Raj Kundra, Salman Khan, Shiney Ahuja - Bollywood celebrities who have been behind bars

Bollywood celebrities are massive entertainers, heartthrobs and idols, cultural icons that people look up to. But there have been times when these popular names have been mired in controversies and have been in the limelight for the wrong reasons. From Raj Kundra’s arrest in the pornography case to Shiney Ahuja’s controversial rape allegations - here’s taking a look at Bollywood celebrities who have been behind bars.

Raj Kundra has been in police custody since July 19, when he was arrested in a case connected to alleged production and distribution of pornographic material. The 45-year-old businessman, who is married to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, is being probed for his role in an app named HotShots where reportedly adult content was streamed. It is being alleged that he controlled the operations for the app from his Viaan Industries office in Mumbai. Several of Raj’s offices were raided by the Mumbai Crime Branch and they have also searched the couple’s plush Juhu bungalow.

After the untimely demise of Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14, 2020, his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty came under the scanner of several investigating agencies. The Narcotics Control Bureau arrested the actress on September 8 under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. After 28 days, the actress was let out on bail, the court had also directed her to submit a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh.

Salman Khan and several other Bollywood actors were accused of poaching blackbucks in Rajasthan, while they were shooting for their movie 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' in 1998. Following a complaint from Bishnoi villages, the actor was arrested and later granted bail. From October 1998 till August 2007, Salman Khan has reportedly spent 18 days in jail in connection to this blackbuck killing case.

Sanjay Dutt served a five-year imprisonment term for illegal possession and destruction of a prohibited weapon, an AK-56 rifle, just before the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He was convicted under the Arms Act by the Supreme Court. After his conviction, in 2013, the actor surrendered and was sent to Yerwada Jail in Pune. During his term, Sanjay Dutt was let out a few times on furlough leaves and parole. Sanjay Dutt walked out of jail in February 2016.

In June 2009, Shiney Ahuja was arrested by the Oshiwara police following a complaint by his maid that the actor had raped her while they were alone in his flat. The actor's first bail plea was rejected and he spent around three and a half months in jail. The actor was let out on a bail of Rs 50,000 in October. The maid had alter backtracked her allegation but the court declared her hostile and Shiney was charged for rape. In 2011, Shiney Ahuja was granted bail by the Bombay High Court and the actor went on to work in a couple of movies post his release.