On August 13, 2025, a Varanasi court directed the Cantonment police to register an FIR against Bhojpuri actor-singer Pawan Singh and three others—Prem Shankar Rai, Seema Rai, and an unnamed associate—for allegedly defrauding local hotelier Vishal Singh of over Rs 1.57 crore in a film investment scam linked to the 2018 movie Boss. The order, issued by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-II after hearing Vishal Singh’s application, came to light on August 20, 2025, following a complaint filed under Section 173(4) of the CrPC, which established a prima facie case of fraud and cheating.

Vishal Singh’s counsel, Ashish Singh, stated that his client met Mumbai-based director Prem Shankar Rai in 2017, who introduced him to the Boss project and arranged a meeting with Pawan Singh to secure his trust. Vishal invested Rs 32.60 lakh from his and his brother’s firm, Shreyas Film Pvt Ltd, into various accounts, and later added Rs 1.25 crore after being named a producer with a promised 50% profit share. Despite the film’s release, Vishal alleges he received no returns and faced death threats from Pawan Singh when demanding his dues. After unsuccessful complaints to the Cantonment police and the police commissioner, Vishal approached the court.

The case has sparked significant attention, with posts on X from @the_hindu and @Republic_Bharat amplifying the allegations. Pawan Singh, a prominent Bhojpuri star, faces legal scrutiny as investigations proceed, with the court’s order signaling potential challenges for his public image. This adds to his history of controversies, including past FIRs for alleged defamation and threats.

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