Mumbai, February 26, 2025:
Mumbai police registered an FIR against two individuals, including a woman, in connection with an alleged sexual assault case involving an aspiring actor. An FIR was filed after the police assured the court that they would register the case following a petition filed by the complainant.
The case was brought to the court, which, after receiving confirmation from the police, disposed of the petition. The court clarified that it had not examined the merits of the complaint but directed the authorities to conduct an investigation based on the law.
Details of the Allegations
According to the FIR, the complainant, a woman in her 30s, had approached one of the accused, Puja Kanwaljit Singh, seeking help making connections in the film industry. Singh allegedly promised to introduce her to influential individuals who could help her get a break in Bollywood.
The complainant stated in her FIR that on May 3, 2023, Singh introduced her to the second accused, identified as Bhartia, at a five-star hotel in Santacruz. The complainant alleged that during the meeting, Bhartia told her to accompany him to Singapore and even provided his card details for booking flight tickets.
Following this, the woman traveled to Singapore with Singh on May 19, 2023. Upon reaching Singapore, she was taken to a house where the accused allegedly served alcohol. As per the FIR, the woman claimed that she was forced to consume alcohol before Bhartia sexually assaulted her. She further alleged that Singh recorded the incident on her mobile phone.
The woman also stated that she was threatened with the video footage, with the accused warning her that they would make it public if she spoke about the incident.
Repeated Assaults in India
The FIR further revealed that the complainant was allegedly assaulted multiple times after the Singapore incident. She claimed that Bhartia raped her again on June 26, 2023, in Andheri and later in Thane on October 14, 2023.
The woman, fearing social stigma and threats from the accused, initially hesitated to approach the police. However, she later decided to seek legal action, filing a petition in court, which eventually led to the police registering an FIR.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
Following the registration of the case, the police have initiated a probe into the matter. The court has directed the police to conduct the investigation based on the available evidence and legal provisions.
A senior police officer confirmed that the accused individuals are being investigated and that statements will be recorded. The officer assured that the case would be handled with sensitivity and that necessary action would be taken if the allegations were substantiated.
Meanwhile, legal experts have stated that if found guilty, the accused could face serious charges under the Indian Penal Code, including sections related to rape, criminal intimidation, and conspiracy.
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