Vivek Oberoi's Ex-Business Partner Arrested For Cheating: Cops

Ahmed Ali (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 3, 2023)

Mumbai: Filmmaker Sanjay Saha, producer of Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer film Haddi, has been arrested for allegedly duping actor Vivek Oberoi and his company of Rs 1.55 crore between 2022 and 2023. The MIDC police on Sunday arrested Saha, a resident of Veera Desai Road in Andheri, on charges of cheating, forgery, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds.

Police produced Saha before the local court which remanded him to 7 days’ police custody. Police are now look- ing for his wife Radhika Nanda and mother Nandita Saha.

Oberoi has alleged that the accused made the actor invest money in an event and film production firm promising lucrative profits. However, later, the accused used the money for wrongful gains.

The complaint was filed by Oberoi’s manager Deven Bafna, who alleged that in 2017, Oberoi and his wife Priyanka formed an LLP company — Oberoi Mega Entertainment — which sold organic products. Soon, Oberoi was introduced to Saha, who claimed he was part of the film industry and convinced Oberoi to invest in event management.

Together, Oberoi and Saha formed ‘Anandita Entertainment’ in which Saha’s wife Radhika Nanda and his mother Nandita Saha became partners. Police said in 2021, the firm took the responsibility of marketing Nawazuddin’s upcoming film Haddi. As Oberoi was busy with his work, the day-to-day affairs of the firm were looked after by Saha and his wife Radhika.

Oberoi later found out that he had transferred a huge sum of money from Anandita Entertainment without citing any valid reasons. In 2022, when an Anandita Entertainment employee met Oberoi, he informed him that Saha was misappropriating funds.

Oberoi learnt that huge sums were allegedly transferred by Saha for his personal expense, such as Rs 5 lakh for buying Tata AIG life insurance, Rs 10 lakh for Radhika’s salary and buying ornaments. In all, Anandita Entertainment siphoned Rs 58 lakh. Police said the accused also cheated Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

“Saha and Radhika cheated Oberoi of Rs 1.55 crore. We are now looking for two more accused. Saha has already been arrested by the Oshiwara and cyber police in two seperate cheating cases,” said Datta Nalawade, deputy commissioner of police (zone 9).

“This is just the tip of the iceberg as Saha has duped many others,” said Oberoi’s advocates Amar Thakur and Prerak Choudhary.