Sharjah
An Indian actress arrested in the UAE on drug possession charges has been released. According to media reports the woman, who was lodged in a Sharjah jail, has been granted bail.
Her lawyer said the actress was granted bail and will stay with her relatives in the UAE. “The case is with the public prosecutor, and since the investigation is underway, she is not permitted to travel now.” A top Sharjah Police official confirmed to media that the actress had been arrested and referred to the public prosecution.
The case is currently under trial, and her lawyer is waiting for the criminal laboratory report to proceed further. “The lab report will provide information about the quantity of the drug, the kind of drug, and its purity. The public prosecution now has two option: to clear the case and close the file or transfer it to the Sharjah Court,” said her lawyer adding that the actress is innocent and people back in India have tricked her.
Explaining the circumstances of the case, lawyer said, “She exited the airport and found there was no one to receive her. The people who sent her here (UAE) did not receive her calls or reply to her texts. She informed her parent back in Mumbai and informed the customs at the airport about the situation.”
The 27-year-old actress was allegedly framed by two men who “deceived” her with false promises of an audition and a role in a Hollywood web series. Reportedly, she travelled to the UAE under the impression of bagging an acting gig.
The two men tricked the actress into carrying a trophy with her to Sharjah, which had drugs concealed inside the metal piece. On April 1, when the woman landed at Sharjah Airport from Mumbai, she was apprehended by the authorities for possession of drug.
A small quantity of drugs was found concealed within the memento that one of the men had allegedly given to the actress to hand over to someone in the UAE.
According to Indian media, the two men behind the incident demanded Rs80 lakh (Dh359,545) from the actress’ mother to rescue her. The mother approached the Mumbai Police, who arrested them for cheating.
