Cinema VinesThe producers of the upcoming Kartik Aaryan starrer Naagzilla have taken legal steps after discovering that three key production executives allegedly siphoned off more than ₹3.92 crore during the film’s shoot. The complaint, filed by accountant Tukaram Mahadev Sawant of Mahaveer Jain Films Pvt. Ltd., accuses the executives of bypassing the company’s standard operating procedures, inflating vendor bills and fabricating invoices to cover the alleged misappropriation.
According to the court papers, the accused are Kuldeep Singh Champawat (47), who served as a consultant and signing authority; Mahipal Karan Rathore (42), a service provider and executive producer; and Shivkumar Tiwari (45), the line producer responsible for hiring vendors for vehicles, makeup and junior artistes. The prosecution alleges that the trio jointly incurred expenses amounting to ₹3,92,76,308 without submitting the necessary bills or supporting documents. They are also accused of demanding commissions and expensive items from vendors in exchange for awarding them work and clearing payments.
Additional Sessions Judge M Mohiuddin of the Dindoshi court denied the trio’s anticipatory bail applications, stating that there was prima facie material indicating their involvement in the case. He also ordered custodial interrogation to allow a detailed investigation into the alleged financial irregularities. The court’s decision marks a significant development in the case, which centers on alleged financial misconduct during the production of a film with a budget of ₹82.50 crore.
Mahaveer Jain Films had entered into an agreement with Dharma Productions on 30 October of the previous year to produce Naagzilla, a fantasy‑adventure comedy directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and written by Gautam Mehra. The film, featuring Kartik Aaryan as an ichchhadhari naag and Preity Mukhundhan in a supporting role, is slated for release on 12 February 2027.
While the accused have not been convicted, the court’s rejection of their bail pleas underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the need for a thorough investigation into the financial conduct of the film’s production team.
