Casting agent arrested for raping aspiring Bollywood actress | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: Police on Tuesday arrested an associate of a casting director for allegedly raping and assaulting a 26-year-old Bollywood aspirant.

According to police officials, the accused, identified as Anand Singh, asked the woman to audition for the popular stand-up comedy and talk show ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’. Singh, who met the woman through a mutual friend, introduced himself as a member of the casting team for several popular television shows. He said he could get her a role in the comedy show. Singh then asked the woman to first appear at his home for an audition and if he agreed, he would then take her to the casting director of the show.

The woman agreed to an audition to get the role. On Tuesday, she went to Singh’s flat at Ganesh Apartments in Nalasopara West. The woman said she was surprised that Singh was not at all interested in the audition and asked to sleep with her. When the woman rejected his offer, Singh forced himself on her and when she pushed him away, he beat and assaulted her and threatened to kill her if she approached the police.

On Tuesday, the woman approached the Tulinj police and based on her complaint, the police registered an FIR under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

“We have arrested Singh, who claims to be an artist and works for a casting director. Singh would be produced before the court on Thursday,” said Rohini Doke, police sub-inspector, Tulinj police station.