Kerala Police’s Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet in the alleged financial fraud case linked to the makers of the Malayalam blockbuster ‘Manjummel Boys’. The detailed chargesheet, running to nearly 1,000 pages, was submitted before the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court.
Actor Soubin Shahir, his father Babu Shahir, and producer Shawn Antony have been named as accused in the case.
According to information available with Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 radio station, the case originates from a complaint filed by an Aroor native who alleged that he was induced to invest ₹7 crore in the film in return for a promised 40 per cent share of the profits. The complainant further stated that neither the promised profit share nor the invested amount was returned, amounting to alleged cheating and criminal breach of trust.
The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed pleas filed by the accused seeking to quash the FIR in the matter. The investigation was carried out by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after the case was initially registered by the Maradu Police.
The chargesheet invokes Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. Police investigation findings reportedly suggest that the accused were involved in a pre-planned financial arrangement that led to the complainant being misled regarding profit-sharing assurances.
Directed by Chidambaram S. Poduval, ‘Manjummel Boys’ released in February 2024 and emerged as one of the biggest successes in Malayalam cinema history. Inspired by a real-life incident at the Guna Caves in Kodaikanal, the survival drama follows a group of friends from Kochi whose trip turns into a dramatic rescue mission.
Starring Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese and others, the film received widespread critical acclaim and became the first Malayalam film to cross the ₹200-crore mark globally, earning praise for its storytelling, performances and technical excellence.
