A 31-year-old model and actress, Antara Banerjee, was taken into custody by railway police following a chaotic confrontation aboard the Aravalli Express. The incident, which occurred between Borivali and Dahanu stations on Sunday, August 12, began when the actress, who held a sleeper class ticket, insisted on occupying a seat in a reserved air-conditioned coach while traveling for a shoot in Surat.
The situation intensified between 9:30 PM and 10:50 PM after a passenger requested that she vacate the reserved seat. When she refused, the passenger alerted the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Assistant Sub-Inspector Yaminikant Mishra and Constable Rajesh Kumar arrived to mediate, but the actress reportedly became aggressive and began behaving erratically toward the officers.
According to police reports, the confrontation escalated significantly when the actress allegedly removed her clothing and brandished a razor blade, threatening the RPF personnel. Officials claim she used the blade to injure an officer, resulting in minor injuries to both the officer and the actress herself. During the struggle, the actress also allegedly damaged the officer’s mobile phone and uniform. Fearing for the safety of other passengers, authorities locked the coach doors, during which time the actress reportedly attempted to break the train’s window glass to escape.
The disturbance lasted for over an hour, causing panic among fellow passengers. Upon reaching Dahanu station, she was removed from the train and handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP). Borivali Railway Police subsequently took her into custody. Despite being offered the opportunity to contact her family or legal counsel, she reportedly declined the assistance and demanded her own arrest.
A police official stated that the actress calmed down only after a formal First Information Report (FIR) was filed against her. Charges include endangering public safety, assaulting a public servant, and intentional insult. While she was later released on bail after receiving a formal notice, the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Witnesses suggested that the actress may have been experiencing significant emotional distress due to her inability to secure an AC coach seat.
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