Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, December 12: Film actress Pooja Batra was assaulted and threatened by three persons at Filmalaya studio on Wednesday night. Two persons have been arrested in this connection by the DN Nagar police.
According to police, Batra finished shooting for the day at the studio at around 10.30 pm, and was ready to leave for home. As she, accompanied by her brother Chirag, emerged from the studio canteen and began moving towards their car, Chirag bumped into an unknown person, leading to an altercation between the two.
Chirag was slapped on the face by the person. As soon as Batra saw her brother being slapped, she questioned the person and in the process was pushed by another person.
Hearing the commotion, employees of Filmalaya and others present in the studio rushed out, and seeing this, the three, who were inebriated, ran out of the studio towards a Chinese cart located outside. One of the accused snatched a knife from one of the cooks and threatened all those who emerged from the studio with dire consequences. The trio also threatened Batra, who was still in the studio, in abusive language, the police said.
By the time the police arrived, the trio had fled the scene. Inquiries revealed that they belonged to Amboli and frequented the studio canteen. DN Nagar sleuths kept a secret watch in and around Amboli. Two of the three accused were nabbed by the police on Thursday night. The accused were later identified as Rajendra Ganpat Ghadge (31) and Wilson Lawrence Lucas (30), while their accomplice, one Suresh, is absconding. The police are on the lookout for him.
Batra has registered a case under sections 323, 506 (b), 354, 44 of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigations are on, and the Filmalaya studio has been provided with police security.
