India TV does a Shakti on Aman

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: Actor Aman Verma known for his role in serials like<span style="" font-style:="" italic=""> Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi </span>and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Devi</span> has filed a criminal case of blackmail and extortion against television anchor Suhaib Illiyasi and India TV Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma.<br /><br />The complaint has been filed with Mumbai police, advocate Dipesh Mehta, representing Verma said. <br /><br />In a police complaint, Verma said the entire episode had been filmed three months ago under the supervision of Suhaib Ilyasi, who had also supervised the Shakti sting. <br /><br />Rajat Sharma, CEO of India TV, did not deny the sting operation on Verma, but refused to elaborate.<br /> <br />In his complaint, Verma stated that in December 2004 he had been approached by a Delhi-based model who called herself Ruchi - the same name used by the decoy in the Shakti Kapoor sting. <br /><br />The girl had repeatedly phoned him and sought his "assistance" in her bid to make it big in Bollywood. She told him she was staying in a five-star hotel in Juhu.<br /> <br />According to the complaint, on December 17, when Verma was alone at his Lokhandwala residence, the girl came to visit him. <br /><br />After pleasantries, the couple moved to Verma''s bedroom where they chatted for 15 to 20 minutes. <br /><br />The girl asked about the functioning of the film industry and zeroed in on well-known production house Balaji Telefilms. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br />The girl wanted to know what was required to get a break in Balaji. Verma, in his complaint, said she was "suggestive and seductive". <br /><br />According to his lawyers, she wanted him to recommend her to the production house. Verma said he could not promise anything. <br /><br />He added there was no physical contact between them. <br /><br />"The girl was keen to find out what was required to succeed quickly in television and about any pre-requisites," the complaint said. <br /><br />While he was escorting the girl out of the house, Verma saw Illiyasi at his door along with a cameraman, who claimed that they had caught him on tape in a "sting" operation. <br /><br />Since that day, Illiyasi and Sharma had been allegedly telephoning him for favours, following which the actor today filed a complaint.<br /> <br />On Wednesday, Verma finally took legal advice and sent in his written complaint to the police. <br /><br /><br /></div> </div>