Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 16: A film producer has been accused of kidnapping his wife, a Kannada television actress, allegedly unable to bear separation from their young daughter. A complaint in this regard has been registered at the Byatarayanapura police station, sending shockwaves through Kannada television and film circles.

The accused has been identified as Harshavardhan, a film producer, while the woman allegedly abducted is his wife, Kannada television actress Chaitra. Harshavardhan is the producer of the film ‘Ninnaleno Helabeku’.

According to the complaint, Harshavardhan and Chaitra fell in love and got married in 2023. The couple has a one-year-old daughter. After the birth of the child, differences reportedly cropped up between the couple, following which they began living separately. It is alleged that Harshavardhan, unable to live without his daughter, resorted to abducting his wife.

The complaint further alleged that after kidnapping Chaitra, Harshavardhan threatened his mother-in-law, demanding that the child be handed over to him. He is accused of warning that if he wanted his daughter back, the family should return his child to him.

As per the complaint, Harshavardhan allegedly used his friend Kaushik to contact Chaitra and asked her to come to Mysuru, claiming it was for a serial shoot. An advance of Rs 20,000 was reportedly paid to her. When Chaitra arrived in Mysuru, she was allegedly abducted from a roadside and demands were made to send the child to him.

On learning about the alleged abduction, Chaitra's sister lodged a complaint at the Byatarayanapura police station. She alleged that Harshavardhan had planned the kidnapping and made threatening phone calls to the family after abducting Chaitra near a road in Mysuru.

Based on the complaint, police registered an FIR and contacted Harshavardhan, following which Chaitra was released. Police later summoned all those involved to the police station and initiated an inquiry.

During questioning, the couple reportedly told the police that the incident stemmed from a family dispute and stated that they were trying to resolve the matter amicably. Police subsequently released the accused, instructing him to appear again for further inquiry if required.

Harshavardhan runs the production banner Vardhan Cinemas and had produced the film ‘Ninnaleno Helabeku’, in which both Harshavardhan and Chaitra acted together.