In a shocking development, Riya Barde, a Bangladeshi adult film actress, was arrested on Thursday in Ulhasnagar, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district. She was reportedly staying in India illegally by using forged documents, according to officials who shared the news with PTI.
The Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar had been investigating Barde for over a year. Their inquiries into her identity started after a tip-off linked her to a case of cheating and forgery. Following the investigation, an FIR was filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including those dealing with cheating, forgery, and common intent, as well as violations under the Foreigners Act.
The investigation revealed some startling discrepancies in Riya Barde’s documents. Her birth certificate, school leaving certificate, and passport all pointed to different birthplaces—ranging from North 24 Parganas in West Bengal to Hooghly and Achalpur in Maharashtra’s Amravati district. This inconsistency set off alarm bells for the police.
But the case doesn’t stop there. It’s alleged that Riya didn’t just forge her own documents—she also helped an accomplice obtain a fake education certificate and passport, making the case even more complex. Her arrest is just one in a series of eight that took place across Maharashtra this week, all involving Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally in India.
Who is Riya Barde?
According to reports, Riya Barde, also known as Arohi Barde and Banna Sheikh, was living in India illegally with her family. The Times of India revealed that her mother, Anjali Barde (also known as Ruby Sheikh), her brother Ravindra (alias Riyaz Sheikh), and her sister Ritu (alias Moni Sheikh) were also involved.
In an attempt to secure their stay in India, Riya’s mother allegedly married Arvind Barde, a resident of Amravati, Maharashtra. Police officials have confirmed that Riya’s parents are currently residing in Qatar, while her siblings remain untraceable.
Adult Star Riya Barde’s Link With Raj Kundra
Riya Barde wasn’t just any Bangladeshi national living under the radar. She had built a career in the adult film industry and was reportedly linked to projects produced by Raj Kundra’s production company. She had also appeared alongside performer Gehana Vasisth in several films.
However, Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, stated that he has no connection to Riya Arvinda Barde, who was detained in Maharashtra for illegally residing in India and obtaining an Indian passport through fraudulent means. “These reports claim that an individual, allegedly an illegal immigrant, worked for me or was associated with one of my supposed production companies. Let me be very clear – I have never met this person, nor have I ever owned or been involved with any production company that this individual has worked for,” Kundra clarified, according to India Today.
According to IMDB, Riya is best known for her role in the 2023 film Aamras. However, this isn’t her first brush with the law. She was previously arrested in Mumbai for her alleged involvement in a prostitution case under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.