Karan Oberoi Rape Case: Pooja Bedi along with 7 others ACCUSED; Court denies quashing charges

A sessions court in Mumbai has refused to stop the legal proceedings against Pooja Bedi and seven others accused of disclosing the identity of a woman who lodged a rape complaint against actor Karan Oberoi in 2019. The alleged revelation reportedly took place during a press conference shortly after Oberoi’s arrest.

In its decision, the court indicated that there is prima facie evidence pointing to the accused's involvement in the crime, thus finding no reason to dismiss the charges at this initial stage. The case involves a breach of Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code, which forbids the disclosure of a rape survivor’s identity.

The Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Andheri has initiated legal action against Pooja Bedi, actress Anveshi Jain, Chaitanya Bhosle, Varkay Patani, Gurbani Oberoi, Sherrin Verghase, actor Sudhanshu Pandey, and advocate Dinesh Tiwari.

The woman who filed the rape case against Karan Oberoi claimed that shortly after reporting the incident, the group held a press conference at Pooja Bedi's house, during which her identity was exposed. Subsequently, she approached the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Andheri and filed a formal complaint against them in June 2019.

Initially, the Metropolitan Magistrate Court instructed the police to investigate the allegations made by the complainant and submit a report. The police investigation revealed that a press conference was held at Pooja Bedi's residence on May 5, 2019, where members of the group allegedly disclosed the complainant's identity, including her name and other sensitive personal details—an act that potentially violated legal protections granted to sexual assault survivors.

The police further noted that the video of the press conference was widely shared on various platforms and remains accessible online. Based on these findings, the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, on February 26, 2021, decided to initiate proceedings against the group for allegedly disclosing the identity of a sexual offense survivor—an offense punishable under Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code.

In April 2022, the accused group sought to challenge the Magistrate Court’s order in the sessions court, arguing that there was no shared intention (common intention) or mens rea (guilty mind) involved in the alleged act. They claimed that not all individuals named in the complaint had directly disclosed the complainant's identity, and some maintained they neither mentioned her name nor shared any personally identifying information during the press conference.

In response, the complainant strongly refuted the group's claims, stating that the disclosure of her identity during the press conference subjected her to social stigma and harassment. She argued that the act was carried out with a common intention and resulted in widespread circulation of her identity through YouTube, social media platforms, and numerous online articles, ultimately leading to defamation. She further alleged that, as a result, individuals were able to locate her residence and contact her directly, causing her significant distress and invasion of privacy.

Even if one or more individuals took the name of the victim involved in the rape case, all will be held liable as per the complainant’s allegations of common intention among the applicants to commit the offense. The applicants’ argument that there was no mens rea to disclose the identity of the victim and the allegations are general are defenses that can be addressed during the trial

- The session court

Karan Oberoi, a familiar face from the Indian entertainment industry, has been largely absent from the public eye for a few years now. Best known for his time in the popular Indipop group A Band of Boys and his role in the TV show Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, Oberoi's career took a dramatic turn in 2019. During the peak of the #MeToo movement, he was accused of rape and extortion, leading to his imprisonment.

The allegations and subsequent legal proceedings cast a shadow over his career, leading to his withdrawal from public life. While Oberoi has not publicly addressed the allegations, his absence from the entertainment scene speaks volumes about the impact of the accusations and the legal battles that followed.