Bengaluru: After sexual assault charge, artiste on run

Bengaluru: A 24-year-old junior artiste from Kannada film industry has been accused of sexual assault, blackmail and threatening a woman, after he lured the victim under the pretext of teaching her dance and music.

The Jnanabharati police are on the lookout for a 24-year-old accused Karan Mahadev Manjunath.

In her police complaint, the victim alleged that Karan had sexually assaulted her repeatedly and also forced her to abort the child.

Investigation reveals that the accused had befriended her two years ago on Facebook and forced her to have physical relationship under the pretext of teaching her dance and singing.

The accused had claimed that he had high-level contacts in the Kannada film industry and would help her get a break in films.

When the victim conceived, the accused took her to a private hospital near his house and forced her to undergo abortion, stating that bearing the child would hamper her career. The victim later realised that he was using her and distanced herself, the statement read.

However, his harassment didn’t stop. In November, when the complainant got engaged, Karan approached the prospective groom's family and allegedly cast aspersions on her character, following which the engagement was called off.

The victim also told the police that the accused later threatened to upload private videos and forced her to resume their relationship.

According to police, the victim on Friday approached Jnana—bharthi police and based on her complaint they registered an FIR against Karan.

He has been charged with rape, criminal intimidation and also under Section 315 (Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth) and various section of IT Act.