Women's panel files suo motu case against Sarja

The State Women's Commission has lodged a suo motu case against actor Arjun Sarja for allegedly sexually assaulting Sandalwood actress Sruthi Hariharan.

Based on media reports, Nagalakhsmi Bai, president of the commission, filed the case on Saturday and asked City Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report.

"We have asked actress Sruthi Hariharan to appear before the commission to get more information regarding the issue. After this, we will summon actor Arjun Sarja for further investigation and take action," Bai said.

500 threaten calls

Advocate Jayna Kothari, representing Sruthi, on Monday submitted an objection to the case filed against the actress by Sarja's nephew Dhruva Sarja in the Mayo Hall court.

"Actor Arjun Sarja has misused his status in society and sexually assaulted my client, Sruthi. She has taken this to a social platform under the ongoing #MeToo movement. Following this, she got nearly 500 threaten calls in a day. She was so scared that she changed her mobile number," it read.

The objection further said: "Besides Sruthi, there is a threat to her family members also. She has shifted her mother and grandmother to another place. Sruthi has also filed a police complaint regarding the sexual abuse, and the state women's commission has lodged a suo motu case. In the meantime, Sarja's supporters are posting objectionable remarks about Sruthi on social media."

"The case has been filed against Sruthi based on baseless allegations. So, I request you to dismiss this case," it further read. The court has adjourned the hearing to Tuesday.