Supreme Court Protects Actor Alok Nath from Arrest in Haryana Marketing Scam Case

September 16, 2025

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to actor Alok Nath in connection with a fraud case linked to a controversial marketing scheme in Haryana. The case involves allegations of large-scale cheating through a cooperative society that operated under the guise of financial savings schemes.

Bench Issues Notice

A bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan issued notice to the Haryana Police and other respondents after hearing the actor’s plea. The Court directed that no coercive steps should be taken against Alok Nath until the next date of hearing.

The bench’s order is similar to an earlier decision where the top court had extended protection from arrest to actor Shreyas Talpade, who is also an accused in the same case.

FIR and Allegations

The case stems from a complaint filed by Vipul Antil, a 37-year-old resident of Sonepat, Haryana. He alleged that both Alok Nath and Shreyas Talpade promoted the cooperative society as brand ambassadors, which influenced investors to put their money into the schemes.

The FIR, registered on January 22, 2025, names 13 people, including the two actors. It was lodged under Sections 316(2), 318(2), and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which deal with offences including criminal breach of trust and cheating.

According to ACP Murthal Ajeet Singh, the actors were named because their promotional activities created investor confidence in the fraudulent company. Their exact role in the scheme, however, is still under investigation.

The Human Welfare Credit Cooperative Society Ltd

At the centre of the case is the Human Welfare Credit Cooperative Society Ltd, formed under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act. The society began operations in multiple states, including Haryana, from September 16, 2016.

Business Model: The society offered savings schemes such as fixed deposits and recurring deposits, projecting itself as a safe and trustworthy financial institution.
Marketing Strategy: It carried out massive publicity campaigns and leveraged well-known personalities as brand ambassadors to gain investor trust.
Multi-Level Marketing: The society’s business model relied heavily on multi-level marketing, which rapidly increased its investor base.

Collapse of the Scheme

Initially, the society reportedly paid maturity amounts to investors on time, creating confidence in its operations. However, from 2023 onwards, payments began to falter.

The society attributed delays to “system upgradation” and continued to give false assurances to investors and agents.
Over time, the officials stopped responding altogether.
As a result, investors were left unable to recover their hard-earned money, leading to multiple complaints and eventually the FIR.

Current Status of the Case

The Supreme Court’s interim protection shields both actors from immediate arrest while the matter undergoes further investigation. The Court’s notice to the Haryana Police indicates that the investigation will be closely monitored.

For now, the probe will determine whether the actors’ roles were limited to brand endorsement or whether they had deeper involvement in the alleged scam.

Conclusion

The case highlights the risks of fraudulent cooperative societies and the role of celebrity endorsements in influencing public trust. While the investigation continues, the Supreme Court’s interim protection ensures that due process is followed without premature coercive action.