Filmmaker Shakeel Noorani Arrested on Rape Allegations by Aspiring Actor

Mumbai Police have arrested Bollywood filmmaker Shakeel Noorani after a 33-year-old aspiring actor accused him of rape and criminal intimidation, officials said on Monday. The 73-year-old director, known for films like Joru Ka Ghulam and Bade Dilwala, was traced to his farmhouse in Mahabaleshwar on Saturday following a 40-day hunt.

According to the woman's complaint, Mr. Noorani sexually assaulted her repeatedly over four years, spiked her drink at his residence in Malvani, and later showed her an intimate video on his mobile phone, threatening to circulate it if she approached the police or informed her family. She also alleged that the filmmaker gave her contraceptive pills and poisoned her, leading to a miscarriage.

Police officials, quoting the complaint, stated that the accused initially called the woman to his residence on the pretext of discussing a film project. It was there, she alleged, that he drugged and sexually assaulted her. The purported video was subsequently used to threaten and assault her on multiple occasions.

After the First Information Report (FIR) was registered, Mr. Noorani went into hiding. Police searched his son's residence in Lokhandwala, Andheri, but could not trace him. He was later apprehended from his farmhouse in Mahabaleshwar based on technical surveillance and brought to Mumbai on Saturday.

The accused has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 64(2)(m) (rape), 123 (causing hurt by means of poison), 88 (causing miscarriage), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation). He was produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody till August 12.

Mr. Noorani has directed popular Hindi films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including Joru Ka Ghulam (2000) starring Govinda and Bade Dilwala (1999) featuring Suniel Shetty. His career spans several decades, but he has been less active in recent years.

The allegations are serious and are being investigated by the police. It is important to note that Mr. Noorani is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The legal process will determine the veracity of the claims, and both the complainant and the accused have the right to a fair trial.

This case highlights the ongoing issue of sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment industry, and authorities have urged victims to come forward and report such incidents. The police have assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted in accordance with the law.