Mumbai’s television industry has been rocked by a massive fraud case. 25 well-known celebrities, including Ankita Lokhande, Tejasswi Prakash, Aayush Sharma, and Adrija Roy, were duped in an elaborate scam involving a fake energy drink advertisement. The fraudulent scheme cost the victims approximately ₹1.5 crore. Authorities have registered a case against five suspects as investigations continue.
How the Scam Unfolded for Ankita Lokhande and other celebs
The fraud was brought to light when a celebrity manager, Andher Roshan Binder, who arranges endorsements and event appearances for TV stars, filed a formal complaint with the Chembur police. According to Binder, he was approached in July 2024 by an individual claiming to need 25 artists for an energy drink commercial. The offer appeared legitimate. The scammers even provided a fake receipt for an advance payment of ₹10 lakh to gain his trust.
Binder proceeded with the deal and organized a promotional event in Dadar, which saw nearly 100 celebrities in attendance. This included Arjun Bijlani, Abhishek Bajaj, and Harsh Rajput. Out of them, 25 artists were selected for the advertisement, with a total payment agreement of ₹1.32 crore. To reassure the participants, the accused shared an image of a ₹15 lakh cheque, claiming it was a payment guarantee.
25 Celebrities, Including Ankita Lokhande and Tejasswi Prakash Fall Victim
The advertisement shoot was completed, and the content was uploaded on social media with the expectation that payments would be cleared within 35 days. However, issues began surfacing when two cheques, one for ₹2 lakh and another for ₹90,000, bounced. When confronted, the fraudsters assured Binder that ₹22.5 lakh had been transferred from Dubai. This was supposedly in compliance with foreign exchange regulations. However, the money never arrived.
The deception continued as payments for celebrities like Tejasswi Prakash (₹6.5 lakh) and Adrija Roy (₹1.25 lakh) also bounced. To maintain the illusion of legitimacy, the scammers issued two more cheques worth ₹35 lakh and ₹45 lakh on October 18, 2024. They promised these would be credited within two days.
Binder’s Personal Loss and the Exposure of the Scam
Believing their assurances, Binder took a personal risk and paid ₹35 lakh out of his own pocket to actors such as Ankita Lokhande, Aayush Sharma, Jay Bhanushali, Bhumika Gurung, Sana Sultan, Kushal Tandon, and Abhishek Bajaj. However, when a final cheque of ₹80 lakh from the accused bounced, it became clear that the entire operation was a well-planned scam.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
In total, the fraud amounted to ₹1.32 crore taken from celebrities, along with an additional ₹16.91 lakh from Binder’s own finances. Realizing the depth of the deception, Binder approached the Chembur police. They have now registered a case against five individuals, including one suspect from Madhya Pradesh.
Authorities are actively investigating the case, tracing financial transactions and communication records to track down the culprits. They are also working to recover the stolen funds. The incident has sent shockwaves through the television industry. It highlights the vulnerability of artists to fraudulent schemes under the guise of brand endorsements.
