Aditya Pancholi drugged, raped and blackmailed me for money, claims Bollywood actress

Bollywood actor-director Aditya Pancholi has been hitting headlines ever since an A-list Bollywood actress accused him of rape, extortion and physical abuse. The actress had even revealed that she had related the incident to a senior IPS officer in 2004-06, but no action was taken.

Mid-day has accessed the detailed statement recorded on June 26, based on which the Versova police filed an FIR against the actor on June 27. In the two-and-a-half page statement, the Bollywood actress reveals how Aditya Pancholi used to drug and rape the actress and later went on to blackmail her and extort money.

The mid-day report quoted the actress’ statement, “In 2004, I came to Mumbai with the dream of becoming a big actor someday. That year, I met Aditya Pancholi, who was then 38 years old, almost 22 years older than me. I used to stay at a hostel with group of girls while he was married and had two children; his daughter was my age then."

The actress alleged that he had drugged and raped her in a car. "In 2004, I went to a party with him. Sometime after having a drink, I started feeling dizzy. I suspected then that he [Pancholi] had spiked my drink. After the party got over, Pancholi said he will drop me home. So I went with him in his Range Rover car. He stopped it in the middle of Yari Road and started getting forcefully physical with me. He also took photographs, which I wasn't aware of.”

"When we met the next time, he said we now share a relationship like the one between a husband and wife and we will live that way. I told him he was my father's age and I want to marry someone who is as old as me. Then, he showed me all the photographs he'd taken of me inside his car and started blackmailing me. He threatened to show these pictures to others. At the time, I was quite young, I had no one in Mumbai and he took advantage of that," she added.

The allegations range from keeping her under house arrest to physically abusing her. "He used to take my photos to blackmail and threaten me. Once, I was going to file a complaint against him, but he stopped my autorickshaw and beat me up; I was rescued by a pedestrian who saw me getting thrashed. At the time, I met and informed senior police officer Bipin Bihari about the incident."

She stated, "Between 2004 to 2005, I shifted to Pallavi Apartment with my aunt. Pancholi would come to that flat all the time with his friends and get forcefully physical with me. Every time, he would carry some medicine to spike my drinks. I used to feel dizzy after having them. He locked me in whenever he left my apartment. He would also assault me. He would give me drugs and click my photos; at the time, he used to get MDMA and ecstasy."

She further revealed in the report, "Fed up with him, in 2006-2007, I bought a flat in Versova and started living alone. Pancholi came there, made duplicate keys and trespassed into my house and assaulted me. He started breaking everything inside my house and screamed in a completely drunken state. He took all of my keys and left after locking me inside."

She said that Pancholi also beat up her sister. "Between 2008 and 2009, I shifted to Bandra. My sister, who was unwell then, came to my house and we were living together. When I was away at a shoot, he came to my house and beat up my sister. When I returned home, I saw my sister was shivering and completely scared. I asked her what happened and she told me about how Pancholi had beaten her up. Then, I called him up to ask why he was troubling us, to which he started demanding money from me, saying that [I should pay] whatever he has spent on me. He asked for Rs 1 crore. In fact, I paid Rs 50 lakh and he stopped troubling us for a bit. Once I got famous and people began recognising me, Pancholi once again started demanding money by blackmailing me with the photographs. I have the threatening messages he sent to my sister and brother. Pancholi kept threatening that he to send the photos to my friends, family and relatives to destroy my career.”

Post this statement, Pancholi has been booked by the Versova police under sections 376 (rape), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc. with intent to commit an offence), 384 (extortion), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Earlier the actor’s sister had filed a complaint via e-mail, following which Pancholi denied all the allegations and submitted video footage of her lawyer apparently talking about the rape case that would be filed if Pancholi didn't withdraw the defamation complaint against the actress.

Pancholi's lawyer Prashant Patil told the tabloid, "The case against my client has been filed with mala fide intentions the day after the Andheri Magistrate Metropolitan court summoned the complainant and her sister in a criminal defamation case filed by my client. The complainant was quiet for 15 years. She says one thing in her statement to the police while her sister tweets something different."

Aditya Pancholi was granted interim relief by the Dindoshi sessions court on Tuesday. After submitting a personal bond of Rs 30,000, Pancholi has been asked to visit the Versova Police Station every Wednesday and Saturday, and co-operate with the interrogation.