Singer and composer Palash Muchhal, who has been embroiled in controversy over the past few days over allegations of cheating and caste-based abuse, recently shared photos on social media of his visit to Khatu Shyam Ji and Salasar Balaji temples. Posting images of himself offering prayers, Muchhal captioned the post, 'Jahan sir jhuka, wahan sukoon mila,' and added, 'Khatu Shyam Ji – Salasar Balaji – Jeevan Mata Ji.' However, he disabled comments on the post, which comes amid his alleged involvement in a cheating case.
Allegations of Cheating and Caste Abuse
According to a report in the Free Press Journal, a case has been registered against Muchhal under charges of cheating and offenses under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complaint was filed by Vidnyan Mane, a childhood friend of cricketer Smriti Mandhana, who alleged financial cheating and caste-based abusive remarks during dealings related to a film project. Mane accused Muchhal of taking Rs 25 lakh as an investment for a film project and failing to return the money.
Details of the Complaint
As per NDTV, Mane stated in the complaint, 'On November 22, 2025, when he was in Sangli, I, along with my friends, met him in person. During this meeting, we realised that we had been deceived. At the same time, he made deeply offensive and casteist remarks about a particular community, which I have detailed in my FIR, as they are not appropriate to repeat publicly.' In January 2026, Mane submitted an application seeking an FIR against Muchhal to the Sangli Superintendent of Police. The complaint alleges that Muchhal met Mane in Sangli on December 5, 2023, and expressed interest in investing in film production, specifically the project 'Nazaria,' as a producer.
After the film was released on OTT platforms, Mane claimed that Muchhal promised a profit of Rs 12 lakh on an investment of Rs 25 lakh and also offered him a role. Mane alleged that he gave a total of Rs 40 lakh to Muchhal as of March 2025, but the project remained incomplete. When Mane requested his money back, he received no response, leading him to approach the Sangli police.
Muchhal's Defamation Suit
In response to the allegations, Muchhal shared a post revealing that he had filed a defamation suit against Mane over what he called 'false' accusations. On Instagram, he wrote, 'A legal notice of defamation of Rs 10 crore has been sent by my lawyer Shreyansh Mithare to Sangli-based Vidnyan Mane for his false, outrageous and highly defamatory accusations made with the deliberate intent to malign my reputation and character.' The case continues to develop as both parties present their claims.
