The alleged misuse of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award name has come under scrutiny after the Enforcement Directorate initiated a probe under the PMLA. The case involves Anil Mishra and Abhishek Mishra, linked to the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival. Investigators are examining alleged misrepresentation, financial irregularities, and fund flows through associated entities. Authorities are also assessing whether the event’s branding may have misled participants by resembling an official national award.
- ED PMLA case against Anil Mishra, Abhishek Mishra: Probe into alleged fake Dadasaheb Phalke Award racket
- DPIFF identity and alleged misrepresentation examined
- Financial flows, ticket sales and organisational structure
- FIR basis, police case and additional allegations
- Industry reaction and DPIFF 2025 event outcome
- What the ED probe may uncover next
ED PMLA case against Anil Mishra, Abhishek Mishra: Probe into alleged fake Dadasaheb Phalke Award racket
The Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering probe into alleged misrepresentation and financial irregularities linked to the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival operated by Anil Mishra and rape accused Abhishek Mishra.
The ED PMLA case against Anil Mishra and Abhishek Mishra has intensified scrutiny on the alleged misuse of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award name and financial dealings linked to DPIFF.
The Enforcement Directorate registered the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, issuing summons PMLA/SUMMON/MBZO-I/2026/3517 and reference F.No. MBZO-1/4/2026 for further investigation.
Officials stated that the probe covers financial transactions, associated entities and a wider operational network linked to Anil Mishra, rape accused Abhishek Mishra and their organisation behind DPIFF events.
Repeated attempts were made to contact Anil Mishra for comment; however, calls placed by Sprouts News were not answered, and no response was received at the time of publication.
DPIFF identity and alleged misrepresentation examined
Investigators are examining whether the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival was presented in a manner that could be confused with the official Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The official award is conferred by the President of India, and authorities are assessing whether such similarities may have misled artists, sponsors and the public regarding legitimacy.
Sources indicate that references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the President of India and other ministers were allegedly used in promotional material.
Officials are analysing call recordings, letters and communications that appeared official, which were reportedly used to project DPIFF as having government support or endorsement.
Repeated attempts were made to contact Anil Mishra for comment; however, he has not responded to calls or messages from Sprouts News at the time of publication.
Financial flows, ticket sales and organisational structure
Investigators are probing claims that tickets priced up to ₹2.5 lakh were sold by promoting the 2025 DPIFF event as a prestigious national-level honour.
Authorities have clarified that DPIFF is not a government entity and is being examined as a private organisation allegedly operated through a Hindu Undivided Family structure.
According to sources, Anil Mishra functioned as Managing Director, while rape accused Abhishek Mishra handled operations as Chief Executive Officer within the organisation’s structure.
Parvati Mishra is reported to have served as Vice President, while Shweta Mishra Dubey handled legal responsibilities within the organisational framework under scrutiny.
The ED is also examining the foundation WE For World, where sponsorship funds, CSR contributions and donations are suspected to have been routed through associated entities.
Authorities are expected to investigate alleged siphoning of funds, hawala transactions, shell entities and possible foreign financial links, including claims involving Bank of America accounts.
Repeated attempts to contact Anil Mishra for comment were made; however, no response was received, and calls remained unanswered at the time of filing this report.
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FIR basis, police case and additional allegations
The ED action originates from FIR No. 00192/2025 registered on February 5, 2025, at Bandra Police Station based on a complaint filed by Sameer Dixit.
Sameer Dixit, state president of Bharatiya Janata Party Chitrapat Aghadi, raised concerns regarding alleged misuse of the Dadasaheb Phalke name and misleading public representation.
Separately, Abhishek Mishra is reportedly linked to FIR No. 1313 registered at Malwani Police Station concerning a rape allegation, which remains subject to judicial proceedings.
Repeated attempts were made to contact Anil Mishra for his response to these allegations; however, he has not responded to calls from Sprouts News.
Industry reaction and DPIFF 2025 event outcome
Despite the ongoing controversy, the 2025 DPIFF event was conducted at the NSCI Dome in Mumbai, with participation from selected attendees and partners.
The All India Motion Pictures Producers Association and the Cine and TV Artists Association issued advisories urging artists and industry professionals to avoid participation.
Industry sources suggest several artists followed these advisories, resulting in limited attendance and raising questions regarding the event’s credibility despite extensive promotional efforts.
What the ED probe may uncover next
The investigation is expected to include scrutiny of bank accounts, demat holdings, assets and all entities linked to Anil Mishra, Abhishek Mishra and associated organisations.
Sponsors, partners, artists and other stakeholders may be called for questioning as authorities map financial flows and examine the scale of alleged irregularities.
As reported by Sprouts News, the case highlights broader concerns about brand misuse, regulatory oversight and transparency within privately organised award platforms in India.
Further developments will depend on findings by the Enforcement Directorate, responses from the accused and subsequent legal proceedings as the matter advances through judicial processes.
Readers’ Appeal:
Unmesh Gujarathi, senior investigative journalist, is tracking this case closely. Readers with relevant information, documents, or similar experiences may contact the Sprouts News team on 9322755098 to share verified inputs and assist ongoing investigative efforts.
Editorial Note:
This article is based on publicly available FIR records, court case references, and reports published by multiple media organisations. The information is presented in the context of ongoing investigations and public interest reporting. Sprouts News does not make any judicial determination regarding the individuals mentioned and does not intend to defame any person or organisation. Any individual seeking clarification or wishing to provide an official response may contact the editorial team with verifiable documentation. The information is presented for journalistic and informational purposes.
