BHUVANESWARI: Second time facing prostitution charge
SULTRY South Indian actress Bhuvaneswari, 33, who has been accused of prostitution, is believed to have named certain Malaysian and Singaporean businessmen as her main clients.
Malay Mail understands that some of these businessmen are involved with the film industry as financiers of Tamil and Telugu movies and television serials.
An editor of a popular showbiz magazine in Chennai, Kay Ravi, told Malay Mail that the names of the Malaysians and Singaporeans cropped up during investigations by the media into the high-profile scandal.
She could not however confirm the disclosure with the police “who are going through a long list”.
Kay could not provide the names of the businessmen but said the Indian media were more interested in the alleged involvement of other top actresses in the vice ring.
She said police seized Bhuvaneswari’s handphone and memory chip that is believed to contain details of her sex trade.
The arrest earlier this week of the glamorous Bhuvaneswari on suspicion of running a brothel has triggered a storm in the South Indian movie industry and has become a major talking point here.
The case has also made Bhuvaneswari an instant favourite with the google-eyed scouring the Net for her saucy photographs.
Ironically, Bhuvaneswari made her name as a call girl in the hugely popular 2003 Tamil movie Boys.
Speculation is rife on the identities of the other actresses whom the busty Bhuvaneswari has alleged were also involved in the flesh trade.
She had apparently admitted to being involved in prostitution and agreed to spill the beans on her elite clientele on condition that police also take action against other actresses.
While police have denied Bhuvaneswari had provided a list of names, Indian media speculated that the alleged list included Anju, Manjula Vijayakumar, Nalini, Namitha, Shakeela and Sri Priya.
The South Indian Actors Association has taken exception to Bhuvaneswari’s statement and has scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss it.
This is the second time in seven years that she is facing prostitution charges. In 2002, she was acquitted on a charge of running a brothel.
In the latest case,Tamil Nadu media reported that she was arrested at her home, with four men, after being tipped-off on sinister activities by neighbours.
Police set up a sting operation with an officer posing as a wealthy businessman. The anti-vice squad moved in after she agreed to the price and took him to a room where two Mumbai-based models were confined.
It was reported that the actress charged between 10,000 rupees (RM800) and 100,000 rupees for sexual favours.malaymail
