Actor among 11 arrested for assaulting, robbing Kannada director

The Bengaluru police have arrested 11 people, including an actress in connection with the alleged kidnapping, assaulting and robbing a Kannada filmmaker T. A. Anish. He was allegedly abducted and brutally assaulted in Bengaluru in a shocking incident linked to a financial dispute. According to Police, Anish was lured from Mumbai to Bengaluru on the pretext of selling his car. Once he arrived, he was taken to a residence where he was wrongfully confined and attacked with hockey sticks and cricket stumps by multiple assailants. The victim, TA Anish, filed a complaint at the Adugodi police station on February 11, authorities said. Anish had reportedly moved from Bengaluru to Mumbai about two months ago.
The incident stems from a financial dispute between Anish and an investor in his unreleased new film. And among those arrested is a female actor, identified as Aishwarya, aka Ash Melo, who is also a social media influencer, police added. In his complaint, Anish stated that he had directed a new film titled 'Jeevanada Bhashe', which is yet to be released. However, the situation grew tense after an investor in the film, along with an associate, developed a financial dispute with the director.
Police said the filmmaker was severely beaten, sustaining injuries to his hands and legs before being transported to an isolated location near Mandaragiri Hill, where the assault continued. The attackers allegedly robbed him of gold ornaments and Rs30,000 in cash and forced him to withdraw money using his ATM card. Authorities also stated that the group attempted to pressure Anish into withdrawing earlier police complaints related to financial disputes. The incident came to light after the hospital treating Anish registered the case as a medico-legal matter, prompting a police investigation.
All the accused have been remanded to custody and recovered mobile phones, gold ornaments, cash and car that was used in the abduction. Police are also examining digital evidence and financial records to trace communication between the accused and determine whether additional individuals were involved.

(State Correspondent)