Mumbai Police Arrests Man For Planting Drugs On Bollywood Actress Jailed In Sharjah

MUMBAI: In a case that seems like a Bollywood movie story, the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested two people on charges of framing Bollywood actress Chrisann Pereira in a drug smuggling case in Sharjah, where she is now in jail.

The arrested duo reportedly planted the drugs on Chrisann Pereira to get her imprisoned in the UAE.

The 27-year-old Pereira has acted in roles in movies like Sadak 2 and Batla House.

Of the two, one of the accused was identified as Anthony Paul, a resident of Borivali in Mumbai. His accomplice, Rajesh Babhote alias Ravi, a resident of Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, was also picked up by the Crime Branch, for allegedly sending the actor to Sharjah with a trophy with drugs hidden inside.

Earlier this month, Pereira was arrested by authorities in Sharjah after drugs were found hidden in a trophy she had with her. She is currently lodged in a prison in Sharjah on drug-smuggling charges.

Following her arrest, Pereira’s family alleged she had been framed and investigations into the matter were started by Mumbai Police. During the probe, officials learnt that Paul was the mastermind behind the plan to frame Chrisann in the drugs case to take revenge against the actress's mother, Premila Pereira.

Along with his accomplice Ravi, Paul hatched a plot to send Chrisann to the UAE for a purported audition for an international web series. She was handed the trophy in which they had hidden the drugs, while going to the airport, police officials said.

Officials also discovered that Paul had framed four other people in a similar manner.

A bakery is run by Paul in Malad and Borivali areas of Mumbai. Paul's sister stays in the same building where Chrisann's mother also resides. Paul had gone to see his sister during the Covid-19 induced lockdown in 2020, when Premila's pet dog barked and tried to pounce on him. In a bid to save himself, Paul picked up a chair to hit the canine. Premila got angry seeing this and had insulted him in front of several other residents of the building. Paul hatched the plan to frame Chrisann in the case to take revenge for the incident.

The plan was set in motion when Premila received an SMS on her mobile number about real estate-related work. Upon contacting the number, Ravi answered her call. He asked Premila to meet him. During the meeting at his office, Ravi asked Premila about her family and she said her daughter worked in films. Ravi then told her he owned firm named 'Talent Pool' and claimed to be looking for an actress for an international show.

Thereafter, a meeting was arranged at the Hotel Grand Hyatt and Crisann was selected. She was then told that she would have to go for an audition to Dubai.

On April 1, Chrisann's tickets were booked for Sharjah and Ravi told that her that her travel to Dubai from Sharjah had been arranged, also her stay at Hilton hotel. Prior to her departure to Sharjah, Ravi gave her the trophy containing the drugs and told Chrisann that it was for the audition. The actress carried the trophy with her.

On reaching Sharjah, Crisann checked with the hotel but found out that her name was not mentioned in the hotel's record of bookings. She then approached police authorities with the trophy and the drugs were found inside the trophy. She was detained and later arrested.

Premila approached the police on learning about her daughter's arrest and informed them about the incident. Lakhmi Gautam, Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, started the investigation into the case and an FIR was lodged at Vakola police station. During the probe, the police learnt about the plan hatched by Paul and how Ravi helped execute it. Paul was arrested, while police are questioning Ravi.

Now, police will contact the Ministry of External Affairs authorities and use appropriate channels, to share inputs regarding the actress being framed with UAE authorities.

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