Television actor Pearl V Puri got arrested by the Mumbai Police on the charges of raping a minor girl. Puri and five others have been arrested for rape late on the night of June 4 under the section of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The arrest took place a day after a girl and her family filed a rape and molestation case against him in Mumbai.
According to Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar (MBVV) DCP, Zone 2, Sanjay Patil, the actor has been arrested for an old case in which a minor alleged that the actor had made sexual advances by promising her a career in the television industry.
However, many celebrities like Anita Hassanandani, Ekta Kapoor, Nia Sharma have been coming forward to back puri after his reported arrest in the alleged rape case.
Anita Hassanandani
Television actor Anita Hassanandani took to her Instagram to back the Naagin 3 actor. Hassanandani shared a picture with Puri calling the reports a lie and "nonsensical". The actor captioned her post writing, "Woke up to some nonsensical news bout @pearlvpuri I know him! It is NOT true ... canNOT be true.... all lies. I’m sure there is more to it. And the truth will be out soon." (sic.)
Ekta Kapoor
Producer-director Ekta Kapoor wrote a long note on her Instagram backing the actor. Kapoor said that her opinion came from what the minor's mother told her on Friday night. She also said that she has voice notes and messages between her and the minor girl's mother that point to the allegations on pearl being false.
Kapoor also asked to not use important movements like "Me Too" frivolously to get one's own agenda met, mentally torturing a child and making an innocent person guilty.
Nia Sharma
Ek Hazaron Main Meri Behna Hai actor also came forward in support of Puri saying that rape is not a means to come at someone to satisfy a bruised ego. In her Instagram post, Sharma said that real victims of rape and molestation die and their stories go unheard of. She also asked to not make a mockery of the subject. Other than the Instagram post, the actor also tweeted on her account in support of Puri.
Dear privileged Girls and Women,
— NIA SHARMA (@Theniasharma) June 5, 2021
Do not make the heinous allegations of rape and molestation so frivolous and casual that it ceases to hold any value for posterity.@pearlvpuri You have my support✨.
Krystle Dsouza
Actor Krystle Dsouza Tweeted defending Puri and wrote, "I know @pearlvpuri and he is one of the nicest boys I’ve met in our tv industry. A thorough gentleman. Please don’t jump to conclusions on baseless allegations. #istandwithpearl #PearlVPuri".
I know @pearlvpuri and he is one of the nicest boys I’ve met in our tv industry. A thorough gentleman. Please don’t jump to conclusions on baseless allegations. #istandwithpearl #PearlVPuri
— Krystle Dsouza (@krystledsouza) June 5, 2021
According to a post on Karishma Tanna's Twitter account, Puri who was arrested last night has been granted bail. The post on Tanna's account read, "Satyameva Jayate. Truth wins and he did win. #gotbail @pearlvpuri."
Satyamev Jayate.
— Karishma Tanna (@KARISHMAK_TANNA) June 5, 2021
Truth wins and he did win. #gotbail @pearlvpuri
#istandwithpearl #truthneverhides #pvp https://t.co/h84Ug0kpen