Karan Oberoi, Pooja Bedi Participate in #MenToo Protest

The actor was recently accused of rape and extortion.

Karan Oberoi was arrested on charges of rape and extortion in May.

(Photo: Yogen Shah)

Several people, including a few actors and activists, gathered at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on 15 June to hold a peaceful dharna organised by Vaastav Foundation, in support of the #MenToo Movement, which is aimed at creating awareness about the misuse of law by women by making false accusations of rape and sexual harassment against men.

Karan Oberoi, who was recently accused of rape, also participated in the protest. In May, a woman filed an FIR against Oberoi at Oshiwara Police Station in Mumbai under sections 376 (rape) and 384 (extortion). It is alleged that he duped the complainant under the pretext of marrying her, and that he raped her and filmed the act, threatening to release the video unless she paid him the money he demanded.

Karan has denied the charges and said that he was wrongly accused.

Speaking to the Times of India, the actor-singer said that he believes “justice shouldn’t be on the basis of one’s gender.”

“After being wrongly accused I realised that I’m not the only one. There are so many men out there who are wrongly accused for thing they haven’t done. I’m here today to support #MenToo because I believe justice shouldn’t be determined on the basis of one’s gender. Every man is vulnerable if the law is misused.”

Karan Oberoi

Karan’s friend Pooja Bedi, who came out in support of him, stating that the accusations against him were false, also attended the dharna.

Speaking to the media some days back, the actor had said, “Taking into consideration the history of our country and the patriarchal society that we live in, there are times when a rape victim goes to the police station and her complaint does not even get registered. That is wrong. So, we need laws against rape and such violence; but at the same time, if women are misusing the law that is meant to protect them, we need to think about how to protect the rights of the man as well!”

Pooja Bedi attends the #MenToo dharna in Mumbai. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

Karan was arrested on 6 May and transferred to judicial custody soon after. The actor was released on bail by the Bombay High Court on 7 May after spending 14 days in judicial custody.