The 'Nagara Night' Dandiya event held on October 15 at the Lajpat Bhavan Lawn in Motijheel, Kanpur, has taken a legal turn as organizers have approached the police regarding the appearance of social media influencer and actress Anjali Arora. Organizers Anubhav Raj and Ashish Gupta have submitted a formal application at the Swaroop Nagar police station, accusing Anjali and her manager of breach of contract and fraud, while demanding a refund, a public apology on social media, and threatening to approach the court if necessary.
The Core Catalyst Behind the Dispute
The controversy stems directly from the 'Kacha Badam' track, the viral song that initially propelled Anjali Arora to social media fame. According to the organizers, the moment the track inadvertently played through the DJ setup during the Dandiya night, Anjali grew furious. Although the music was halted within three to four seconds, she openly displayed her displeasure on stage and departed shortly afterward, subsequently raising questions regarding the event's management and arrangements.
Organizers Claim Massive Financial Losses
Event organizers Anubhav Raj and Ashish Gupta stated that they promoted the event for nearly a month, leveraging Anjali's popularity among Gen Z audiences. They claim to have suffered a financial setback ranging between 15 to 20 lakh rupees due to the sudden disruption and the failure to execute scheduled activities. While they asserted their willingness to take legal action in court, the police have not yet confirmed the registration of an FIR regarding the complaint.
Discrepancies Over Timeline and Agreed Activities
Detailing the agreement, the organizers noted that four specific activities were planned with Anjali, including her performance, presenting mementos to chief guests, interacting with the audience, and photo sessions with the organizers. However, a dispute arose within 10 to 15 minutes of her arrival on stage, derailing the subsequent itinerary. Furthermore, her flight was delayed by approximately 40 minutes, landing at 4:05 PM, followed by another 40-minute delay in exiting the airport premises.
Tensions Involving Timings and Payments
Anjali reached the venue at around 9:45 PM instead of the scheduled 9:00 PM slot. With local police permission expiring at 10:00 PM, organizers had a severely restricted window to wrap up the proceedings. Anubhav Raj also alleged pressure from Anjali's manager regarding financial clearances, noting that the final 75,000 rupees were withheld as a security measure to be paid upon her arrival in Kanpur, though persistent calls for the pending amount began as early as 6:00 AM on October 15.
Crowd Management and Operational Pressures
The organizers mentioned that while four flight tickets were booked in advance, an expensive ticket had to be arranged later for PR Sanjay Singh as well. Ashish Gupta stated that against an expected turnout of 1,200 people, roughly 1,500 attendees arrived, forcing entry restrictions for security reasons. The management deployed over 200 volunteers and more than 50 bouncers to handle the crowd. Police are currently reviewing the complaint, and further clarity is expected following a detailed investigation.
