Realtor arrested for sexually harassing Kannada film actor

The Govindaraja Nagar police on Saturday arrested businessman and AVR Group founder Aravind Venkatesh Reddy early on Monday at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) following a lookout notice to prevent him from leaving or entering the country in connection with a sexual harassment case against him.

The accused, a real-estate entrepreneur, film producer, and former Bellary Tuskers cricket team owner, was arrested by the police soon after he landed from Sri Lanka, where he had travelled for a cricket-related event.

The victim, who is around 36 years and has acted in around nine movies in Kannada cinema, alleged that she met Aravind in 2021, when he contacted her and invited her as a special guest for a cricket tournament inauguration in Sri Lanka.

Their interactions soon turned cordial, with the businessman allegedly displaying “care, affection and persistent attention.”

Aravind, whose AVR Group sponsored several celebrity cricket tournaments in Dubai, Sri Lanka, and India, frequently interacted with actors and models, and the actress stated that he gradually “entered her personal space” under the pretext of friendship.

The victim stated in her complaint that when the actress began distancing herself and expressed clearly in 2023 that she did not want to continue the relationship, Aravind allegedly began to stalk and even threatened her with dire consequences .

Unable to withstand the mental and physical harassment, the actress reportedly attempted suicide at her residence in J.P. Nagar. She was rushed to a hospital by her friend.

The actor also accused him of morphing her photographs and circulating them online. A separate complaint was filed at the south division cybercrime police station. The accused even tried to defame her by posting an anonymous letter to her family and friends when she refused to his demand for the relationship, she alleged.