Kochi, Kerala: Kerala Police’s Crime Branch unit has filed a chargesheet in the alleged financial fraud case linked to the makers of the Malayalam blockbuster Manjummel Boys. The chargesheet, running to nearly 1,000 pages, was submitted before the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court.

Actor Soubin Shahir, his father Babu Shahir, and producer Shawn Antony have been named as accused in the case.

The case stems from a complaint filed by an Aroor native, who alleged that the accused collected ₹7 crore from him after promising 40 per cent of the profits from Manjummel Boys. According to the complaint, neither the promised profit share nor the invested amount was returned, amounting to cheating and criminal breach of trust.

The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed the accused persons' plea seeking to quash the FIR in the case. The investigation was conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after the case was initially registered by the Maradu Police.

The chargesheet invokes provisions under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the police investigation report, the producers of Manjummel Boys allegedly carried out a pre-planned financial fraud. Investigators have reportedly concluded that the complainant was induced to invest in the project based on promises of profit-sharing that were not honoured.

Manjummel Boys, directed by Chidambaram S. Poduval, emerged as one of the biggest successes in Malayalam cinema history after its release in February 2024. Inspired by a real-life incident at the Guna Caves in Kodaikanal, the survival drama follows a group of friends from Kochi whose vacation turns into a life-threatening rescue mission. Starring Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese and others, the film received widespread critical acclaim and became the first Malayalam movie to cross the ₹200-crore mark at the global box office, earning praise for its emotional storytelling, technical excellence and ensemble performances.