Casting Director Rapes Actress On The Pretext Of Getting Work In Kapil Sharma's Show; Arrested

Authorities have arrested an individual associated with a casting director's team on charges of sexually assaulting and raping a 26-year-old hopeful aiming for a career in Bollywood.

The accused, identified as Anand Singh, reportedly lured the woman into auditioning for the popular show 'The Kapil Sharma Show'. Singh, who initially met the woman through a common friend, presented himself as part of the casting crew for various popular television programs.

He promised her a chance in the comedy series and requested her to audition at his residence, suggesting that upon his approval, he would facilitate her meeting with the show's casting director.

Agreeing to the audition in pursuit of the role, the woman visited Singh's apartment in Ganesh Apartments, Nalasopara West, on Tuesday.

However, she was taken aback when Singh displayed minimal interest in the audition, instead pressuring her for sexual favours and raping her. Upon her refusal, Singh allegedly assaulted her, resorting to threats and physical violence, including slapping her, and warning her against seeking help from the authorities.

Subsequently, the woman reported the incident to the Tulinj police on Tuesday and filed a First Information Report (FIR) under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

He was arrested and produced before the court on Thursday.