A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur court naming several prominent personalities including veteran Bollywood actors Govinda, Chunky Panday, Shakti Kapoor, and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari in connection with an alleged investment fraud linked to a Ghaziabad-based company, Maxizone Touch Private Limited. The development has sparked widespread attention as the case involves both high-profile entertainers and a sitting Member of Parliament, with investors claiming they were cheated out of their money promised by an investment scheme.
The FIR was registered on the orders of a local court after investors approached the judiciary asserting that they were induced to invest in Maxizone Touch’s scheme with promises of high returns up to 15 per cent monthly interest which were never delivered. When neither interest nor the principal amount was returned, the complainants filed a petition, which led to the police action and the listing of the aforementioned personalities in the case. The complaint asserts that the involvement and endorsements by those named helped attract more investors into the scheme, raising concerns over misleading representation and the possible role of celebrity influence in investor decisions.
Allegations Against Bollywood Figures and MP:
Govinda, Chunky Panday, Shakti Kapoor, and Manoj Tiwari are accused of approving or promoting the investment plan that attracted unsuspecting investors, according to the court-directed FIR. The lead complainant in the case reportedly invested more than ₹30 lakh in Maxizone Touch Private Limited after being assured of steady monthly returns. However, the expected interest and the principal sum were not returned, prompting the investor to seek legal recourse and file a complaint in the Jamshedpur court. When the court reviewed the complaint, it ordered that an FIR be registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code involving cheating, criminal conspiracy and other offenses.
In September 2025, Jamshedpur police arrested Maxizone Touch directors Chander Bhushan Singh and his wife Priyanka Singh as part of a larger investigation into the business’s operations and for financial misconduct. They are charged with organizing unapproved investor deposits and operating a fraudulent multi-level marketing (MLM) scam. Investigators from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have also conducted searches tied to related investment and cryptocurrency fraud, noting that the Singh couple remained absconding for nearly three years before their arrest. The FIR now expands the inquiry to include the famous persons mentioned as allegedly sponsoring the scheme.
According to the complaint, the mentioned persons’ influence aided the firm in attracting new investors to the fraudulent plan. While the FIR names multiple defendants, the spotlight on Govinda, a prominent actor known for films such as Coolie No. 1 and Partner, as well as fellow actors Chunky Panday and Shakti Kapoor, has piqued media interest because these characters have extensive careers in Hindi cinema and are still in the public eye. In addition to his cinematic career, Manoj Tiwari is a sitting BJP MP and well-known in political circles, lending credibility to the charges.
Response and Public Reaction:
At the time of writing, the named actors and Manoj Tiwari have not publicly responded to the FIR or allegations. In many high-profile cases involving celebrities, public relations teams or legal representatives issue statements to clarify their clients’ positions, deny involvement, or announce intent to cooperate with authorities. It remains to be seen whether any such statements will come forth in this case as the investigation progresses.
Public reaction has been mixed, with many expressing surprise that well-known personalities are named in connection with an investment fraud, while others have reiterated the importance of due process and legal investigation before drawing conclusions. Supporters of the accused have also urged calm, emphasising that being named in an FIR is the start of an investigation and not a conviction.
Broader Context of Investment Frauds:
This case is representative of a larger trend of MLM-style scams and investment frauds that have surfaced in India in recent years, attracting unsuspecting investors with promises of large returns. Regulators and law enforcement continue to warn the public about such schemes, asking people to conduct due diligence and be cautious of offers that appear too good to be true. High-profile cases receive greater attention, as they often involve big sums of money and a broader group of impacted investors.
The current FIR against Govinda, Chunky Panday, Shakti Kapoor and Manoj Tiwari marks a crucial phase in the legal proceedings, with police and investigative agencies now tasked with gathering evidence and determining the validity of the allegations. As this case unfolds, updates on investigations, possible charges and responses from the accused are likely to dominate both legal and entertainment news agendas. Until formal charges are framed or court orders are issued, the matter remains under investigation.
