Model-actor Antara Soham Banerjee, 31, was arrested after an alleged altercation with Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel on the Aravali Express on August 12. As per the police case, Banerjee was going to Surat for a shoot, and she had a sleeper-class ticket. The incident is said to have taken place between Borivali and Dahanu, sometime around 9.30 pm to 10.50 pm. Things reportedly started when a passenger raised a concern about her being seated in a reserved AC coach, then railway staff, along with RPF personnel reached her and reportedly asked her to shift to her allotted coach, and that’s when the dispute kicked off.
Aravali Express Incident: Model-Actor Allegedly Enters Reserved AC Coach Without Valid Ticket
According to the FIR, the situation reportedly got tense after Banerjee allegedly refused to vacate the seat and then started arguing with the railway staff. Police have alleged that she abused the personnel and became aggressive during the confrontation. The FIR also notes that she allegedly removed her clothes and brought a razor blade out. RPF assistant sub-inspector Yaminikant Mishra reportedly sustained injuries in the incident, while Banerjee was injured too. Mishra also claimed that his uniform and his mobile phone were damaged during the scuffle. Later, RPF personnel closed the coach doors to keep things from escalating further.
RPF Personnel Injured During Alleged Altercation; Banerjee Later Granted Bail
The situation went on until Banerjee was deboarded at Dahanu railway station and handed over to the Government Railway Police. She was taken into custody by the Borivali railway police the next morning, and an FIR was filed on August 13. In the meantime, the case was packed with allegations around endangering safety, assault, and causing harm to public servants and a few other counts too. Later, Banerjee was served a notice, then released on bail.Â
Antara Soham Banerjee Case Under Investigation as Police Examine Witness Accounts
The case has drawn a fair bit of attention, mainly because of Banerjee’s work as a model and an actor too. Police officials have reportedly said that a few eyewitnesses thought she seemed agitated after she couldn’t get an AC ticket. Still, the exact chain of events that led to the clash is not fully clear yet and is being looked into. The allegations mentioned in the police case, to be clear, haven’t been proven in court, and Banerjee has not said anything publicly about what happened. Police are continuing to check witness accounts, plus other evidence that might help. For the time being, these claims stay in the category of an ongoing investigation, and they should not be treated as confirmed facts.
