Kannada TV Actor Charith Balappa Arrested Over Allegations of Sexual Harassment and Assault

Last Update:27 December 2024 19:35 IST

TV actor Charith Balappa was arrested on charges of sexual harassment, assault and criminal intimidation following a complaint filed by an actress.

Popular Kannada television actor Charith Balappa has been arrested.

Television actor Charith Balappa was arrested on charges of sexual harassment, assault and criminal intimidation following a complaint from an actress, police said on Friday.

The alleged incident was stated to have occurred between November 1, 2023 and December 13, 2024. Balappa, who has also acted in Telugu serials, is known for his role in the Kannada serial ‘Muddulakshmi’.

The 29-year-old woman, who has appeared in both Telugu and Kannada TV series, stated in her complaint that she met him in 2017 because he was also an actor. She accused him of exploiting her good nature, claiming that he pressured her to love him and forced her to have a physical relationship, threatening to defame her if she refused.

The actor also alleged that he once entered her house along with his colleagues, caused mayhem and harassed her, knowing that she lived alone. According to the FIR, the actor also demanded money from her and threatened to post private photos of them together on social media platforms and share them in a WhatsApp group including other actors.

The FIR stated that he claimed that with his money and connections with politicians, rowdy elements and police officials, he would file false cases against her and get her jailed. The woman also accused the divorced actor of mentally torturing and assaulting her. He also threatened to kill her, the FIR stated.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Rajarajeshwari Nagar police station under sections relating to voluntarily causing hurt, extortion, criminal intimidation, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, sexual harassment and other sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. They added that the accused actor has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)