Music composer and filmmaker Palash Muchhal has made his first social media appearance after a legal complaint was filed against him by social worker Vignyan Mane, a close friend of Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana. The development comes days after reports emerged regarding allegations of cheating and caste abuse against the composer-filmmaker in Maharashtra.
On Tuesday evening, Palash shared a series of photographs on Instagram from his visit to temples in Rajasthan. The post included pictures from Khatu Shyam Ji, Salasar Balaji and Jeevan Mata temples. In the images, he was seen offering prayers and spending time at the religious sites.
He captioned the post, “Jahan sir jhuka, wahan sukoon mila (I found peace where I bowed my head) Khatu Shyam ji - Salasar Balaji - Jeevan Mata ji.”
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The comments section under the post was disabled, preventing users from reacting publicly to the update. This marked his first online activity after the allegations became public.
Complaint filed in Maharashtra
The controversy began after Vignyan Mane lodged a complaint against Palash Muchhal at Sangli City Police Station in Maharashtra. According to reports, Mane accused Palash of persuading him to invest money in a film project titled Nazariya by promising profitable returns.
Mane alleged that he invested Rs 25 lakh in the project in 2024. However, after the film was completed, he claimed that the promised amount was not returned despite repeated requests and follow-ups.
Speaking about the issue, Mane said to NDTV movies, “I am a law-abiding citizen who firmly believes in the Constitution of India and the rule of law. In 2024, Palash Muchhal took Rs 25 lakh from me under the pretext of investing in a film project, assuring me of good returns. However, after the film was completed, despite repeated follow-ups, he continued to delay repayment.”
According to the report of NDTV movies, police registered a case involving cheating allegations along with provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Allegations of casteist remarks
Apart from financial allegations, Mane also accused Palash Muchhal of making caste-related remarks during their interactions. According to NDTV reports, Mane alleged that the composer made “deeply offensive and casteist remarks about a particular community.” These details were reportedly included in the FIR registered by the police.
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So far, Palash Muchhal has not personally issued a detailed public statement regarding the allegations. His recent Instagram post also did not mention the ongoing matter.
Legal team responds to allegations
The issue has also drawn public attention because Palash Muchhal was previously linked to Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana. The two were earlier expected to get married on November 23, 2025, in Sangli, Maharashtra. However, reports later stated that the wedding plans were called off in December 2025.
