The Supreme Court has granted actor Alok Nath interim protection from arrest in a fraud case related to an alleged multi-level marketing scheme in Sonipat, Haryana.
Previous Protection for Shreyas Talpade
Earlier, the Supreme Court had also provided protection to actor Shreyas Talpade in the same case. The court issued a notice to the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the Centre, asking them to respond.
Background of the Case
Alok Nath, Shreyas Talpade, and thirteen others, including actors and brand ambassadors, were booked following a complaint from 37-year-old Vipul Antil, a Sonipat resident. The complaint alleges that Nath and Talpade promoted the Human Welfare Credit Cooperative Society Ltd. as brand ambassadors, enticing investors to deposit their money.
The FIR was filed on January 22 and includes charges under Sections 316, 318, and 420 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, covering offences such as cheating and criminal breach of trust.
Operations of the Society
According to the complaint, the society, registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, began operations in 2016, offering savings schemes like fixed and recurring deposits. It is claimed that the company represented itself as a reliable financial institution, successfully attracting thousands of investors. Reports indicate that while investors initially received returns by 2023, the payouts for maturity amounts were subsequently disrupted.
The Supreme Court’s notice is aimed at obtaining responses from the relevant parties, including the Haryana Police. The case will be heard on the next scheduled date, and Alok Nath will continue to enjoy interim protection from arrest until then.
For those unfamiliar, Alok Nath is a prominent actor known for his roles in films and TV serials such as “Hum Aapke Hain Kaun,” “Tara,” and “Maine Pyar Kiya.”