Kolkata police have arrested 47-year-old Bengali film producer Shyamsundar Dey for allegedly cheating actress Puja Banerjee, 38, and her husband Kunal Verma of Rs 1.58 crore. The Bangur Nagar Police took Dey into custody following complaints related to a fraudulent investment scheme involving film broadcasting rights.
The accused producer promised the couple lucrative broadcasting rights for sixteen upcoming films to be released on OTT platforms. He also offered them investment opportunities connected to deals with Viacom18, a reputed media company.
Puja Banerjee and Kunal Verma, residents of Malad West, had known Dey for several years. In April 2025, Dey approached the couple, claiming he needed investors for the rights to 16 films. To convince them, he presented forged email screenshots suggesting ongoing deals with Viacom18 and promised profits of Rs 50 lakh.
Trusting Dey, the couple signed an agreement on 9 April and transferred Rs 1.68 crore in installments between 17 April and 5 May 2025 to accounts belonging to Shadow Films, Madhav Enterprises, and Ultra Travels.
Soon after, Dey fell ill, and the couple admitted him to Kokilaben Hospital, covering all medical expenses. After his discharge, they requested repayment of their investment and promised returns. While Dey initially assured repayment by the end of June, he began avoiding their calls and only returned Rs 10 lakh on 2 June.
Following this, Puja Banerjee filed a formal complaint. The Borivali Metropolitan Magistrate Court has remanded Dey in police custody until 26 September to allow further investigation. Authorities are scrutinizing the financial transactions and contracts tied to the alleged scam.
