Television actor Rohit Chandel, known for featuring in daily soap operas such as Pandya Store and Kashibai Bajirao Balla, has been arrested by the Mumbai Police after a 16-year-old girl accused him of allegedly stalking, harassing and assaulting her, the police said. According to reports, the actor has been booked under the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). 

As per police, the cops picked him from his residence in the city’s Dahisar area on Friday. Thereafter, the police produced him before a special POCSO Court, which remanded him to police custody for further probe. 

Minor’s family lodged plaint

If reports are to be believed, the authorities said that the minor’s kin filed the complaint, saying that Chandel had repeatedly been calling her on her cell phone and on several other numbers, leaving her distressed. The complaint further alleged that on July 5 this year, the actor approached the girl near her residential building in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs. 

Charges levelled against Chandel

The actor has been charged with following the girl near her residential building, arguing with her, hurling abuses and physically assaulting her by hitting her with his hands. The cops have invoked Section 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to stalking, and Section 115(2), which relates to causing hurt besides the POCSO Act. 

The police said the complainant was acquainted with Chandel before the alleged incident unfolded, but the officials are persevering in efforts to learn more insights about the nature of their relationship.

Meanwhile, neither Chandel nor his representatives have responded to the allegations, and police said the charges against the former are yet to be tested in the court. 

Rohit Chandel’s background

Chandel marked his debut with a commercial ad film. In 2014, he transitioned into the TV industry with the show Har Mushkil ka Hal Akbar Birbal. After essaying a minor role, he went on to appear in various Hindi series, and played significant roles in them over the years. 

In 2022, he played the role of the protagonist, Baji Rao in Kashibai Bajirao Ballal.

From 2023 to 2024, he played the male lead in the daily soap opera, Pandya Store, opposite the female lead, Priyanshi Yadav. Sairaab is said to be his latest appearance on the small screen, where his character was named Ishaan Ganguly.