Producer Of Sunny Leone-Starrer 'Lucky' Granted Bail By MP High Court In Alleged ₹52 Lakh Film Financing Fraud

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted anticipatory bail to film producer Shreyansh Dhariwal in a case alleging cheating, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy in connection with the financing of a Hindi feature film, while directing him to deposit the disputed amount of ₹52 lakh within forty-five days.

Justice Gajendra Singh passed the order in a plea filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, seeking protection from arrest in a criminal case registered at MIG Police Station, Indore.

According to the prosecution, an FIR was registered on the directions of a Judicial Magistrate First Class after a private complaint alleged that the accused persons had obtained financial assistance of ₹52 lakh for the production of the Hindi film “Koka Kola”, later renamed “Lucky”, and subsequently violated the terms of their agreement with the investor.

The applicant, represented by Advocate Ashok Saravgi along with Advocate Varsha Gupta, submitted that he is engaged in film production through M/s Sugar and Spice Production Partnership Firm and has been associated with the production of more than fifty films. The plea stated that the disputed film featured actors including Sunny Leone, Brahmanandan, Sunil Verma and Rahul Dev.

The applicant contended that the complainant had voluntarily invested ₹52 lakh in the project through an agreement executed in September 2019 because he was interested in entering the film industry and wished to be associated with film production in the future.

The prosecution alleged that the money was secured through dishonest inducement and that the accused breached the agreement by releasing content relating to the film through Zee Music Company despite a contractual restriction. The complaint asserted that a clause in the agreement prohibited release of the film, trailer, posters, songs or promotional material in any format until the investor's dues were cleared.

The State, represented by Government Advocate Viraj Godha on behalf of the Advocate General, opposed the anticipatory bail application and sought its dismissal.

During the hearing, the applicant offered to deposit the entire disputed amount of ₹52 lakh in instalments within a time-bound period. It was also argued that custodial interrogation was unnecessary and that the matter arose primarily from a commercial arrangement connected with film financing.

After considering the rival submissions and examining the record, the Court found that the circumstances justified grant of anticipatory bail. The Court specifically noted the absence of any custodial requirement during the investigation and the applicant's willingness to deposit the disputed sum.

Allowing the application, Justice Singh observed, “there is no custodial requirement of the applicant (s) in the investigation” and further took note of “the fact that the applicant is ready to deposit the entire amount”.

The Court therefore held, “this Court is of the view that it is a fit case to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant.”

While granting relief, the Court directed that in the event of arrest, the applicant be released on a personal bond of ₹50,000 with one solvent surety of the like amount. The Court also imposed standard conditions requiring cooperation with the investigation and restraining any attempt to influence witnesses.

Importantly, the Court ordered the applicant to deposit the entire disputed amount of ₹52 lakh within forty-five days. It clarified that if the amount is not deposited within the stipulated period, the prosecution or the aggrieved party would be at liberty to move an appropriate application before the Court.

With these directions, the anticipatory bail application was disposed of.

Case Title: Shreyansh S/O Mahendra Dhariwal v. The State of Madhya Pradesh

Date of Order: May 22, 2026

Bench: Justice Gajendra Singh