MUMBAI: Television actor and singer Karan Oberoi, arrested on charges of raping and blackmailing a woman, has been sent to 14 days judicial custody by a Magistrate Court here.

He was nabbed on May 6 after the victim, an astrologer, registered a complaint with the police on Sunday accusing him of rape and blackmail on the pretext of marriage.

Karan was remanded to police custody till Wednesday and was produced before the court on Thursday afternoon.

His lawyer Dinesh Tiwari told IANS that he would apply for bail for Karan on Friday at a Sessions Court.

According to the First Information Report lodged by the victim, the accused raped her on the promise of marriage, filmed the act and tried to extort money from her under the threat of making the video public.

The 34-year old victim said she had met the accused through a dating app in 2016. A year later, Karan offered her spiked coconut water and then sexually assaulted her.

Karan has been a model, singer and actor since over 25 years now and has acted in several television serials including "Swabhimaan", "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin" and "Saaya". He was one of the vocalists of A Band of Boys.

His friends and colleagues have defended him.

Actress Pooja Bedi said the laws that exist to protect the voice of rape victims should be used in a responsible manner by women.

"We need to think about how to protect the right of a man as well," she told the media.

Sudhanshu Pandey, a former member of A Band of Boys, also stood up for the accused, saying he does not believe in the allegations against Karan as he was "the most chivalrous" among their five-member team.

(Source: IANS)