Mumbai's television industry has been rocked by the sudden arrest of popular actor Rohit Chandel, who faces serious charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Ghatkopar police station in Mumbai took the actor into custody following a formal complaint filed by a 16-year-old minor girl. Chandel, recognized for his performances in prominent television dramas like Pandya Store and Sairab, is accused of stalking, harassing, and physically assaulting the teenager. The arrest has sent shockwaves through his colleagues and the wider entertainment community.
The Allegations and Police Action
The legal trouble for the actor escalated rapidly after the young complainant approached the authorities with detailed allegations. According to the statements provided by the teenager, Chandel had been continuously harassing her by sending messages and making phone calls from his personal phone number as well as several other mobile connections, ignoring her explicit objections to his communication. The situation escalated dramatically on July 5, when Chandel allegedly arrived near the residential building where the girl resides. He is accused of trailing her, using highly abusive language, and physically attacking her. Investigating police officers have noted that Chandel and the minor girl were already acquainted with each other before these events transpired.
Sent to Police Custody
Following his arrest on Friday from his residence, Chandel was presented before a special POCSO court, which subsequently remanded him to police custody to facilitate a thorough investigation. The police department is currently looking deep into the circumstances surrounding the case to gather more evidence. This sudden legal development has cast a shadow over Chandel's professional life, which had only recently gained significant traction after years of struggle. He initially started his television journey with a minor appearance in the show Har Mushkil Ka Hal Akbar Birbal, eventually working his way up to secure major roles.
Co-Star Kishori Shahane Expresses Disbelief
The news has left Chandel's current co-stars in deep shock, with veteran actress Kishori Shahane sharing her disbelief regarding the situation. Shahane, who shares screen space with Chandel in the ongoing television series Sairab, admitted that her initial reaction to the news was that of complete skepticism. She explained that when she first came across the news of his arrest, she genuinely assumed it was an elaborate PR stunt designed to promote their television show.
This assumption stemmed from a striking parallel in their current shooting schedule. In Sairab, Chandel plays a character named Ishan, who is currently embroiled in an identical storyline where a minor girl lodges a police complaint against him. Shahane noted that she initially believed the real-world arrest news was merely a creative marketing gimmick to generate buzz for this particular television track. However, she was deeply saddened and shocked to learn that the situation was a real-life legal crisis. Despite the lead actor's absence, Shahane confirmed that the production of Sairab has not ground to a halt, as the crew has adjusted the schedule to continue filming the required scenes without Chandel.
