Bollywood / T-Series chairman Bhushan Kumar accused of raping 30-year-old woman, FIR filed

Mumbai: A case of rape has been registered against Bollywood producer Bhushan Kumar after he was accused of allegedly raping a 30-year-old woman. According to reports, the victim was abused on the pretext of getting work in the producer's company.

Although no arrest has been made, a probe is currently in progress.

"Case registered u/s 376 IPC against Bhushan Kumar, managing director, T-Series, at DN Nagar Police station on allegations of rape with a 30-year-old woman on the pretext of engaging her for a project at the company. Probe underway, no arrests made till now," a Police source confirmed in a report on ANI.

Back in 2018, in the middle of the #MeToo movement in the Bollywood film industry, Kumar was accused of sexual harassment by an anonymous Twitter user. In the tweet, the woman, an actress claimed that she was dropped from the film because she "refused to sleep with the 'boss'.”

The woman also alleged that the producer offered her a 3-movie deal, as he saw “a lot of potential.” She was eventually directed to meet him at a bungalow in Versova and that he was “looking for a relationship that involves work and pleasure.”

The tweets went on to state that he made her the offer on the pretext of making her “a superstar.”

Kumar, later released a statement, denying the sexual harassment allegations against him. In his note, he claimed that the #MeToo allegations were being used as a tool to malign his reputation.

“I am appalled and anguished to know that my name has been dragged in this #MeToo by some anonymous person(s). The allegations against me are bad on the face of it. I have enjoyed an impeccable reputation and have always maintained professionalism. The tweet has been used as a tool to defame me and malign my reputation,” Kumar said in a statement to PTI.