Defamation allegations: Sooraj Pancholi, parents of Disha Salian file police complaints against actor Puneet Vashisht

On July 2, Vashisht edited the post and added “forwarded” before it, indicating that it was sent by someone else, said police. The post can still be seen on his account and has been shared multiple times.

In his complaint, Pancholi has said in the first week of July, his friends informed him about the post. “Mischievous stories are planted in social media by Mr Puneet Vashisht and larger organised crime syndicate,” it read.

“The police should ask them to procure evidence for their theory and if they do not have any, action should be taken,” it added.

Senior Inspector Rajendra Thakur of Versova police station said: “We have received the complaint and are conducting an inquiry.” The second complaint, filed by Salian’s parents at Malwani police station last week, accused Vashisht of tarnishing their daughter’s reputation. “The family has said Vashisht put up defamatory posts against her on his Facebook,” said an officer.

The officer added that so far, it has been found that Vashisht’s post was shared widely not only on Facebook but across other social media platforms, giving rise to conspiracy theories.

No FIR has been registered by the police yet into both complaints.