Kannada actress Abhinaya gets 2 years in jail

Kannada film and television artiste Abhinaya (38), who shot into limelight after co-starring with Kashinath in ‘A’ certificate movies like Anubhava was sentenced to twoyears’ imprisonment on Thursday by the 8th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in a dowry harassment case.

Her parents Ramakrishna and Jayamma and brothers Srinivas and Cheluva were also convicted in the case registered against them by Srinivas’ wife Lakshmi Devi. The magistrate also slapped them with a fine of Rs 17,000 each.

Lakshmi Devi had filed a case with the Chandra Layout police station in November 2002.

She said that she married Srinivas, an employee in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) in the Vidhana Soudha, in March 1998.

She said, at the time of wedding, Srinivas was given a dowry of Rs 80,000 along with some gold ornaments. “Later my husband asked me to get Rs 20,000, citing some personal problems. Later Abhinaya, Cheluva, Ramakrishna and Jayamma harassed me, asking me to get Rs 1 lakh as they were in debt after constructing a house.”

She became pregnant, and was taken home by her parents for delivery. Afterwards, her inlaws, she said, refused to take her home and forced her to stay with her parents. “My husband and his family also threatened to kill me and my family,” she said in her complaint.

Abhinaya entered Kannada films through the movie Anubhava in 1983. TheKashinathstarrer was a super-hit. V Manohar’s song “Hodeya Doora O Jotegara,” in which she acted, became an all-time hit.

However, her film career didn’t take off, and she had to be content with character roles.

Later she found a second career and became a household name through the TV soaps. Today, she is acting in TV serials, especially in villainous roles. One of her famous serials was ‘Conductor Kariyappa, Driver Dummanna’. Ironically, till now, Abhinaya has had a career that has been free of controversies.

Abhinaya got married to Cinematographer Umakanth in a private wedding function in Dharmasthala on 13th May 2009. Her marriage in Dharmasthala was a private function and she had invited relatives and close friends.