Music composer and filmmaker Palaash Muchhal has landed in fresh legal trouble after a case was reportedly registered against him in Maharashtra’s Sangli district under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complaint was filed by Vidnyan Mane, who is said to be Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana’s childhood friend, at the Sangli City Police Station.Speaking about the dispute, Mane alleged that he had invested money in Palaash’s film project after being approached by the composer-filmmaker. “Palaash asked me to come on board as an investor for his movie Nazariyaafter his producer’s father passed away and he left the movie midway. He promised to give me profits. He owes me 25 lakhs. I kept following up with him, but he never legalized it and after a point stopped responding. When I met him, I asked him again for my money, and he made a few casteist slurs and he also said, ‘People in MP don’t even stand people like you (from your caste)’,” Mane shares.Mane adds, “He should be arrested soon, it is a nonbailable offense.” According to Mane, the alleged incident dates back to November 22, when an argument reportedly broke out between Mane and Muchhal at a toll plaza on the Sangli–Ashta road. Mane has accused Muchhal of using casteist remarks during the altercation, following which police booked the composer under relevant sections of the SC/ST Act along with provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. An investigation is currently underway.When contacted, PI Arun Sugaonkar said, “There needs to be no arrest warrant, when an act of atrocity case has been filed. But he can be arrested. We didn’t go to his place at the moment. We are currently investigating the matter, and we cannot say much.”We reached out to Palaash Muchhal for a response, but he remained unavailable till the time of going to press.
