The Banker’s Betrayal: Unraveling the 1971 SBI Scam

Production house Ellipsis Entertainment announced on Thursday that it will produce a movie about the infamous 1971 scam at a State Bank of India branch in Delhi. The untitled film will explore what is described as “one of the most sensational scams in India’s banking history,” investigated by a team of Delhi police officers led by the then SHO of Chanakya Puri, Hari Dev Kaushal. The alleged double agent, Rustom Nagarwala, is said to be the mastermind behind the scam.

The production company, known for “Do Aur Do Pyaar” and “Sharmajee Ki Beti,” is currently casting for the role of Hari Dev Kaushal, who is the father of actors Rahul Dev and Mukul Dev. Mukul Dev, known for films such as “Dastak” and “Yamla Pagla Deewana,” has co-written the script with Suprotim Sengupta and Kunal Aneja. Previously, Mukul Dev wrote the script for 2018’s “Omerta,” directed by Hansal Mehta.

Producer Tanuj Garg expressed excitement about finalizing the cast and beginning production. “As a huge fan of the espionage genre, I was intrigued to read about the case, which continues to remain shrouded in mystery. Several people associated with the probe, including the primary suspect, kept dying within months of the incident,” Garg said in a statement.

Additionally, Atul Kasbekar, who has a personal connection with the Dev family, commented on the project: “My first photographic assignments in 1990 were with Rahul and Mukul Dev, who are also personal friends. I had the good fortune of personally interacting with their father, Hari Dev Ji, extensively. It’s poetic that he is the hero of this compelling story.”