Vasai-Virar: Crime Branch 3 Takes Over Investigation of Exploitative Casting Scam Targeting Aspiring Actress
Virar, 14th December 2023: In a distressing incident, an 18-year-old aspiring actress fell victim to an exploitative casting scam, where she was deceived into performing explicit scenes under the pretext of an audition for a BeV series. The case registered at Arnala Sagari Police Station, involves three individuals who misled the young actress, promising her a role in a film. The investigation has now been transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 3.
The victim, who recently arrived in Mumbai with dreams of pursuing an acting career, received a call on November 1 from a purported production company claiming to be working on a new BeV series. She was instructed to attend an audition on November 2 at Arnala Beach in Virar. Four individuals, including a director, cameraman, actor, and a female make-up artist, met her at the location.
Subsequently, they took her to a lodge under the guise of the audition. Shockingly, the aspiring actress was coerced into performing explicit scenes, falsely presented as part of the audition process. She was assured that these scenes would only be part of the audition and not be used anywhere else. Feeling helpless and misled, the victim complied with their demands.
However, after the incident, she received no further communication from the alleged production company. Concerned about her scenes being misused, the victim discovered that they were included in pornographic web series distributed on various explicit websites. Unable to contact the individuals responsible, she complained to Arnala Sagari police station, leading to the registration of a case under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Fraud.
Considering the gravity of the case and its potential involvement in a larger network targeting aspiring actresses, the investigation has been handed over to Crime Branch Unit 3. The police suspect the existence of a gang exploiting young women through deceptive casting scams, operating with fake production houses. Authorities anticipate that several other victims might have been similarly deceived.
