Tollywood actor Vikram Chatterjee (29) was arrested late on Thursday night in connection with the death of model and TV anchor Sonika Chauhan in the car accident which took place in Kolkata in April.
Police sources said, the actor was arrested by officers of Tollygunge police station near Acropolis Mall in Kasba - located off Eastern Metropolitan Bypass.
“He was missing for some time and on Wednesday we got the information that he was travelling in a radio taxi. We immediately alerted our officers and managed to arrest him. On Friday he will be produced in Alipore Court,” said a senior police officer told.
Chatterjee was earlier charged with ‘culpable homicide not amounting to murder’ which is a non-bailable section (304) of the IPC.
Death of actress and TV host Sonika Chauhan (28) in a car accident had intensified the fight between the Trinamool Congress and BJP in Bengal.
On April 29, Sonika was killed in a car accident. She was accompanied by Vikram Chatterjee, who was driving the car allegedly under the influence of alcohol and also sustained injuries in the accident. Vikram, however, denied that he was drunk.
Then actor-turned-BJP state general secretary Locket Chatterjee said, “Me and Sonika were good friends. It is unfortunate that she is no more. I know Vikram too but it is unfortunate that he is denying that he was drunk. He should come out with the truth and accept his mistake.”
Locket also alleged that some TMC leaders including Arup Biswas - PWD minister who won from Tollygunge seat - are trying to shield Vikram. “Everybody knows that Arup and his brother controls the Tollywood film industry. They are trying to shield the actor and we want Justice for Sonika. It is because of pressure from TMC leaders that the police have slowed down in the case. This is why Vikram was charged with minor cases so that he can get bail,” she said.
On Aril 29, both Sonika and Vikram were returning from a party when the accident took place.
On May 5, Vikram was released on bail after he surrendered before a city court. On the same day he held a press conference and claimed that he was not drunk - which invited severe criticism from her friends on social media claiming that he was lying.
Vikram has acted in several Bengali movies like Ami Aar Amar Girlfriends (Me and My Girlfriends), while Sonika hosted Pro Kabaddi league and Big Boss Bangla.
Source: News18