An initial inquiry against the star was dropped in 2019 because of lack of evidence, but was later revived. The Paris prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday that French actor Gerard Depardieu was charged in December with rape and sexual assault after authorities revived a 2018 investigation that was initially dropped. The office told The Associated Press that Depardieu was not detained when he was handed the preliminary charges on December 16. The prosecutor’s office addressed the charges after the case was leaked to French media. French media reports said the charges relate to allegations made by an actress in her 20s that date back to 2018.

Source: The Hindu February 24, 2021 07:02 UTC