Nagpur: Actor Vijay Raaz, known for his “kauwa biriyani” scene in the movie Run, was arrested by the police in Gondia district on Tuesday on charges of sexually harassing a colleague in the underproduction film Sherni.

The molestation is alleged to have occurred in a hotel lobby and on the set. Raaz was released on bail later in the day.

Raaz has been booked under Section 354A (sexual harassment and punishment for it) and 354D (stalking) of the IPC, for which imprisonment is up to three years.

The police did not disclose the place from where Raaz was arrested.

SP Vishwa Pansare said action permissible under the law was duly taken.

It was learnt that the film Sherni starring Vidya Balan had resumed shooting at Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh after the pandemic break. The cast and crew of the film were staying at a hotel in Gondia, which is around 40km from the shooting location.

Sources from the Gondia police said Raaz’s colleague complained that had been targeted by the actor on a number of occasions between October 25 and 29.

The woman is learnt to have narrated the incidents to her family, who shared it with an acquaintance, a senior officer in Mumbai.

DIG, Naxal range, Sandip Patil said the offence was registered immediately after the complaint was lodged.

“We acted promptly due to the sensitive nature of the case,” he said.