Shyam S Bhartia, founder of Jubilant Bhartia Group, faces serious allegations of rape and criminal intimidation as police register FIR in connection with an aspiring Bollywood actress’s complaint
Shyam S Bhartia, Chairman of Jubilant Foodworks (Domino’s largest franchisee), is accused of rape and intimidation by an aspiring actress, allegations he denies as "baseless."An FIR has been registered by the Kapurbawadi police in Thane against industrialist Shyam S Bhartia, founder and chairman of Jubilant Bhartia Group, which owns the largest Domino’s Pizza franchise outside of the US, and three others. The FIR, filed on February 22, follows allegations of rape, blackmail, and caste-based discrimination made by an aspiring Bollywood actress.
The woman, who filed her initial complaint with the Thane police in November 2023, claimed her case was ignored until the Bombay High Court intervened. The court, led by Justices Revati Dere and Dr Neela Gokhale, ordered the police to register the FIR after the petition highlighted the police’s delay in addressing the serious allegations.
According to the woman, in her 30s, she was introduced to Bhartia by one of the accused, Puja Kanwaljit Singh, who promised to help her gain a foothold in the film industry. On May 3, 2023, the woman alleges she met Bhartia at a Santacruz five-star hotel, where the assault occurred.
The complainant also accused Bhartia and the others of blackmailing her and subjecting her to casteist slurs. After the High Court’s intervention, the FIR was registered, and the police assured the court that the investigation would proceed impartially.
In response, Jubilant Foodworks, the company behind Domino’s, issued a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange, denying the allegations as "baseless, false, and disparaging." Bhartia, in his personal capacity, stated he would cooperate with the investigation, emphasizing respect for the legal process.
While the court disposed of the petition, it clarified that it had not reviewed the merits of the case, and the police were directed to conduct an independent investigation. As the inquiry continues, Bhartia’s legal team has called for privacy for his family during the ongoing process.
