A leading Indian TV actress Shruti Ulfa was arrested by forest department on Wednesday, months after she posted videos and a picture of herself with a cobra.
According to ‘mid-day’, Shruti Ulfat was shooting for the mythological TV show Nagarjuna – Ek Yoddha.
The show is set in the fantasy world of ‘Naag Lok’, a place which finds mention in the Puranas and Mahabharata. The producers of the show – Utkarsh Bali and Nitin Solanki – along with Pearl V Puri, the lead actor of Nagarjuna – Ek Yoddha, have also allegedly been taken into custody for posing with the cobra, reported mid-day.
Santosh Kank, a Forest Range Officer, confirmed the arrest and said that actors and producers are currently in custody because of the videos and pictures they shared on October 17 last year.
Shruti Ulfat featured as Yashodha Shastri in the fantasy TV series.
“We have arrested actress Shruti Ulfat along with three others for posing with a cobra and posting the images and videos online in October 2016. They were produced before the Borivli court and have been kept in custody of the Thane range.
A CD with the images and videos was sent to the forensic lab and it has been proved that a live snake was used for shooting purposes,” mid-day quoted Santosh Kank as saying.
The videos and pictures of the cobra attracted the attention of animal rights activist Sunish Subramanian Kanju, who allegedly filed a complaint with the Thane Forest Department.
“I was shocked to see pictures of a live cobra snake being handled by the actress. I personally feel that celebrities should avoid doing such things, as it sends out the wrong message to the public,” mid-day quoted Mr Kanju as saying. According to mid-day, Mr Kanju, who is an active member of Mumbai NGO PAWS, also allegedly complained to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Maharashtra.
Shruti Ulfat has starred in films like Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan and Aetbaar. Mumkin and Thoda Hai Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai
are some of her TV shows. She has a son with theatre personality Alok Ulfat.
