Actress Parul Gulati Files Fraud Complaint Against Former Employees
Actress and entrepreneur Parul Gulati has accused two former employees of her hair-care brand, Nish Hair, of committing financial fraud amounting to nearly Rs 8 lakh at the company's Bengaluru outlet. In a video posted on Instagram, Gulati detailed how the store manager and a sales executive allegedly diverted customer payments to their personal bank accounts instead of the company's official account.
How the Alleged Fraud Operated
According to Gulati, the duo sold products worth Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 daily but instructed customers to transfer the money to their personal accounts. “They sold my product, my packaging, through my name to the customer and then took the whole amount themselves. So they stole from me and from the customers as well,” she said. Gulati estimated the fraud continued for about six months, leading to inventory gaps and accounting mismatches.
Discovery and Confession
Gulati said she had suspected irregularities for a while but could not identify the cause until she made a surprise visit to the outlet. She claimed the sales executive, who had access to the store's CCTV footage, called in sick that day, while the manager reported to work. During questioning, the manager allegedly confessed to starting the fraud roughly a month after joining the company, after understanding its operations, and admitted to misappropriating close to Rs 8 lakh. The sales executive is yet to be traced.
Impact and Appeal
Gulati urged other employers not to hire the accused and appealed to customers in Bengaluru to always insist on a bill and confirm payment details before purchasing to ensure money is transferred to the company's official account. She said she may never recover the lost money but hopes those responsible are held accountable. The case highlights the risks of internal financial fraud in retail businesses.
