Actor and businessman Aayush Shah has filed criminal charges against Planet Marathi founder Akshay Bardapurkar for 87 lakh rupees in returned checks.
Shah and his business partner Mausam Shah have brought several criminal complaints against Planet Marathi founder Akshay Bardapurkar under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The cases concern a number of checks that Bardapurkar issued but failed to honor.
The accusations state that Bardapurkar gave nine signed checks to Aayush and Mausam, co-founders of the reputable PR firm Maars Communicates, which is well-known for its connections to celebrity companies. Upon presentation, the checks, which totaled Rs. 1,14,30,400, were refused. Of this amount, Aayush Shah owed Rs. 87,00,000, while Mausam Shah owed Rs. 20,00,000. Since May 2024, interest of Rs. 3,61,500 has been accruing each month.
Shah has brought three criminal complaints against Akshay Bardapurkar and Planet Marathi Seller Services in total for the Rs. 87,00,000 that is owing to him, and one against Mausam Shah for the ₹20,00,000 that is owed to her.
Shah said, “This is a breach of trust, not just a financial problem. Transparency and respect are essential components of professional partnerships, and their compromise affects both commercial and personal ties. “This is a very depressing situation, especially considering the close personal and professional relationship we had,” Mausam Shah continued. Respect and honesty ought to be the cornerstones of every collaboration.
The Shah family has stated that, in addition to the criminal prosecutions, they plan to sue Akshay Bardapurkar in civil court in order to obtain compensation and more accountability.
The High Court is being led by attorney Krishnagopal S. Tripathi in the legal processes. The Shahs emphasized the importance of these steps in a joint statement: This action is essential not only to resolve our grievances but also to reinforce the principles of transparency, trust, and accountability that are crucial in business relationships. Through our legal action, we seek to establish a solid precedent for the sector.
