After 'Sadak 2' actress Chrisann Pereira's arrest in drug mule; two held in charges of planting the same

The past couple of days have been rather tumultuous for actor Chrisann Pereira. The actor, who is best known for her role in Sadak 2 was arrested three weeks ago in Sharjah. Posting on Instagram, Chrisann’s brother Kevin gave a detailed account of how Anthony and his gang operated. ‘These 2 along with their fraudulent gang framed my sister & many more innocent people by giving them objects filled with drugs and framing them by calling the airport as unidentified people. Once the victim is caught Anthony Paul enters pretending to be the family friend trying to help you & asks for 80Lakh INR to “bribe” the judges and get your innocent family member out. He and his team plan to get your innocent family member there in the first place. (sic)’, he wrote. Calling the gang ‘a disgrace to religion, humanity and society’, Kevin urged people to share the news of his sister’s innocence.

Now, Mumbai Police's Crime Branch has arrested two people on Monday on charges of planting drugs on her, which led to her arrest. It all began with a tiff that Pereira's mother Premila had with the sister of one of those arrested, Anthony Paul. Paul's sister had reportedly objected to the incessant barking of Premila’s dogs, which had led to their quarrel. The two were neighbours in a housing society in Borivali. According to police, Anthony, who operates a bakery in Malad and Borivali, was infuriated by Premila’s behaviour and decided to teach the family a lesson.

Paul roped in an accomplice, Rajesh Bobhate, also known as Ravi, who got in touch with the Pereira family and introduced himself as a talent manager. He then offered Pereira a role in a fictitious international web series and told her that she would have to travel to Dubai for the audition. When Pereira agreed, Ravi had her tickets booked to Sharjah and told her she would have to proceed to Dubai, where she had a hotel reservation. On April 1, before Pereira was to fly, Ravi met her and handed her the trophy, which had the drugs hidden inside. He told her that the trophy would be required for the audition.

When Pereira landed in Sharjah and contacted the hotel, she was informed that there was no booking in her name. Suspicious that she had been scammed, she consulted her brother Kevin back in India, who advised her to get in touch with the local authorities. However, when her belongings were searched and drugs were found inside the trophy, she was arrested.

With no way to contact their daughter, the Pereira family got in touch with Mumbai Police and an FIR was lodged at Vakola police station. An investigation led the police to Anthony and Ravi, and their elaborate plan was uncovered.

Mumbai Police is using diplomatic and legal channels to secure the release of Chrisann and Clayton in Sharjah. Anthony and Ravi have been booked under multiple charges, which include forgery, cheating and various drug trafficking sections of the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act.