3 booked for Dadasaheb Phalke Award scam

Mumbai: The Bandra police have lodged an FIR against three people for allegedly misusing the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival trademark and deceptively presenting it as a govt event. Since 2016, they reportedly obtained sponsorships from established companies and various state govts whilst using counterfeit letters and photographs from high-ranking govt officials to promote the unauthorised festival. The accused also portrayed the festival as a govt award and coerced film personalities to participate.On Feb 5, charges were filed against Anil Mishra, his son Abhishek Mishra, and an unnamed person under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case was registered following a complaint by Sameer Dixit, State President of the BJP Film Union.The complainant, Sameer Dixit, 57, is a film distributor based in Thane West with an office in Andheri West. He serves as state president of the BJP Film Union, with the union's office situated at Nariman Point. On Feb 4, the union learned about the planned Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival at the Taj Lands Hotel in Bandra West from February 19 to February 20. International Tourism Festival Private Limited, directed by Amit Mishra and Parvati Mishra, had supposedly secured necessary permissions from various authorities.Dixit's investigation uncovered that Mishra and associates promoted the festival online, displaying photographs of President Draupadi Murmu, the Prime Minister, and other prominent leaders alongside fabricated letters of support. They incorrectly associated the festival with the esteemed Dadasaheb Phalke Award.Despite the Trademark Registration Office's rejection of Mishra's application, he persisted in using the name and organising the festival. He secured sponsorships from numerous organisations by falsely presenting it as a government event, including PVR Inox, Cinepolis, Big FM, PNB Bank, and various state tourism departments.Mishra sold tickets through BookMyShow, with some priced at Rs 2.50 lakh per couple. He utilised the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya logo for promotion and distributed fake visiting cards claiming his position as a consultant committee member of the Food Corporation of India. The complainant stated that Mishra has no current association with the Food Corporation of India and has conducted fraudulent activities since 2016.

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