Indian-Origin Financier Faces Federal Fraud Charges; Bollywood Actor Attacked at Corona Gym
Two recent stories emerging from the Corona area have put South Asian community members at the center of sharply contrasting national headlines. In a federal case that has drawn attention across South Asian media, an Indian-origin financier from Newport Beach, California, has been arrested on allegations that he defrauded a federally insured bank of nearly $100 million. Court documents name the accused as Makhijani, who controlled Newport Beach-based Cantor Group V LLC and is alleged to have used the company's established banking relationship to carry out a wide-ranging scheme built on fabricated records, threats, and the personal accumulation of extraordinary wealth—channeled into private jets, Bentleys, and designer clothing. Separately, Bollywood actor Aman Dhaliwal—a well-known face in South Asian cinema—found himself at the center of a frightening incident when a man armed with a knife and a hatchet confronted and attacked him at a Planet Fitness gym in Corona. The suspect, Ronald Chand, 30, of Santa Ana, was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted murder, entering a not-guilty plea at his first court appearance in downtown Riverside, where a judge set bail at $1 mill
Newport Beach Financier of Indian Origin Arrested in Alleged $100 Million Bank Fraud
An Indian-origin financier alleged to have sustained a spectacular lifestyle on the proceeds of a massive bank fraud has been arrested in the United States, Gulf News reported on June 11, 2026. The accused, identified in court documents as Makhijani, controlled Newport Beach-based Cantor Group V LLC, a Southern California firm that held a direct lending relationship with a federally insured bank—a connection authorities allege he systematically exploited to carry out the scheme. US prosecutors contend that Makhijani fabricated records and employed threats to defraud the bank of nearly $100 million, according to the Gulf News report. Court filings referenced in the coverage describe extraordinary levels of personal spending alleged to have been funded by the fraud: private jets, Bentley automobiles, designer clothing, and other high-end purchases are among the expenditures cited. The article further references lavish spending on entertainment and social gatherings as part of the lifestyle attributed to the accused. Senior Associate Editor Stephen N R reported the story for Gulf News, which characterized the arrest as a significant federal enforcement action targeting alleged financial crimes in Southern California. Cantor Group V LLC was described as the vehicle through which the banking relationship was maintained and, authorities allege, ultimately abused. [3]
Bollywood Actor Aman Dhaliwal Survives Knife-and-Hatchet Attack at Corona Planet Fitness
A violent confrontation at a Planet Fitness gym in Corona took an internationally significant turn when it emerged that the victim was Bollywood actor Aman Dhaliwal, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. The incident occurred on a Tuesday morning at the gym located at 3685 Grand Oaks in Corona, California, and began in the parking lot. According to ABC7, Dhaliwal noticed suspect Ronald Chand, 30, of Santa Ana, behaving erratically inside his vehicle and began recording him on a cell phone. Police say Chand reacted to being filmed by becoming agitated: he used his car to block Dhaliwal, then exited the vehicle and attacked him. The weapons used were both a knife and a hatchet. Dhaliwal fled into the gym in an attempt to escape, but Chand pursued him inside the facility. The suspect was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Ronald Chand entered a not-guilty plea at his first court appearance, held in downtown Riverside, and was held on $1 million bail. The episode attracted widespread attention once Dhaliwal's identity as a Bollywood actor became publicly known, highlighting the presence of South Asian entertainment figures in Southern California's Inland Empire and the safety risks that can accompany public visibility. [5]
Sources: [3] Gulf News · [5] ABC7 Los Angeles