Alternative rock band 'Underground Authority' has put across serious allegation against music producer Rishi Shah, who was recently questioned by Bandra (Mumbai) Police in relation to the death of pianist Karan Joseph.
Karan Joseph, a leading pianist from Mumbai had jumped to his death on September 9 this yearfrom the 12th floor of Bandra's Concord Apartments. He had been staying here with his friends.
Rishi Shah was accused by Karan's friends and relatives of promising contracts to musicians and emotionally and physically abusing them. They had claimed to have, in a written application to police, given evidence to prove that Joseph's was not only a case of abetment of suicide but also that of culpable homicide.
In a video posted on their Facebook page, the members of the band has come out with allegations of cheating, ill-treatment of artists and copyright infringement against Rishi Shah.
Excerpts from the video:
"We are deeply saddened by the demise of one of the most promising musicians of the country, Karan Joseph. What is even more shocking to us is that he was associated with Rishi Shah.
Although we know nothing of this particular case, we would like to share our experience with Rishi Shah, who is nothing but bad news."
"Last year we were approached by this man called Rishi Shah, who claimed to be a music producer and the publisher of a magazine. He promised us some things and told us that he likes our music and want to help us, spread our word all across the world especially in America through his contacts.
We thought it would be great something coming our way but after a few conversations with Rishi Shah, we found that this man doesn't say things right, he is misleading, he is disrespectful and more over he ill treats people around."
"We have been in the same apartment that Karan was in and we have been verbally abused, ill treated, threatened. We have been threatened by Rishi over phone, message and mail. The proofs of the messages are with us."
"Also, Rishi promised to take our songs under an American label with an American producer in December. Five songs were made. Of which, one song was called Sundays at the Park, which was nothing but our own song Where the streets have A Name."
Two days ago, that same song was playing on American radio and the artists have been changed to 'Sutracoma', which is an entity that doesn't exist."
"Sutracoma has been turned into a band that rave has discovered and they are promoting. "
The following is the Facebook post by Underground Authority.
"Just stay away from Rishi Shah.", says Underground Authority while ending the video.
Formed in 2010, Underground Authority is an alternative rock/rap rock band based in Kolkata. Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer, Adil Rashid, Soumyadeep Bhattacharya and Sourish Kumar. The band is known to extensively use reggae, protest poetry, alternative rock and anti-capitalism agenda in their lyrics.