Writer Rajeev Nigam Reacts to ‘Pressure’ To Quit Shekhar Suman’s Talk Show After Political Controversy (View Post)

Prominent television writer and comedian Rajeev Nigam has alleged that he is facing intense pressure to stop writing for actor and host Shekhar Suman’s popular talk show, Shekhar Tonite. Nigam revealed that the pushback is driven by the show’s anti-establishment political humour. This revelation comes amid a highly publicised investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into a Mumbai-based film producer who co-founded a film academy with Suman, drawing separate regulatory scrutiny to the actor's professional circle. Shekhar Suman Film Academy Co-Founder Dharmesh Sangani Under ED Scanner in FEMA Case.

Rajeev Nigam Refuses to Back Down

Taking to social media, Nigam publicly addressed the pressure he has faced from unnamed industry insiders and acquaintances. The writer, who has penned scripts for prominent figures such as Amitabh Bachchan and Kapil Sharma, defended his involvement with Shekhar Suman’s show and stated that he would not be silenced.

In a statement posted to his social media, Nigam wrote: "Yes, I write for Shekhar Suman's show, so what's wrong with that? I've written for everyone in the industry from Shekhar Suman to Kapil Sharma and Amitabh Bachchan... Some people are trying to give advice in the form of pressure, saying stop writing this show, it won't be good for you. Brother, what kind of world have we come to... First they shut down my Facebook page, they stopped me from speaking, and now they're trying to stop me from writing too... If I stop writing, I'll start speaking instead... So it would be better to see a fantastic actor of the country perform in a fantastic way... Believe me, the country hasn't seen a more honest performer than him... As for the rest, even Lord Ram feels cheated in this country—what standing do you and I have?"

Rajeev Nigam Refuses to Quit ‘Shekhar Tonite’

Despite the warnings, Nigam made it clear that he intends to continue writing for the show, emphasising that he believes in Suman's performance and the honesty of the creative material.

ED Initiates FEMA Investigation Against Mumbai-Based Producer Linked to Shekhar Suman

In a separate development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated an investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) against Mumbai-based businessman and film producer Dharmesh Sangani. Sangani is the co-founder of a film academy promoted by Shekhar Suman.  The central agency carried out search operations at premises linked to Sangani and his company, Kalanee Impex Ltd.

According to the ED, the searches revealed evidence of undisclosed foreign assets, including bank accounts and business entities across Canada, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates, which were allegedly omitted from income tax returns. Investigators also reported that the company failed to repatriate crores of rupees in export proceeds within the timelines prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India.

Officials stated that during the raid, Sangani allegedly threw his mobile phone from the 13th floor of a building in an attempt to destroy digital evidence. The device was later recovered by investigators, leading the agency to lodge a formal complaint with the Mumbai Police for the destruction of evidence. 'Shekhar Tonite': Nitin Gadkari Reacts to Shekhar Suman’s Query on Marathi Language Controversy: Every Language Should Be Proud of Its Culture (Watch Video).

The ED clarified that the current scope of the FEMA investigation is strictly focused on Sangani and his immediate business associates. There has been no indication from law enforcement that Shekhar Suman is a subject of the ongoing financial inquiry.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2026 10:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).