Actor granted release on surety after nearly two months in custody, but court denies cash bail citing seriousness of allegations.
A Mumbai Sessions Court on Thursday, September 10, 2026, granted bail to television actor Rohit Chandel in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, following allegations by a 16-year-old girl that he stalked, harassed and assaulted her in an eastern suburb of Mumbai, according to the Times of India and Aaj Tak.
Bail Conditions and Court's Reasoning
ABP EXCLUSIVE: Rohit Chandel Gets Bail In POCSO Case, To Be Released Tomorrowhttps://t.co/6LiyOCtrEl
— ABP LIVE (@abplive) September 10, 2026
The court, while granting bail, noted that the alleged offence was "very serious" and rejected Chandel's request for provisional cash bail, insisting on a surety-backed release instead, per the Times of India. He must furnish a personal bond of ₹50,000 along with a surety of ₹50,000. The conditions bar him from contacting the complainant or her family through calls, social media or any other means, and require him to stay away from her residence and locality. He is also barred from threatening or influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence, and must appear at every trial date, failing which his bail could be cancelled. The defence, represented by advocate Saveen Bedi Sachar, argued that the chargesheet had already been filed and investigation completed, reducing the risk of evidence tampering.
Javed Akhtar Recalls Surviving on 20 Naye Paise After Producer Failed to Pay Him
Timeline of Custody and Earlier Setbacks
Chandel was arrested in early July 2026 after the case was registered at Ghatkopar Police Station, and was first remanded to police custody, then judicial custody, according to The Week and Mid-Day. Senior PI Vitthal Laxman Aardekar of Ghatkopar Police had said custody was needed to examine phone logs and conduct technical surveillance. Earlier bail attempts in mid-July were reported as rejected, though a relative told Mid-Day one hearing was merely postponed to July 21 due to the absence of police representatives. In early September, Moneycontrol and IndiaForums reported his bail plea was stalled by documentation errors involving his profession, religion and marital status, with review set for September 4.
Career Fallout and Next Steps
Chandel, known for "Pandya Store" and for playing the lead in "Sairaab," was replaced in the latter show following his July arrest, per Wikipedia. His brother, Mohit Chandel, confirmed the bail order to Zoom/TellyTalk, as cited by LatestLY, adding that paperwork delays meant release was expected around September 11, 2026. The allegations remain unproven, with the next hearing for framing of charges scheduled for September 24, 2026.
