Actor Aman Verma, who was caught in a sting operation on casting couch in Bollywood by India TV, has filed a criminal complaint against the channel alleging that it wanted to "blackmail and extort money" from him.
"We have filed a criminal complaint against India TV CEO Rajat Sharma, programme manager Suhaib Ilyasi and journalist Ruchi, at Andheri court yesterday," Verma’s lawyer Dipesh Mehta said here on Tuesday.
"The intention of the channel is to blackmail and extort money from Verma," Mehta alleged.
In the complaint Verma said Ruchi had called him several times in December 2004 and told him she was an aspiring actress from New Delhi and intended to come to Mumbai to seek his assistance.
He said on December 17, 2004, Ruchi had come to meet him at his residence and enquired about the working of the film industry.
"After the conversation with her lasting around 15-20 minutes, when I opened the door, Ilyasi and another man with a camera were standing outside," Verma said adding, Ilyasi said they had recorded the conversation and would telecast it on India TV, if he (Verma) failed to agree to their demands.
Verma said for the last three months he had been receiving calls for various favours from the journalist, who was also issuing threats and making demands for extortion.
The complainant urged the court to issue summons to the accused trio who are charged with various offences under the IPC.
The next date of hearing in the case is April 26, Verma’s counsel said.
Verma alleged the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy with a common objective to blackmail and extort money from him with the help of the video recording which was "doctored". He alleged that in order to extort money from him the accused had also committed cheating by impersonation and mischief by conducting an alleged sting operation and causing irreparable loss to his image and reputation in society.
False video’
"The accused have committed an offence of criminal intimidation by threatening him with telecast of false video in connivance and collusion with each other," Verma alleged.
The complaint submitted by Verma charged the accused with various sections of IPC such as 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 384 (extortion), 419 (cheating by impersonation), 426 (mischief) and 500 (defamation).
He also said his career had been damaged and prestige lowered in the eyes of the public. The actor said the fundamental right to privacy and right to earn a livelihood were being violated.
