New Delhi: Actor Chrisann Pereira, who was arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on charges of drug possession and lodged at a jail in Sharjah, was released from prison on Wednesday. 


Chrisann’s brother Kevin Pereira shared a video on Instagram that showed their mother jumping in joy while talking to the actor after her release. He wrote, "Chrisann is SET FREE!!! Update : We still don’t have clarity about her landing in India." 




Two men had allegedly cheated the 27-year-old actor, who is from Mumbai, by planting drugs on her and sending her to Sharjah under the pretext of an 'audition' while promising her a role in a Hollywood web series. They had hidden the drugs in an award trophy which was detected in Sharjah following which the local police had arrested Chrisann. She had been in jail since April 1. 


The Mumbai Police Crime Branch, which is probing the case, nabbed the prime accused Anthony Paul (35), a baker in Borivali, and his associate Rajesh Bubhate (34) alias Ravi, a banker. 
 
They had reportedly confessed to handing three persons the award trophies with drugs concealed in them and two others with drugs-laced cakes before they flew to Dubai, ostensibly as vendetta against the Pereira family. 
 
Pereira, who acted in Mahesh Bhatt directed Bollywood movie 'Sadak 2', was apprehended at the Sharjah airport on April 1 after a small quantity of a drug was found concealed in the trophy given to her by the two accused.


After her arrest, the accused - Ravi Bobhate and Anthony Paul - allegedly demanded Rs 80 lakh from her mother to rescue her, the official said. 


The actor's mother then approached the Mumbai Police who arrested the duo and booked them for cheating. 


The Mumbai Police had sent the case-related documents to the authorities concerned who went through the case details following which Chrisann Pereira was released on Wednesday night, a police official told PTI. 


An official communication with the Ministry of External Affairs was underway in this connection.


According to PTI, Pereira is likely to return to Mumbai in a day or two.


(With PTI and IANS inputs)