17th April 2023, Mumbai: According to reports, Mumbai-based actor and dancer Chrisann Pereira is currently imprisoned in Sharjah Central Jail, United Arab Emirates, after being arrested by airport authorities for possession of drugs.
Chrisann’s family has revealed that their daughter is the alleged victim in the ongoing case. According to Kevin, Chrisann’s brother, they have been going through intense emotional turmoil for the past two weeks, as they firmly believe that their sister is innocent and has been wrongly implicated in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The family has been unable to communicate with Chrisann ever since she arrived at Sharjah airport, and they were only informed about her arrest and detention at Sharjah Central Jail after a delay of 72 hours by the Indian Consulate.
According to Chrisann’s family, she fell victim to a scam orchestrated by a man who identified himself as Ravi. The man initially contacted Chrisann’s mother, Premila Pereira, and expressed interest in introducing her daughter to his talent pool team for an upcoming international web series. After several meetings, the man arranged an audition for Chrisann in Dubai and made all the necessary arrangements. Just before her flight on April 1, the accused asked Chrisann to meet him at a nearby coffee shop and gave her a trophy, claiming that it was required for the audition. Chrisann became suspicious when she was unable to contact Ravi upon reaching Sharjah airport. On April 10, the Consulate informed the family that Chrisann had been arrested after drugs were found in the memento given to her by Ravi. Premila suspects that the trophy was part of a larger scheme to frame Chrisann in a drug trafficking case.
Chrisann’s family is currently going through a lot of stress as they are desperately trying to contact her and secure her release. They have already hired a local lawyer in Dubai, which has cost them Rs13 lakh, but they are still unsure about the official charges against Chrisann and the potential fines that they may face. The family is even considering mortgaging their house to pay the fines, which could range from Rs. 20-40 lakhs. Despite their efforts, they have been unable to sleep, eat, or rest properly for the past 13 days due to their worry for Chrisann’s safety, while the fraudsters who scammed her are still at large.
The family sought help from the Mumbai Police, but unfortunately, they were unable to provide assistance as the official charges from Sharjah had not been received yet, and thus, the local police were not willing to file an FIR.
Chrisann has acted in notable films and shows such as Batla House (2019), Sadak 2 (2020), and Thinkistan (2019).