Actor Ajaz Khan has been booked by the Charkop Police in Mumbai on a rape complaint filed by an actress who accused him of sexual assault on the pretext of marriage.
The case has been registered under several sections of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 64, 64(2)(M), 69, and 74, with the investigation still on, as informed by police officials.
In her complaint, the actress accused Khan of having promised her work in his OTT series House Arrest and some more projects. She said that after the shoot started, Khan had proposed to her, promising her marriage.
The complainant went on to say that Khan raped her on March 25 in his house after he made false vows of marriage. She also alleged that he sexually assaulted her a few days later and reiterated his vow of marriage.
The actress also claimed that Khan assured her that he would take complete responsibility for her and even intimated that his religion permitted him to marry four times.
The case is being probed by Charkop Police, and a different FIR has been lodged against Khan at Amboli Police Station in relation to House Arrest upon a complaint lodged by Bajrang Dal. In this case, Khan is charged with indecent representation of women and posting obscene material.
Mumbai Police have booked Khan and others from the show under Section 67 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, which is a criminal offence for publishing or transmitting obscene content electronically. The first conviction may result in up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. Subsequent offences can entail five years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
Also, Khan is charged under Section 296 of the BNS for obscene songs and acts. The provision makes it a crime to perform obscene acts or use offensive words in public, and the punishment is up to three months' imprisonment.
The FIR also refers to Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, which forbids the production and dissemination of content with indecent representations of women, and violations are punishable with a maximum of three years' imprisonment. Section 7 of the same Act makes individuals in companies, including those in charge of content on the OTT platform, liable for legal repercussions.
The series, which was broadcast on the OTT platform Ullu, was removed after widespread outrage and demands for a ban. Maharashtra BJP Mahila Morcha President Chitra Wagh had earlier condemned the series as "the epitome of vulgarity" and demanded strong action.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also noticed the case, calling Ullu CEO Vibhu Agarwal and Ajaz Khan to appear before it on May 9 in connection with the allegations of obscene content and exploitation.
Authorities have informed that the Mumbai Police are taking care to ensure that both the actor and the decision-makers at the OTT platform will be brought to book legally under the concerned laws.
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