Kerala HC rejects plea to dismiss financial fraud case

The Kerala High Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by the accused, including mentalist Adarsh Kolladath, to quash the first information report (FIR) registered at the Ernakulam Central police station in a case of financial fraud worth ₹35 lakh.

Mr. Kolladath, director Jis Joy, Midhun, and Arun are the four accused in the case in which a 56-year-old resident of Marine Drive, Kochi, was allegedly cheated by the accused by refusing to return the money he had invested in Mr. Kolladath’s show ‘Insomnia’. Mr. Joy was the director of the show, while Mr. Midhun and Mr. Arun were the co-producers.

The petitioners contended that the dispute between the accused and the complainant had been resolved. However, the complainant informed the court that he was not ready for a settlement.

Mr. Kolladath, along with the other accused, allegedly promised a profit of one-third on investments in the mentalism show. According to the FIR, the complainant transferred the money to Mr. Kolladath from his and his wife’s accounts in July 2025, and when he asked for the money to be returned, the accused allegedly refused to pay and ridiculed him. 

Dismissing the petition to quash the order, the court held that the petitioners could seek other remedies to resolve the issue.