The week started with the news of actress Shweta Tiwari and daughter Palak Tiwari accusing Shweta’s second husband Abhinav Kohli of harassment and domestic violence. Following which, the latter was locked up on Sunday. Abhinav secured bail on Tuesday from a local court and has to pay Rs 15,000 in cash. In addition to this, he is required to visit the local police station every Tuesday until further notice. And back in the limelight, thanks to this case is Shweta’s husband and Palak’s biological father Raja Chaudhary, whose allegations that Abhinav has in the past, "touched Palak inappropriately", contradict Palak’s post on social media that Abhinav never "physically molested her." Shweta Tiwari’s Second Husband Abhinav Kohli Arrested For ‘Making Sexually Coloured Remarks’ Towards His Step-Daughter

When mid-day got in touch with Raja Chaudhary for his take on the issue, he blamed Shweta and told the paper: “This was expected. My ex-wife is responsible. My ex-wife was busy with a reality show and our daughter was alone at home. Once, when I entered their house in Malad, I was shocked to see the way he [the accused] was staring at her and touching her inappropriately. This riled me up and we had a heated argument. The matter reached the Malad police where I slapped him at the police station premises.” Shweta Tiwari’s Daughter Palak Clarifies: ‘Abhinav Kohli Never Physically Molested Me’

Claiming that he had warned Shweta about Abhinav’s intentions and had asked her to not move in with him, Raja stated that Shweta chose not to listen to him and "paid no heed to his advice."

Raja also revealed that he tried to get in touch with both Shweta and Palak after reports of Abhinav’s arrest. “I do not know how low he stooped to outrage her modesty but I texted my daughter who responded to my messages saying she was 'okay' and that I 'need not worry'. At present, she is reeling under mental agony but I will speak to her to know the details in a few days,” Raja revealed to the tabloid. Abhinav Kohli’s Mother Rubbishes Claims That Son ‘Sexually Harassed’ His Step Daughter, Reveals Shweta Tiwari Wanted a Divorce

In other news, actor and writer Akhlaque Khan, who is a close confidant of Abhinav Kohli, also supported his mom Poonam Kohli’s claims about her son’s innocence. Vouching for Abhinav’s caring nature towards Palak, Akhlaque told mid-day, “He is a close friend. I have known him for the past 15 years and we have often worked together. He is a very kind-hearted person and a good father, too. He cared for his daughter more than his two-and-a-half-year-old son. He had even kept his photo with her as his display picture on WhatsApp for years. When I asked him why he did not keep his son's photo as his display picture, he said it is because he loves his daughter a lot. As a father, he has the right to be aware and ask his daughter about what she is doing and where she's going for her own good. Even if he scolds her, he has the right to do so."

Echoing Poonam Kohli’s statements, Akhlaque revealed, “All the allegations raised against my friend are baseless. It has been alleged that he used to create a ruckus in the house, beat the actress and her daughter under the influence of alcohol, so let me say very clearly here that he never, ever, drinks alcohol and would never pass such ugly comments."

Speaking to the paper after his client secured bail in a local court, Abhinav Kohli’s lawyer Shailesh Shrivastava revealed, “My client, who had never been married before, married a woman who had a 12-year-old daughter. Despite that, he fulfilled the duty of being a husband and a father. He lives in the same neighbourhood as his mother but stays at his wife's house. Playing the role of a responsible father, he raised the girl and sent her to school. The mother had no control over the daughter and when he tried to control the teenager, she felt bad. The daughter also got support from the actress's mother. Nobody wanted his interference in the family, so everyone made a charge under a well-thought-out conspiracy. The actress wanted to get away from my client." Abhinav Kohli Granted Bail After Arrest In Step Daughter Palak Tiwari’s Harassment Case

Speaking on the matter of Abhinav showing Palak objectionable photos, the lawyer revealed, “The complainant has alleged my client used to show her obscene images and videos. But he never sent or circulated any such videos or messages. Thus, this section is not applicable. I brought this point forward at the honourable court, because of which the bail was granted. My client has to pay Rs 15,000 in cash and go to the local police station every Tuesday until further notice.”

Meanwhile, Abhinav, who has cases filed against him under sections 354A (sexual harassment), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (insulting modesty of woman) of the Indian Penal Code and 67A (transmitting sexually explicit material) of the Information Technology Act (as per a mid-day report), his cell phone has been seized by the police. A forensic analysis report is awaited.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2019 11:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).