Varanasi, September 4, 2025 – In a big development that’s shaking up the Bhojpuri film world, a court in Varanasi has told the police to file a case against popular actor and singer Pawan Singh. The order came after a local businessman accused Singh and three others of cheating him out of more than Rs 1.5 crore in a movie investment deal gone wrong. This case has put the spotlight back on Singh, who has been in the news for other reasons lately too.
The story started back in 2018, when Vishal Singh, a businessman from Varanasi, got involved in funding the Bhojpuri film “Boss.” According to the complaint, Vishal was talked into investing by promises of big profits. He first put in about Rs 32.60 lakh from his and his brother’s company into different bank accounts. They even made him a producer on paper in July that year, saying he’d get half the earnings from the movie. Later, he added another Rs 1.25 crore to the pot. But after the film hit theaters, Vishal says he didn’t see a single rupee of profit. When he asked for his money back, things turned ugly, Pawan Singh allegedly threatened to kill him.
Vishal tried to get the police to act at first, but nothing happened. So he went to court. On August 13, 2025, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-II in Varanasi stepped in and ordered the cops to register a First Information Report (FIR) for fraud. The accused include Pawan Singh, film producer Prem Shankar Rai, and two more people linked to the project. Vishal’s lawyer, Ashish Singh, told reporters that his client felt completely tricked and hoped the law would bring justice.
As of early September, the FIR has finally been filed at the Varanasi Cantt police station. It took some extra push from the magistrate, but now the case is official. Police are looking into charges of cheating and threats, with the total amount at stake being around Rs 1.57 crore. So far, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is just getting started. Pawan Singh hasn’t said much publicly about this yet.
Pawan Singh is a big name in Bhojpuri cinema, known for hit songs and movies that draw huge crowds in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and beyond. He started as a singer in the early 2000s and quickly became a star with tracks like “Lollipop Lagelu.” Over the years, he’s acted in dozens of films and even tried his hand at politics, running as an independent in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Arrah but losing. Fans love his energetic style, but this isn’t his first brush with trouble.
Just last month, Singh faced backlash over a video where he seemed to touch actress Anjali Raghav inappropriately, without her consent during a stage show. Social media blew up, with many calling it creepy and demanding action. Anjali later said she felt humiliated, adding to Singh’s growing list of headaches. Some folks in the industry say these issues could hurt his career, especially with younger audiences who expect better from their idols.
This fraud case raises questions about how money flows in regional films, where deals often happen on trust. Vishal Singh’s story isn’t unique, many investors have lost out in similar setups. As the probe goes on, people in the Bhojpuri community are watching closely. Will Singh clear his name, or is this the start of more legal woes? Only time will tell, but for now, it’s a reminder that even stars have to answer to the law.
