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CLEVELAND, Ohio — A Summit County grand jury has indicted the former president of Summa Health Medical Group on a felony charge of violating the state’s revenge porn law. Vivek Bhalla, 45, of Copley faces a fifth-degree felony after a woman accused him of sending an explicit photo of her to her family, business partners and other people on social media Oct. 18. The indictment was filed last week. If he is convicted, Bhalla faces a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. The woman said she waited to contact police until she left Ohio with her children because she was afraid of Bhalla, cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reported last month. When police questioned Bhalla, he denied sending the photos, saying other people had access to his phone, according to authorities. Bhalla was arrested and released after posting a $5,000 bond, according to Barberton Municipal Court records. On Friday, Barberton Municipal Court Judge Todd McKenny approved a temporary protective order that prevents Bhalla from contacting or going near the victim, court records show. As of Oct. 24, Bhalla was no longer employed at Summa Health Medical Group, spokesman Mike Bernstein said in an email. In 2018, Ohio passed a law making it illegal for someone to send nude or sexually explicit photos or videos of another person without their consent and with the intent to harm the victim. This isn’t the first time Bhalla has faced legal trouble. In 2013, Richfield Village police arrested Bhalla and charged him with domestic violence, according to Akron Municipal Court records. In that case, Bhalla pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct. The court deemed Bhalla indigent and appointed attorney John Alexander to represent him. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to Alexander for comment. Bhalla is scheduled for an arraignment Dec. 1 before Judge Jennifer Towell at 1 p.m. in Summit County Common Pleas Court.
