FIR filed against industrialist Shyam Bhartia for rape and filming charges by Bollywood actress

As Shyam Bhartia is the husband of media baron Shobhana Bhartia many mainstream media are blacking out this development

February 24, 2025

Actress accuses Jubilant FoodWorks CEO of rape, filming act

An FIR has been lodged by Thane Police against businessman Shyam Sundar Bhartia and his associate Pooja Singh for rape charges and filming the rape and money fraud allegations. The actress approached the Bombay High Court against the police for not registering her complaint and the police agreed to file FIR before the High Court.

Industrialist Shyam Bhartia (73) is the owner of Jubilant Group engaged in food products, medical, aerospace, auto, and oil field, and husband of media baron Shobhana Bhartia, chairperson of ‘Hindustan Times’ Group newspapers.

The actress approached the High Court through her advocates, Mohammed Ahmed and Sofiya Shaikh, seeking judicial intervention. She alleged that despite filing a complaint on November 11, 2024, no action had been taken by the police. During a recent hearing, Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Dr. Neela Gokhale questioned the police about this delay.

During arguments, the advocates of the petitioner actress demanded an explanation from the Thane Police Commissioner via video conferencing. Subsequently, ACP Rajkumar Dongre instructed the Additional Public Prosecutor to confirm that an FIR would be registered after recording the actress’ statement.

The court clarified that the investigation must proceed based on its merits. The FIR includes charges related to rape, intentional insult, criminal intimidation, and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

According to the complaint filed by the actress, she met Jubilant FoodWorks Chairman Shyam Sundar Bhartia through his associate Pooja Singh at a Mumbai hotel. Bhartia expressed interest in investing in her project and later invited her to Singapore for further discussions. Upon arriving in Singapore on May 18, 2023, she alleged that Bhartia and Pooja Singh intoxicated her against her will.

The actress alleged that Shyam Bhartia brutally raped her while his associate Pooja Singh recorded it. The abuse reportedly continued over three days. She also alleged that Bhartia and Singh used the video to threaten her into meeting them multiple times in hotels in Mumbai and Delhi.

The actress alleged that she and Pooja Singh floated a company, where Shyam Bhartia promised to invest Rs.50 crore. However, by March 18, 2024, only Rs.9.44 crore had been invested and Pooja Singh fraudulently transferred this amount to her account without informing the actress. The actress accused Pooja Singh of misusing her digital signatures to remove her from the Directorship of the company. The Bombay High Court disposed of the petition but made it clear that “the police must investigate the case based on its merits.”

As Shyam Bhartia is the husband of media baron Shobhana Bhartia many mainstream media are blacking out this development. Though India Today published the report on Monday afternoon in detail, within minutes cancelled this news.[1]

Reference:

[1] Actor accuses Jubilant FoodWorks boss Shyam Bhartia of raping her filming act case lodged – Feb 24, 2025, India Today

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