‘Ishqam’ Royalty Fraud Case: Believe Music India Officials And Foreign Executives Named

Patiala Police have named senior executives of Believe Music India and international music publishing firms as accused in an alleged royalty fraud case connected to the song Ishqam, which is owned by Navrattan Music, officials confirmed on Friday.

The case was registered at the Civil Lines Police Station in Patiala following a complaint filed by Himansh Verma, proprietor of Navrattan Music. The FIR invokes multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Copyright Act, 1957, including charges related to cheating, forgery of electronic records, and the alleged diversion of royalties amounting to several crores of rupees.

Ishqam, a commercially successful track featuring singers Mika Singh and Ali Quli Mirza, is at the centre of the dispute. During the course of the investigation, police said additional accused were named through a General Diary entry.

Those named include Chris Meehan, CEO of UK-based Sentric Music Publishing; Loren McShane, Head of Legal and Business Affairs at Sentric Music Publishing; Vivek Raina, CEO of Believe Music India; and Believe Music India officials Sunil Gursahani and Malkeet Aulakh. Two Bangladeshi nationals had been named earlier in the case.

According to the complaint, the accused allegedly acted in collusion to divert publishing royalties and withhold payments owed under a valid distribution agreement. It is further alleged that royalty payments have not been made since November 2024.

Police said notices have been issued to the newly named accused, directing them to appear before the investigating officer for questioning. The investigation is ongoing, and further action will be taken in accordance with the law.