Haryanvi actor Uttar Kumar was arrested by Ghaziabad police for the alleged rape of a singer on Monday. The actor fell ill soon after the arrest and was admitted to a private hospital.
About nine days before the actor was taken into custody, the victim, an actress who hails from Hapur and currently resides in Noida's Sector 53, attempted to immolate herself outside the Chief Minister's residence in Lucknow.
Who is Uttar Kumar?
Uttar Kumar, 51, is an actor and producer. He made his debut appearance in the 2004 film Dhakad Chhora. He has starred in more than 40 films in his two-decade-long career.
He had also directed movies like Kunwar Sahab, Khataara, Chandro ka Devar, Chacha Bhatija, Rampal Havaldar, and others.
He is married to Rajmala Chaudhary, and he has two kids.
The victim's complaint
The singer who filed the complaint alleged that she was sexually assaulted from January 1, 2020, to July 31, 2023. The FIR was registered on charges of rape, criminal intimidation, and provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
According to police who spoke to PTI, the actor allegedly invited the singer to his Ghaziabad office in Amroha district and pressured her to drink alcohol and meet film producers. The victim had said that after a party celebrating the success of a film in 2023, Uttar Kumar raped and blackmailed her.
The singer said that she had submitted a written complaint against Uttar Kumar at Ghaziabad's Shalimar Garden police station on June 24, but no FIR was registered. The victim then approached the High Court, after which an FIR was registered, 25 days after the initial complaint.
She alleged that no action was taken even after the FIR was registered, and out of frustration, she travelled to Lucknow on September 6 and tried to self-immolate outside the CM’s office to protest. Police personnel had intervened and prevented the incident.
Kumar was arrested at his farmhouse at around 4:30 am in a raid while he was asleep.
Police sources who spoke to local media said that Kumar’s health deteriorated soon after being taken into custody, reportedly due to fear of imprisonment. DCP (Trans-Hindan) Nimish Patil told PTI that the actor will be taken back to custody after doctors issue a fitness report. "Police are verifying the allegations, and once the actor is declared medically fit, he will be arrested,” he said.
However, the latest post on the actor's Instagram page reads, “While being taken into custody by the police, poison was found in the body of famous Haryanvi film actor Uttar Kumar, and the police did not inform his family about this and did not even tell them which hospital he was in.”