Bengaluru, Jan.13: In a big relief to southern film star Arjun Sarja, a Bengaluru court has accepted the ‘B’ report filed by the Cubbon Park police in connection with the sexual harassment case filed against him by actress Sruthi Hariharan. With the acceptance of the ‘B’ report (closure report citing lack of evidence) by the court, the case has come to an end.
During the #MeToo movement in October 2018, actress Sruthi Hariharan had accused Sarja of sexually harassing her on multiple occasions during the shoot of a movie named ‘Vismaya’ in 2015. She had accused him of touching her inappropriately during the shooting of a romantic scene. Also, Sarja was accused of inviting her to his room in a resort during the shoot of the movie.
The allegations had created ripples not only in the Sandalwood (Kannada film industry) but the entire southern film industry, as Sarja is a multi-lingual actor. Sruthi Hariharan had filed a criminal case against Sarja in Cubbon Park police station. The police had registered an FIR against Sarja, booking him under various sections of the IPC including 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
The police had questioned and recorded statements of several people including Sarja, Hariharan, and other witnesses. As no concrete evidence was found against Sarja, the police had given clean chit to Sarja by submitting ‘B’ report to the Eighth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court in November last, more than three years after the FIR was registered.
Sruthi Hariharan, who had the provision to challenge the ‘B’ report, did not file any petition before the court. Hence, the court has accepted the ‘B’ report filed by the police.
