Bollywood Producer Arrested After 40 Days on Run

Veteran Bollywood producer-director Shakeel Noorani, 73, was arrested on August 10, 2026, after being on the run for 40 days. His apprehension occurred at a farmhouse in Maharashtra's Satara district, following an intensive search operation by the Mumbai Police. The arrest stems from a complaint filed by a 33-year-old aspiring actress.

The accuser alleges that Noorani repeatedly raped her over four years, beginning around 2022, after spiking her drink. She claims he used a recorded video of the assault to blackmail her and extort further sexual favors. The complaint also includes charges of poisoning and causing a miscarriage.

Noorani had been in hiding since the First Information Report (FIR) was registered approximately 40 days ago. Investigators tracked him to a farmhouse in Medha, Satara, through technical surveillance. He was taken into custody by the Malwani police and subsequently produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody until August 12, 2026.

Noorani, known for directing films like 'Joru Ka Ghulam' and 'Bade Dilwala', has had his bail application rejected. His lawyer maintains his client has been falsely implicated. The allegations, including rape and causing miscarriage under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, are yet to be proven in court.