Kochi: The Ernakulam Central Police have registered a case against Malayalam actor Dharmajan Bolgatty and 10 others for swindling lakhs from an NRI citizen.
The case was registered against Dharmajan Bolgatty (45), Mulavukadu natives Kishore Kumar (43), Taj Kadeparambil (43), Lijesh (40), Shijil (42), Jose (42), Grandy (40), Fijol (41), Jayan (40), Nibin (40) and Febin (37) over a complaint filed by Muvattupuzha-Manari native Asif Puthukattil Aliyar.
The FIR was registered as directed by the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court after the complainant approached the court alleging that the police refused to file a case.
According to the complainant, Dharmajan and others have duped the former into giving Rs 43 lakh after promising a franchise of Dharmoo's Fish Hub, a business venture owned by the actor.
Asif, who was a data scientist with an American company, met Dharmajan through a friend, who is the second accused in the case.
Asif had returned to Kerala in 2018 hoping to start a business in his home town.
In one of their meetings, held at MG Road in Ernakulam, Dharmajan had promised Asif a franchise of the fish hub at Kothamangalam and received Rs 10,000.
Later, the accused received Rs 43,30,587 in total from Asif for the proposed business deal.
The complainant has submitted all the details of the transactions done through the bank in court.
According to the complaint, though Asif had started Dharmoo's Fish Hub in Muvattupuzha, it became difficult to run the business as the supply of fish was stopped citing various reasons.
Due to this, he had to suffer huge losses.
The accused allegedly gave a copy of the contract and committed to provide the signed contract later. The complainant was asked to pay up a huge sum citing several reasons.
Though Dharmajan was summoned to the police station as part of the probe, he did not appear before the police.
"False allegations," Dharmajan lashes out
Dharmajan Bolgatty was on a visit to Munnar with his family when news of the case came to light.
"I feel like my arms and legs have become paralysed," said the actor, learning of the news.
The actor also intends to file a defamation case against the complainant for falsely accusing him.
"The decision to start a venture together was a well-intentioned one, but sadly it could not work out. I cannot be blamed for its failure," Dharmajan said.
