process to unfold before jumping to conclusions.

As of now, no arrests have been made, but the case is under active investigation by the Goa police. Whether or not charges will be formally filed depends on the evidence collected and the statements recorded in the coming days. We tried getting in touch with Kunal however he remained unavailable for any comments.