Hindi News

Actor Pearl V Puri Granted Bail in Child Molestation Case

Pearl V Puri, the Hindi television actor, was granted bail on Monday after being in custody for allegedly sexually abusing a minor, Vasai Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sanjay Kumar Patil, confirmed to Silverscreen India.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Puri, who was kept in Thane jail, was charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was arrested by the Waliv police on June 6 under Section 376 AB, r/w POCSO Act 4, 8, 12,19, 21 of the IPC after a case was registered by the victim’s father.

On Monday, a sessions Court in Vasai granted the actor bail, DCP Patil said.

“His bail application was filed and heard on Monday. The prosecution sought time to counter the points raised by us. After that, the court reserved the plea for orders, and Sessions judge Aditi Kadam granted him bail,” Puri’s advocate Rajeev Sawant told Live Law.

According to the report, in his bail application, Puri said that the child was taken for a medical examination belatedly and he was arrested only to tarnish his reputation. However, the prosecution opposed the plea stating that the medical report from Nair Hospital showed a hymen tear and old healed wounds, Live Law reported.

A report in the Times of India also stated that the victim’s mother was named as a co-accused in this case. Her lawyer Swapna Kode told TOI, “My client was forced to move the court as she was informed that she has been made an accused and the reason given was she did not inform anyone in spite of knowing about the incident. So she had no option but to move for anticipatory bail and the matter has been posted for July 2.”

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Earlier, after news of the alleged assault broke, producer Ekta Kapoor wrote on Instagram that the allegations were falsely made by the minor’s father.

However, in a press conference held on the day of the arrest, DCP Patil had stated there was evidence against the actor. He had also said that the victim had given a statement against Puri.

The alleged incident took place on a film set in Vasai, where Puri was shooting in October 2019. The DCP stated that the victim is under 12 years old.

Further details of Puri’s bail order are awaited.