Popular TV actor Pearl V Puri, who was arrested under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act in connection with an alleged rape case, will be taken to Thane jail after his RT-PCR test comes negative.
The actor, who was arrested on Friday afternoon by the Waliv police was sent to judicial custody by a Vasai court on Saturday.
Pearl was produced before a local court in Vasai on Saturday (June 5) afternoon. According to a report in ANI, the court sent him to a judicial custody.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Patil DCP (Zone 2, Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar), said, "Anyone who is arrested has to undergo a COVID-19 test. Pearl V Puri will also undergo a RT-PCR test and if it is negative, he will be shifted to Thane jail on Monday. Right now, he is at the Waliv Police station."
Earlier a host of TV celebs- actresses- Anita Hassanandani, Krystle D’Souza, Karishma Tanna and producer Ekta Kapoor came out in Pearl’s support.
Ekta Kapoor in her post on Instagram mentioned that she was in touch with the victim's mother and after various calls with the mother she knows for a fact that Pearl was not involved.
Commenting on the same, DCP Patil said, "The victim narrated the incident which happened in 2019 on the sets of a TV show. During the investigation, she took the name of the character, the accused was playing in the show. The allegations are not false, there is evidence, so Pearl was arrested. We are investigating further and the truth will come out in the court trial."
DCP Patil further said, " We have arrested Pearl on the basis of a particular incident that the victim shared with us."
A report in IANS said that victim’s family filed a complaint against Puri, accusing him of molesting and raping the minor girl around two years ago. On the professional front, Pearl V Puri was last seen in 'Brahmarakhas’ season two, which beamed on Zee TV. He has been part of shows like ‘Naagin 3’, 'Batameez Dil', 'Meri Sasuma' and 'Bepanah Pyaarr'.