Runnerup of a reality show held for raping minor

MUMBAI: The crime branch on Tuesday arrested a 20-year-old aspiring actor, who had participated in a popular reality show in 2007, for allegedly kidnapping and raping a minor girl at his residence in Nallasopara.

The accused, Aditya Gupta, met the junior college student from Andheri on a social networking site a few months ago. During their first meeting in Andheri on Sunday, Gupta convinced the girl to visit his home in Nallasopara, where he raped her several times, said police. The girl did not return home on Sunday, after which her parents approached the DN Nagar police on Monday morning.

Gupta dropped her outside Andheri (West) station and deleted all numbers and messages from her mobile, said a police officer. She managed to call her father, who reached the spot with an officer from the crime branch, and found her semi-conscious. She was admitted to Bhabha Hospital. “The accused may have spiked her drink and raped her. We are awaiting her medical reports,” said the officer.

Gupta, who works in television industry and does stage shows, was the runner-up of season 2 of the show, said the officer.

He has been handed over to DN Nagar police station for further investigation.

THE ACCUSED, ADITYA GUPTA, MET THE JUNIOR COLLEGE STUDENT FROM ANDHERI ON A SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE A FEW MONTHS AGO