Riya Barde, also known by her alias Aarohi Barde, has been arrested by Hill Line Police in Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra, on charges of obtaining an Indian passport with falsified documents. The accused, a Bangladeshi national, is also suspected of staying in India illegally, along with her mother and siblings. Media reports suggest that Riya’s mother married an Indian man to facilitate their illegal stay in the country.
Key Details About the Case
Mother’s Marriage to an Indian Man Riya’s mother, Ruby Shaikh, a Bangladeshi national, married Arvind Barde, a resident of Amravati, Maharashtra. To avoid suspicion, Ruby claimed to be from West Bengal and later changed her name to Anjali. The family began living illegally in India under this false identity.
Mother’s Current Residence in Qatar Aarohi Barde’s parents are now residing in Qatar. The police are actively searching for her sister, Ritu alias Moni Sheikh, and her brother, Riyaz Sheikh, who are also believed to be involved in the case.
Connection to Raj Kundra’s Production According to police reports, Riya Barde has worked in Raj Kundra’s production company. In addition to this, she has appeared in several other films and has reportedly worked alongside actress Gehana Vasisth.
Previous Arrest in Prostitution Case Riya Barde is no stranger to legal troubles. She was previously arrested by the Mumbai Police in a case related to prostitution under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
Complaint from a Friend Leads to Arrest The investigation began after a friend, Prashant Mishra, lodged a complaint against Riya, revealing that she was a Bangladeshi national living illegally in India. Upon further investigation, the police discovered that Riya and her family had forged documents to obtain Indian passports.
Police Investigation and Charges
Sangram Malkar, the police sub-inspector leading the investigation, confirmed, “During the probe, we found that Riya’s mother, Anjali, is a Bangladeshi national living illegally in India with her two daughters, including Riya, and her son. Anjali married Arvind Barde, a resident of Amravati, while claiming to be from West Bengal. She later obtained an Indian passport using fake birth certificates and other fraudulent documents to establish her and her children’s Indian identity.”
The police have charged several members of Riya’s family, including her mother Anjali (alias Ruby Shaikh), her father Arvind Barde, her brother Ravindra (alias Riyaz Sheikh), and her sister Ritu (alias Moni Sheikh), under sections 420, 465, 468, 479, 34, and 14A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Investigations into Riya’s alleged involvement with Mumbai-based pornography rackets are also underway.