Bengaluru: The Rajajinagar Police have arrested actor, director, and producer B I Hemant Kumar following serious allegations of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, and financial fraud made by a television actor.

According to media reports, Hemant Kumar approached the actor in 2022 with an offer to cast her in the lead role of his film, initially titled 3 and later referred to as Richie. A formal agreement was signed, promising her a remuneration of ₹2 lakh, of which ₹60,000 was paid in advance. However, the actress alleges that the film’s production was repeatedly delayed and that Hemant began coercing her to wear revealing outfits and perform sexually explicit scenes.

She further claims that Hemant misbehaved with her during filming and issued threats when she refused to comply. Despite mediation efforts by the Film Chamber, the harassment allegedly continued even after she completed her portions of the shoot.

Blackmailing during promotional trip

The complaint details a disturbing incident during a promotional event in Mumbai in 2023, where Hemant allegedly spiked her drink and filmed her in an intoxicated state. These recordings were reportedly used to blackmail her. When she resisted, Hemant is said to have sent men to follow her and issued threats to both her and her mother.

The actor also accused Hemant of uploading uncensored and edited clips from the film on social media without approval from the Censor Board, as well as publicly sharing her personal details and defaming her. A civil court in Bengaluru subsequently issued an interim injunction restraining Hemant from posting any further content. However, he allegedly violated the order and continued to publish defamatory material.

The police confirmed that Hemant Kumar has been taken into custody and remanded to judicial detention. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered, and investigations are currently underway.

The actress has reportedly distanced herself from the film’s promotional activities and has refused to respond to Hemant’s attempts to contact her. The case has drawn attention within the film industry, with prior disputes between the two parties having already reached the Film Chamber.