Marathi TV actress alleges highway assault, extortion bid; 2 held in Pune

Marathi TV actress Kalyani Nandkishor alleged on Tuesday that she and her cousin were assaulted, abused and threatened with extortion near Navale Bridge on the Pune-Bengaluru Highway. The actress, who starred in the popular Marathi serial Lagira Zala Ji, shared videos of the incident on social media and questioned women's safety on the highway.

Nandkishor lodged a complaint with Narhe police on the night of the alleged assault. Police detained two men and conducted an identification parade on Tuesday, during which the actress identified the suspects. They have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for assault, harassment and attempted extortion. The men were sent to three days' police custody.

Nandkishor told The Indian Express that she was returning to Satara from Mumbai with her cousin on Friday night when they stopped near Navale Bridge to meet a colleague. Another vehicle suddenly pulled up beside them, and the occupants allegedly started abusing the actress and her cousin, questioning why they had stopped on the roadside. The confrontation escalated when the men rammed their vehicle, repeatedly abused them, and twisted the actress's arm.

Two traffic police arrived at the scene and tried to defuse the situation, but the accused allegedly tried to flee. Five occupants were in the vehicle, but only two of them behaved aggressively towards the actress and her cousin. The actress raised concerns over women's safety on the Pune-Bengaluru Highway and asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis if women can return home safely at night and if the police can rein in such elements roaming the highway at night.