Stalker held for harassing TV actress

He wanted to marry me and when I refused, he threatened to commit suicide. I got scared and shared everything with my parents & brother. He is a psycho. Now I am relieved after his arrest THE TV ACTRESS

Kurar police have arrested a 23-year-old man from Naxalprone area of Gadchiroli on Thursday for stalking and harassing a model-turned-TV actress over phone and WhatsApp.

The accused, Swapnil Saharay, had been harassing Madhuri Gupta (24), (name changed), since August 2016. “Initially I thought he would stop disturbing me, but he continued calling me and sending me lewd messages. I even blocked his mobile number but he would keep sending from different numbers,” said Gupta.

The actress, who resides with her parents at Malad (east), has played a role in a TV show Devon Ke Dev. Mahadev and has also acted in a few South Indian movies.

A college student, Saharay, who belongs to a below average income family, used to call her from different numbers. Bhadoria told the Free Press Journal that Saharay had engraved a tattoo of her name on his left hand.

“He wanted to marry me and when I refused, he threatened to commit suicide. I got scared and shared everything with my parents and brother,” said Gupta, adding, “He is a psycho. Now I am relieved after his arrest.”

The actress added that Saharay had told the actress that he resides in a Naxalprone area and no police can arrest him.

“I got scared and registered the FIR at Kurar police station on February 4,” said Gupta.

The zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Kirankumar Chavan said Saharay used to disconnect the call whenever the actress’s relatives received his call.

The police have to take special permission from the home ministry to enter a Naxal-prone area to arrest a culprit.

“We had been tracking all numbers from which he used to call and message the actress. Finally we traced the number with the help of mobile tower location and arrested the accused on Thursday,” said DCP Chavan.

The police have seized his mobile phone and multiple SIM cards which have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Kalina for investigation.

Saharay has been booked for stalking (354 D) and insulting with intent to provoke breach of peace (504) and relevant section of Information Technology Act.

He was produced in Borivali court which sent him to police custody till April 29. Further probe is on.