Several television celebrities including Ekta Kapoor, Nia Sharma, Anita Hassanandani, Krystle D’Souza and more have backed Pearl Puri after his reported arrest in an alleged rape case.
In a shocking piece of news, television actor Pearl Puri was arrested on Friday night. The Mumbai Police arrested the actor in connection with the alleged rape of a minor. As per reports, the actor has been booked for alleged rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act. The actor has now been granted bail.
As per media reports, the police have said that this is an old case, wherein a minor had accused Pearl of sexually abusing her in the pretext of promising her a career in television shows. The Naagin 3 fame actor hasn’t yet issued any statement over the controversy. However, his colleagues from the television world have spoken up in his defence. Several popular names from the television industry including producer Ekta Kapoor and actors Anita Hassandani and Nia Sharma have taken to social media to back the actor.
Ekta Kapoor, too, stood in solidarity with Pearl and penned a long note to express her support. A part of Ekta’s post talked about her conversation with the minor’s mother. “After various calls with the child‘s/girl’s mother, who openly said that Pearl was not involved and it’s her husband trying to create stories to keep her child and prove that a working mother on a set cannot take care of her kid. If this is true then it is wrong on so many levels!” she wrote, adding, “Using an extremely important movement like ‘Me Too’ frivolously, to get your own agendas met with and mentally torturing a child and making an innocent person guilty.”
The producer said that she has no right to decide and only the court can decide who is right and wrong. She further explained that her opinion comes from what the minor’s mother told her on Friday night. “I have no right to decide, the courts will decide who is right & wrong. My opinion only comes from what the girl’s mother said to me last night & that is – Pearl is innocent …and it is very very sad if people are using various tactics to prove working mothers are unable to take care of their children, because there are predators on the set. I have all the voice notes and messages between the child’s mother and me which clearly points to the false allegations being put on Pearl,” read a part of her post.
Television actress Anita Hassanandani took to social media to back the actor. Sharing a photograph with him, the actress called the reports “nonsensical” and categorically called the news a lie. “Woke up to some nonsensical news bout @pearlvpuri I know him! It is NOT true … canNOT be true…. all lies. I’m sure there is more to it. And the truth will be out soon. Love you @pearlvpuri #ISTANDWITHPEARL.”
Not just Ekta and Anita, actress Nia Sharma also took to social media to talk about the allegations levelled against Pearl. In a strong-worded post, Nia extended her support to Pearl. “Rape is not a joke, no excuse, no means to come at someone to satisfy a bruised ego. Rape and molestation stories are terrifying and far beyond imagination in India. The real victims die, their stories go unheard, their families are waiting for justice all their lives. Do not belittle them. Do not make a mockery of it. Rape allegations cannot fu**ing be used at will. It Cannot. It should not. @pearlvpuri sorry it happened to you,” she wrote on Instagram alongside a screenshot of her tweet.
Belan Wali Bahu actress Krystle asked people to not “jump to conclusions” over “baseless allegations”.
Rakhi Sawant also came in support of actor as she posts a pictures with him with a caption that reads, “His Innocent he is innocent he’s my brother he’s innocent he is innocent he is innocent he is innocent he is my brother he’s innocent”
The actor, who was arrested last night, has now been granted bail, as per a post on actress Karishma Tanna’s Instagram account. “Satyameva Jayate. Truth wins and he did win. #gotbail @pearlvpuri,” read her post.
