OTT platform founder Akshay Bardapurkar, associates booked for forgery, cheating, and fraudulent loans following Bombay HC directions

MUMBAI: The Mulund Police have booked the Planet Marathi founder Akshay Bardapurkar and others for alleged forgery, fraudulent loan transactions, and criminal conspiracy.

The FIR was registered on Tuesday on the directions of the Bombay High Court on the petition filed by film producer Soumya Vilekar, who alleged that Bardapurkar and his associates fabricated a Deed of Reconstitution of Partnership dated 3 October 2023, which falsely carried her signature and photograph and secured huge loans from banks.


She categorically denied executing any such deed or appearing before the notary. Planet Marathi was established in 2017 by founder and entrepreneur Bardapurkar with a vision of creating a niche for Marathi Films, Arts, and Culture across the world map.

Following the order, Mulund Police booked Bardapurkar, Manali Dixit, Dhaval Jayshuklal Shah, and Notary Public Dodha Daulat Ahire, among others. Police sources said further inquiry is underway to ascertain the extent of loans raised using the alleged forged documents and to trace the money trail.

According to her complaint, the forged document was subsequently submitted to Axis Bank, Deutsche Bank, and possibly other financial institutions to fraudulently obtain loans.

Bank records indicated that loans of Rs 35 lakh from Deutsche Bank and Rs 50 lakh from Axis Bank were disbursed in her name. Vilekar stated that she legally and voluntarily exited Planet Marathi by executing a genuine Deed of Admission-cum-Retirement on 15 January 2024, under which she transferred her stake to Bardapurkar and co-owner Dhaval Jayshuklal Shah, absolving herself of all future liabilities.

The earlier deed dated October 2023, she claimed, was a deliberate fabrication to facilitate fraudulent borrowing and expose her to potential financial and reputational harm.

In its order, the Bombay High Court observed that the allegations disclosed a prima facie case of serious offences under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 465, 467, 468, 471 (forgery and use of forged documents), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the BNS, and that failure to register an FIR would amount to dereliction of duty.



Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays, public holidays, and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.