Mumbai court grants bail to TV actor Rohit Chandel in POCSO case
TV actor Rohit Chandel has been granted bail by a Mumbai Sessions Court in a POCSO case filed by a 16-year-old girl; he was replaced on the Star Plus show Sairaab after his arrest.
Television actor Rohit Chandel, who was part of the cast of the Star Plus show Sairaab, has been granted bail by a Mumbai Sessions Court in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The case was filed on a complaint by a 16-year-old girl.
Special Judge Shashikala S Nagur allowed the bail plea after the actor's counsel, advocate Saveen Bedi Sachar, argued that the chargesheet had been filed and the investigation was complete. The court directed that Chandel be released on a personal recognisance bond of Rs 50,000, with a surety of the same amount.
The bail order comes with several conditions. Chandel has been barred from tampering with evidence or threatening the complainant and prosecution witnesses. He has also been told not to contact the girl or her family in any manner, including by phone or through social media.
The court further directed that he must not, directly or indirectly, induce, threaten or make promises to anyone acquainted with the facts of the case in an attempt to stop them from disclosing information to the court.
Chandel's legal troubles began after the minor lodged a complaint with the Mumbai Police. She alleged that the actor repeatedly contacted her from multiple phone numbers despite her objections, followed her, and subjected her to verbal abuse and physical assault near her residence.
Based on the complaint, police registered an FIR invoking provisions of the POCSO Act along with sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to stalking and causing hurt. Chandel was arrested from his residence and remanded to judicial custody as the probe continued.
The matter was heard before a Special POCSO Court in Mumbai, which oversaw the completion of the investigation and the filing of the chargesheet containing the charges and witness statements. Given the involvement of a minor, the case drew considerable public and media attention.
The arrest also affected Chandel's television commitments. He was replaced on Sairaab by actor Krishna Kaul, who has since taken over the role. It remains unclear whether Chandel will return to the show.