# AICWA backs actor Satendra Soni in FIR over assault, non-payment 2026-08-21T21:31:04+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Actor Satendra Soni, known for Laapataa Ladies, has filed an FIR against filmmaker Pushpendra Singh and actor Pragati Chauhan over alleged non-payment of dues, assault, intimidation and wrongful confinement during the shoot of their film Paid Paalki in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh. The FIR was registered at Oshiwara Police Station, Mumbai, on 20 August 2026 under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including 115(2), 127(3), 3(5), 351(2) and 352. The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has publicly backed Soni and fellow actor Shreedhar Dubey. AICWA President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta facilitated a meeting on 3 July 2026 with Maharashtra Home Minister Yogesh Ramdas Kadam, who directed DCP Purushottam Karad to investigate. AICWA has demanded a transparent investigation and strict action against anyone found responsible, warning that inaction could encourage exploitation of smaller artists and workers. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The FIR against a director-producer by an established actor is rare because most film workers, especially daily-wage technicians and junior artists, avoid legal action for fear of being blacklisted. The involvement of a state home minister early in the process, before chargesheet, suggests political backing for the complainants. The real test will be whether the Oshiwara police complete the investigation and file a chargesheet within 60 days, which is the statutory limit for bailable offences under BNS. If the police fail, the accused can seek default bail, which would weaken the case significantly. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Reports the FIR and AICWA statement as facts without editorialising or taking sides. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: All Indian Cine Workers Association, Pushpendra Singh, Satendra Soni Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/aicwa-backs-actor-satendra-soni-in-fir-over-assault-non-payment/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/aicwa-backs-actor-satendra-soni-in-fir-over-assault-non-payment/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/