Composer-filmmaker Palaash Muchhal is currently facing a First Information Report (FIR) in Sangli, Maharashtra, following serious allegations made by Vidnyan Mane, a childhood friend of Indian cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. The complaint details claims of financial misconduct involving a ₹25 lakh film investment and caste-based abuse.
Allegations of Financial Misconduct and Unfulfilled Film Project
According to the FIR, Vidnyan Mane alleges that Palaash Muchhal took ₹25 lakh from him as an investment for a proposed film titled 'Nazariya'. Mane claims he was promised a role in the project and the return of his investment, along with profits, upon the film's release. However, the complaint states that the film was never produced, and subsequent requests for repayment were reportedly ignored by Muchhal.
Claims of Caste-Based Abuse
The allegations extend beyond financial disputes. Mane further claims that during a meeting with Muchhal on November 22, 2025, at a farmhouse in Sangli, he was subjected to casteist slurs and derogatory remarks. This incident, as described in the complaint, involved humiliation over his caste identity.
Police Investigation Underway
Police officials have confirmed the registration of a case against Palaash Rajkumar Muchhal, a resident of Mumbai, based on the complaint filed by 34-year-old Vidnyan Prakash Mane of Sangli. Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandeep Bhagwat stated that the FIR includes charges under the Atrocities Act, and a comprehensive investigation is ongoing into both the financial allegations and the claims of caste-based abuse.
Context: Muchhal's Called-Off Wedding with Mandhana
This development comes months after Palaash Muchhal's planned wedding with Smriti Mandhana, initially scheduled for November 2025, was called off. Reports from December 2025 indicated that the ceremony was first postponed due to Mandhana's father's hospitalization, before both parties publicly confirmed the cancellation, requesting privacy and an end to speculation regarding their personal lives.