'Manjummel Boys' Star Soubin Shahir Denies Arrest in Film Finance Dispute: Claims of Misleading Accounting Spark Police Probe

Soubin Shahir, the actor and producer known for his work in the hit film Manjummel Boys, has denied reports of his arrest in connection with a financial fraud case linked to the movie. After being questioned by the Maradu police for two days, Shahir addressed the media, clarifying the situation.

"We have the documents in hand, along with the outstanding figures. Payments are still pending, and all the relevant documents have been submitted," Shahir stated outside the police station, expressing confidence in both the police and the court.

Arbitration Attempted, Claims Shahir

The Maheshinte Prathikaaram actor, who also served as a co-producer on Manjummel Boys, alleges that the complaint against him is based on inaccurate financial information. "The figures they are presenting are incorrect. We have submitted all the correct figures, and payments have already been made. They initiated the case. We even attempted arbitration, but they did not participate," he explained.

He also confirmed that he has not received any further summons. "They mentioned they would contact us if necessary," he added.

Father Babu Shahir and Co-Producer Shawn Antony Also Questioned

The investigation stems from a complaint filed by Siraj Valiyathura, who claims that the producers promised him 40% of the film's profits in exchange for his investment of Rs 7 crore during production. Valiyathura alleges that he has not received either the promised profits or a refund of his investment.

Maradu police have also questioned Shahir's father, Babu Shahir, and co-producer Shawn Antony in connection with the case.

While Soubin maintains that he was not arrested, some reports indicated that he and his co-producers were briefly detained and subsequently released on bail due to a prior anticipatory bail granted by the High Court. The court had stipulated that the accused should not be questioned in custody and should be released immediately if arrested.

The High Court has rejected a request to dismiss the case and has also denied the police's request for custodial interrogation.

According to the police investigation report, the complainant was allegedly misled into believing that the film's initial schedule was completed before filming had actually commenced. Authorities are now seeking a comprehensive audit of the film's revenue, given its significant commercial success.

'Manjummel Boys' Achieves Box Office Success

Directed by Chidambaram, Manjummel Boys features Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Deepak Parambol, Balu Varghese, Ganapathi S. Poduval, Lal Jr., and others. The film, a survival drama, is inspired by a real-life incident that occurred at the Guna Caves in 2006.

According to Sacnilk, the film has grossed Rs 240.5 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2024.

Earlier this year, composer Ilaiyaraaja also filed a lawsuit against the producers for unauthorized use of the song "Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan" from the 1991 Tamil film Gunaa.