KOCHI: Police have registered a case against 11 people, including actor Dharmajan Bolgaty, on a complaint that they cheated a man financially after giving the franchise of Dharmoos fish hub, owned by the actor. The other accused are Mulavukadu natives Kishore Kumar (43), Taj Kadeparambil (43), Lajesh (40), Shijil (42), Jose (42), Grandy (40), Fijol (41), Jayan (40), Nibin (40) and Febin (37). The action was taken as per the directions of the Ernakulam CJM court on the complaint of Payipra native Asif Aliyar.

Asif, who was working as a data scientist in an American company, came to Kerala in 2018 to do business. He met Dharmajan through his friend, the second accused. During a meeting at M G Road in Ernakulam, he promised franchise of Dharmoos Fish Hub in Kothamangalam and accepted Rs 10,000. The complaint said that he had transferred Rs 43,30,587 via bank several times for the business. Although fish was initially supplied to Dharmoos fish hub franchise in Moovattupuzha, it was later stopped in the name of various reasons. With this, business was disrupted and huge financial losses were incurred, Asif stated in his complaint.

Meanwhile, Dharmajan has denied the allegations made by Asif. "I haven't embezzled money from anyone. I am willing to repay the amount with interest if the complainant produces proper evidence. If the person, who made the false complaint, was deliberately cheated by friends, I will file a case against them," Dharmajan said.

On the other hand, Asif alleged in his complaint that Dharmajan had misbehaved with him. "When I went to him and informed him about the losses incurred, he asked me to go and file a case. He also threatened me by saying that I will not be able to do anything against him," Asif said.