BENGALURU, India– Karnataka Police have arrested Kannada film actor, director, and producer Hemanth Kumar on charges of sexually harassing an actress and blackmailing her using private photos and videos.
The Rajajinagar Police in Bengaluru made the arrest following a complaint filed by the actress, who alleged that Kumar exploited and threatened her after drugging her during a film promotion event.
According to police, Kumar, who acted in, directed, and produced the Kannada film Richie, met the actress in 2022 and later offered her a role in the movie. During a promotional event in Mumbai on August 5, 2023, he allegedly spiked her mocktail with alcohol, took private photos and videos while she was unconscious, and later used them to blackmail and sexually exploit her.
Investigators said the two had argued previously after Kumar accused the actress of skipping publicity events and not answering his calls. The accused had also filed a complaint with the Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce, claiming that the actress and her mother had assaulted him, which led to the film body’s intervention at the time.
In her complaint, the actress said Kumar had agreed to pay her Rs 2 lakh for the role, with Rs 60,000 paid in advance. She alleged that he pressured her to wear revealing clothing and coerced her to meet him alone at a private hotel under the pretext of a publicity event. When she refused, he allegedly threatened to release her private images online and issued death threats against her mother.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and additional details will be released once evidence is verified.
In a separate case, Kannada television actor Charith Balappa was arrested earlier by RR Nagar police in Bengaluru after a 29-year-old actress accused him of sexual harassment, blackmail, and issuing death threats. The complainant, active in Kannada and Telugu serials since 2017, told police that Balappa had pressured her into a relationship and subjected her to sustained mental and physical harassment. (Source: IANS)
