Rawail & family allegedly beat up Bandra ‘Evangelist’? Groups to investigate

Christian groups to conduct its own investigations.
Elohim Bible Group Complains of Police Dereliction of Duty.
Christian groups call upon police to consider Sections 295A and 354 in FIR.

Janet Balachandran Iyer, chairperson of the Elohim Bible Group, who was reportedly assaulted by noted producer Rahul Rawail and the filmmaker’s son Bharat, besides his wife complained to the Christian groups to come to her group’s rescue, as the police were not paying due attention to the case. The community groups – The Catholic Secular Forum (CSF), Maharashtra Christian Youth Forum (MCYF) and the Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC) representatives met the Abhay Shastri, the senior police inspector and urged him to take special note of the incident, as the police seemed to be behaving in a partial manner.

Joseph Dias, the CSF general secretary, said that ” since the group said it was gathering for worship and Bible study, the Rawail family could be booked under section 295A for hurting religious sentiments which the police did not do”. Further, Agnelo Fernandes, MCYF president said that despite there being such a scuffle, where Janet had head injuries, the police did not apply section 354, which deals with outraging the modesty of a woman. Joe Sodder of AOCC said that the groups ” were assisting the Elohim Bible Group on humanitarian grounds and since a woman was reportedly attacked”.

The senior inspector and investigating officer, Abhay Pawar assured the groups that they would look into the complaint seriously and offered protection to Janet Balachandran Iyer and her group. It may be recalled that an ugly spat broke out between one Janet Balachandran Iyer and producer-director Rahul Rawail (Betaab and Arjun fame) and his family. An FIR was filed but not properly and hence, the Christian groups said, if need be they would meet the police commissioner.

Rahul Rawail’s son and wife assaulted Ms Iyer so much that she started bleeding profusely and was given stitches at the hospital. Iyer told us, “They hit me repeatedly against the door frame and wall due to which I started bleeding. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pratap Dighavkar, DCP, Zone IX, is aware of the incident and said he was conducting an enquiry.

Police Complaint Against Rahul Rawail & Family
(Times of India – Mumbai Mirror Earlier Report)

The filmmaker’s son Bharat has been accused of beating up one Janet Iyer. Dad defends son, saying the woman is a nuisance

While the city was immersed in Ganesh fervour on Saturday, a different kind of drama was unfolding at Vaz Bungalow in Bandra (W). An ugly spat broke out between one Janet Balachandran Iyer and producer-director Rahul Rawail (Betaab and Arjun fame) and his family. So much so it ended with an FIR (First Information Report) being filed against Rahul, his wife and his son Bharat at the Bandra Police Station.

While Rawail and his family reside on the ground floor of the building, 43-year-old Iyer is the chairperson of the Elohim Bible Group, housed on the second and third floor. For the past four years, the group has been having prayer meetings in the premises.

Napoleon Pacheco (21), a member of the group, told us,”At around 8.30pm, we were through with our meeting and members were leaving the premises. Suddenly, Mr Rawail’s son and wife assaulted Ms Iyer. They hit her so much that she started bleeding profusely.”

Iyer told us, “They hit me repeatedly against the door frame and wall due to which I started bleeding. Mr Rawail and his family has a problem with the number of people who come to the office. His family has repeatedly abused us, saying we belong to a cult and raised questions about the type of people visiting us.

On our part, we’ve been trying to make things comfortable for everyone. For instance, we’ve got us her to help members leave the premises quietly. But Mr Rawail, it seems, is not agreeable. He has a problem even when these people are seen in the compound during entry and exit.”

When contacted, Pratap Dighavkar, DCP, Zone IX, confirmed he is aware of the incident but since it was Anant Chaturdashi day, he was busy with the bandobast for Visarjan proceedings. “I have asked my officers to take up the issue. We will conduct an enquiry,” Dighavkar said.

Meanwhile Rahul had a completely different version. He said, “My son definitely did not beat up this Janet Iyer. She is a mad woman. She is a nuisance. She belongs to a cult. Almost everyday, she brings three to four hundred people to my building at 4.30am. What is this if not harassment?”

He explained there is someone by the name Vishal Shah who stays in the building who helps her get in at such a time every day. “I have complained against her at least thrice to the cops. But she hasn’t changed her ways. On Saturday, she crossed the limit. She actually started banging her head against the wall. My son did not beat her up. Yes I am aware that she has pictures where she appears to be beaten up but if my son was beating her up, and with her gang around her, wouldn’t someone from that group have rescued her. For your information, she not only banged her head against her wall but also got her pictures clicked after that. I would like someone to come and see what is happening in this building where I stay with my son. It’s sheer harassment,” Rahul said.