Papon steps down as TV show judge amid sexual assault allegations

Singer Papon has quit the singing reality TV show as judge following the complaint of sexual assault that was filed against him for kissing a minor contestant of the TV programme.

Yesterday, a Supreme Court lawyer filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Right (NCPCR) alleging "sexual assault" after the singer uploaded a video on his Facebook page where he is seen kissing the minor contestant of the show, "Voice of India Kids".

Papon, who had earlier said that he was being "victimised" for no fault of his as he would "never commit an indecent act", today took to Twitter to make the announcement that he is stepping down as judge from the show. "Since I am in no mental state to fulfil most of my professional obligations, I have decided to step down as a judge on the show till the matter in which I have been falsely implicated is fully resolved and the investigations are over.

"I have full faith in the judicial system and eventually the truth will prevail. In the interim I would appreciate that my privacy is respected," Papon tweeted.

Supreme Court lawyer Runa Bhuyan has filed the complaint under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). The child's father, however, has defended the singer in the case, saying Papon is a "father figure" to his daughter.

Papon was one of the judges on the show along with fellow singers Shaan and Himmesh Reshammiya. PTI SHD SHD SHD -