Mumbai: Film director Shakeel Noorani has been arrested for allegedly raping a 33-year-old actor.
The 73-year-old Noorani, known for producing and directing films like ‘Bade Dil Wala’ (1999) and ‘Joru Ka Ghulam’ (2000), was taken into custody by Malvani police in the early hours of August 8.
Produced before Borivali court, Noorani has been sent to police custody till August 12.
The director has been accused of calling the female actress to his Malvani residence on the pretext of discussing a film project and sexually assaulting her.
According to the police complaint, Noorani allegedly drugged the woman and threatened her with an alleged video.
The director was traced to a farmhouse in Medha, Satara district, and arrested, Mid-Day reported citing police sources.
Police registered a case under Sections 64(2)(M), 123, 351(2) and 88 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The allegation dates back to 2016 when the actor first met Noorani at an award show in Lokhandwala. During their interaction, the director allegedly asked her to contact him for work regarding an upcoming project.
The actor stated in the FIR that the director gave her a drink and fell unconscious when she went to his residence to read a script. She further alleged that Noorani threatened to circulate a video that he had recorded and warned her not to approach the police or inform her family.
The actor accused him of using the video to blackmail her and sexually assault her on multiple occasions.
She also claimed that Noorani repeatedly gave her contraceptive pills following their alleged sexual encounters.
Noorani’s advocate Vikas Singh Goar said his client has been falsely implicated. “The allegations made by the actress are yet to be established before a court, and the investigation is underway. Noorani is presumed innocent unless proven guilty,” his counsel argued.