"Sheezan Cheated, Shouldn't Be Spared": Actor Tunisha Sharma's Mother

TV actor Tunisha Sharma was "cheated and used" by her co-star Sheezan Khan, her mother has alleged days after the 20-year-old was found dead on the set of a show she was shooting for.

Khan was arrested yesterday under charges of abetment to suicide after Tunisha's mother filed a complaint against him. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the two actors, who were in a relationship, broke up 15 days back. It is being suspected that this left Tunisha upset and pushed her to the edge.

In a video message, Tunisha's mother Vanita alleged that Sheezan had promised to marry the 20-year-old actor, but then broke up with her. "Despite being involved with another woman, he continued a relationship with Tunisha. He used her for three-four months. I just want to say that Sheezan should be punished, he should not be spared. I have lost my child," a distraught Vanita said. She also thanked the media for its support.

The TV actor allegedly died by suicide during a shoot at Vasai near Mumbai. She was shooting for a TV show 'Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul', also starring Khan. Tunisha was found hanging inside a washroom and rushed to a hospital, where she was declared dead.

Tunisha Sharma started her acting career with a role in Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap that premiered in 2013. Besides starring in several TV shows, she has acted in Bollywood movies Fitoor, Baar Baar Dekho and Kahaani 2.

The young actor's death has triggered allegations of so-called "love jihad", but police have said the probe so far does not point to any such angle.

Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan is among those who have said that this is a case of "love jihad" -- a term used by certain radical Hindu groups to suggest that Muslim men often seek to deceive Hindu women through marriage and convert them.

Mr Mahajan also stressed that the Eknath Shinde-led coalition government is planning to bring a strict law against "love jihad".

Police, however, did not agree. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chandrakant Jadhav said, "The investigation is underway. Accused Sheezan's and the victim's phones have been seized. There is no angle of any other affair, blackmailing or "Love Jihad", as of now."