Short film director arrested for raping 25-year-old technician in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: A short film director was arrested on Wednesday for raping a 25-year-old software employee on the pretext of offering to cast her in his productions. The accused, Siddarth Varma, 30, was remanded in judicial custody.

The survivor hails from Andhra Pradesh and works with a software company in Cyberabad, police said. She met Siddarth a few months ago through a mutual friend. “Siddarth cast her in his short film,” Gachibowli police said.

In May, he invited her to his house for dinner and offered her a soft drink laced with alcohol. Later, when she lost consciousness, he allegedly raped her. He raped her in the same manner several times, police added.

Based on the survivors’ complaint, the Gachibowli police had registered a case of rape and cheating.