Surat Businessman Claims He Was Duped Through Celebrity Event Promises
Abhishek Borda Fraud Case Surat: A major fraud allegation involving celebrity event bookings has surfaced in Surat, where an event management businessman has accused two Mumbai-based company directors of cheating him out of more than ₹1.41 crore. The case, now registered with the Utran Police Station, revolves around promises to organize live performances featuring some of India’s most popular entertainers, including singer Arijit Singh, comedian Kapil Sharma, and actress-dancer Nora Fatehi.
According to the complaint, the accused allegedly used their claimed connections with well-known Bollywood personalities to gain the trust of the Surat-based businessman before collecting substantial amounts of money for events that never materialized.
How the Alleged Fraud Began
The complainant, 28-year-old Abhishek Borda, runs an event management business called Shubharambh Entertainment in Surat along with his business partner. In 2024, the duo planned to organize a large-scale live entertainment event in the city and began searching for agencies that could arrange appearances by prominent celebrities.
During this process, they came into contact with two Mumbai-based individuals identified as Aninda Netai Seal, a director of Base 52 Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., and Anant Kumar Shivnath Gupta, a director associated with another entertainment company.
According to the police complaint, the accused allegedly presented photographs with well-known Bollywood celebrities and claimed to have strong industry connections. Based on these representations, they reportedly assured the complainant that they could successfully organize a live concert featuring popular singer Arijit Singh in Surat.
Believing the proposal to be genuine, the complainant paid an initial token amount of ₹11 lakh and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the event.
Shift From Arijit Singh to Kapil Sharma and Nora Fatehi
The complaint states that after receiving the advance payment, the accused later informed the organizers that an Arijit Singh concert could not be arranged. Instead, they allegedly offered to organize live performances featuring Kapil Sharma and Nora Fatehi.
Over the following months, various demands for payments were reportedly made. The complainant claims that funds were requested for artist fees, venue visits, travel expenses, accommodation arrangements, and bookings at a luxury hotel.
Trusting that the events were moving forward, the Surat-based organizers allegedly transferred money into multiple bank accounts linked to the accused. The total amount paid reportedly exceeded ₹1.43 crore.
Allegations of Invalid Billing and GST Irregularities
The Abhishek Borda fraud case Surat took a new turn when financial documents related to the transactions were reviewed. According to the complaint, one of the accused companies allegedly issued an invoice despite its GST registration reportedly being blocked by tax authorities.
The issue reportedly came to light during a review conducted by the complainant’s chartered accountant. The examination raised questions about the validity of the invoice and the legitimacy of the financial transactions associated with the proposed celebrity events.
Investigators are expected to examine these documents as part of the ongoing probe.
Partial Refund and Bounced Security Cheques
After concerns were raised regarding the transactions, the complainant initially approached authorities. During that period, the accused allegedly returned only a small portion of the money, amounting to ₹1.15 lakh, while assuring that the remaining amount would be repaid.
To support those assurances, security cheques were reportedly provided. However, according to the complaint, those cheques were later dishonoured when presented for payment.
The complainant claims that repeated attempts to recover the outstanding amount were unsuccessful. He further alleged that when he demanded repayment of approximately ₹1.41 crore, he was threatened and told that the money would not be returned.
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Police Register Case and Launch Investigation
Following the complaint, Utran Police registered a case against Aninda Netai Seal, Anant Kumar Shivnath Gupta, and directors associated with another entertainment consultancy company. The case has been filed under various provisions related to criminal breach of trust, cheating, and other applicable offences.
Police officials have initiated an investigation to verify the financial transactions, agreements, invoices, and communications exchanged between the parties. Statements from those involved are expected to form a key part of the inquiry.
The Abhishek Borda fraud case Surat has drawn attention within the event management industry, highlighting the risks associated with celebrity booking arrangements and the importance of verifying credentials, contracts, and financial documents before entering into high-value business agreements.
Authorities have stated that further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.