What began as a workplace friendship at a Mumbai startup has culminated in a police case alleging cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery involving nearly Rs 34 lakh.

Kalachowki police have registered an FIR against Dr Niraj Ramesh Sheth, founder and chief executive officer of a Mumbai-based health-tech startup, after a former employee accused him of failing to return money borrowed over several years and later relying on a forged invoice purportedly issued by a UK-based law firm to deny liability.