Palash Muchhal Case: Smriti Mandhana's Friend Vidnyan Mane To Initiate Criminal Proceedings Over Nazaria Film

Actor-producer Vidnyan Mane has said he will initiate criminal proceedings against music composer Palash Muchhal after the Bombay High Court dismissed the defamation case filed against him. Mane, a childhood friend of Indian women's cricket captain Smriti Mandhana, welcomed the reported development and condemned what he described as attempts to use legal proceedings for publicity. The row started when Mane alleged that Muchhal, Mandhana's former fiancé, did not return his money invested in his film Nazaria. Muchhal denied the charges and filed a defamation suit seeking damages of Rs 10 crore. Mane says he will now seek further legal remedies.

Mane told Hindustan Times that the reported quashing of the defamation case sent an important message about the use of the legal system. "This verdict conveys an important message: people should not file baseless and false cases in court merely to generate publicity", he said.

Mane also emphasised that everyone, irrespective of their public status, has to respect the legal procedures. "No one is above the law, and compliance with judicial procedures is mandatory for everyone," he added.

The actor-producer said he was preparing to take more legal action against Muchhal, adding that he wanted to go through the legal process. Mane would reveal all the fabricated and imaginary stories that he has told till now and how the people are being misled. Mane also added that he wanted Muchhal’s family to know the truth. He assured he would soon start "necessary and appropriate judicial as well as criminal proceedings" on the matter. Muchhal's legal team is yet to respond.

The row went public in January 2026, after Mane accused Muchhal of investing in Nazaria, a film project associated with him. The duo reportedly met in Sangli in December 2023, according to Mane's complaint. Mane said that he had invested a total amount of Rs 40 lakh in the project till March 2025 and was expecting that the project would be completed and his investment would be returned. He stated that the project did not go as planned and that he could not get his money back.

Muchhal rejected the allegations. He said that his lawyer had sent a defamation notice to Mane for ₹10 crore in January, saying the allegations against him were false and damaging to his reputation.

Eventually, the dispute went to the courts, with Muchhal suing Mane for damages and an injunction over statements made by Mane. The Bombay High Court had, in an order dated February 11, 2026, granted interim relief to Muchhal, restraining Mane from repeating certain statements which the court found prima facie to be defamatory. The latest development, Mane said, was the dismissal of the defamation case.

Muchhal's legal battle also made headlines as he was earlier engaged to Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana. The couple's wedding plans were called off in December 2025 after pre-wedding celebrations. Besides questioning the Nazaria investment, Mane, who is a childhood friend of Mandhana, levelled personal allegations against Muchhal. The latter denied the charges and took legal action against statements he considered defamatory.