07 May,2026 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Palaash Muchhal (Pic/Instagram)
Singer and director Palaash Muchhal has been in the news ever since his wedding with Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana got called off. Adding to his troubles, Smriti's friend and Sangli-based resident Vigyan Mane accused Palaash of financial fraud and recently sought to file an FIR against him under the Atrocities Act. Breaking silence on the allegations levelled by Mane, Palaash's lawyer claimed he is merely seeking publicity and trying to create pressure.
In an interview with NDTV, advocate Shreyansh Mithare said that Vigyan Mane is doing everything for publicity. According to him, "If that happened on November 22, and now we are in May, why was no complaint made until now? Earlier, he only spoke about a financial dispute, but he never brought up any allegation of caste-based remarks. This clearly shows that his intentions are not genuine and that he is merely seeking publicity. We will respond to this appropriately through legal means."
While providing background about the issue, Shreyansh Mithare explained that Vigyan Mane gave interviews to several news channels in which he mentioned that Palaash defrauded him of Rs 40 lakh. After he filed a complaint about it at Sangli police station, Palaash approached the Bombay High Court and sent him a defamation notice of Rs 10 crore.
He also noted that Mane was summoned twice by the court but failed to appear. "He seems to think this is just a pressure tactic. The most interesting part is that the Bombay High Court summoned him twice to present his side in the defamation case, but he did not appear. Now, to create pressure so that we withdraw the defamation case or reach a settlement with him, he has filed this false atrocity case."
The complaint alleges that the incident occurred on November 22 at a toll plaza on the Sangli-Ashta road, where Mane claims that during an argument, Palaash used casteist slur. Police have registered a case under Section 3(1) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with Sections 351(2) and 352. The investigation is currently underway.
Police stated that Palaash had reportedly borrowed Rs 25 lakh from Vigyan Mane for a film production project, and Mane later approached him to recover the amount. However, when Palaash failed to pay the dues, Mane accused him of financial fraud.
Amid the ongoing legal storm, the musician sought blessings at sacred temples in Rajasthan. He shared glimpses from the visit on social media.
