Venus Behbahani: Real Housewives of Melbourne star under police investigation over nude celebrity photo leaks

Venus Behbahani has outed herself in court as being under police investigation for the leak of celeb nudes.

Venus Behbahani-Clark (left) pictured during filming of the Real Housewives of Melbourne, alongside co-stars Janet Roach and Jackie Gillies. Picture: Mark Stewart

Real Housewives of Melbourne star Venus Behbahani is under investigation for allegedly leaking “intimate” nude images of a celebrity rival online, the Herald Sun can reveal.

Ms Behbahani, a mother-of-three, was the subject of a Victoria Police raid last year, during which detectives seized five phones, two laptops and a small quantity of “green vegetable matter” believed to be cannabis.

But the investigation into the nude picture leak has barely progressed, with detectives yet to examine the devices.

The identity of Ms Behbahani’s celebrity victim cannot be revealed for legal reasons.

Ms Behbahani has not been charged over the alleged leaks.

At the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, her barrister, Stephen O’Connell, said Ms Behbahani was “greatly aggrieved” by the allegations levelled against her, and the slow pace of the police investigation.

Venus Behbahani, pictured in happier times. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Venus Behbahani has been a fixture at B-grade red carpet events. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Behbahani effectively outed herself as the subject of the police investigation by launching legal proceedings on Friday, hoping to obtain court orders forcing Victoria Police to return the devices.

Mr O’Connell said a thorough police investigation would clear Ms Behbahani’s name.

“Ten months on and there’s no suggestion of charges,” he said.

“Effectively, Victoria Police’s position is we just have to wait for e-crimes (investigators) to do their job.”

Mr O’Connell told Magistrate Roslyn Porter, “a bit of pressure might actually get Victoria Police to do something, unlike what they have been doing for the last ten months”.

“Victoria Police can’t just simply rely on resourcing issues.”

Ms Porter refused media access to affidavits detailing Ms Behbahani’s gripes with Victoria Police.

The court heard the phones and laptops contain documents which are protected legal professional privilege and Ms Behbahani has been unable to meet with police to facilitate access.

Venus Behbahani-Clark (far left), with, Gamble Breaux, Gina Liano, Jackie Gillies, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello and Sally Bloomfield.

The court on Friday heard the images Ms Behbahani has been accused of distributing showed the celebrity victim’s “entire naked body”.

A police officer told the court only one of the seven devices had been accessed so far, with no incriminating evidence against Ms Behbahani found.

The officer said information on the phone relating to “an allegation ... made against the partner of our complainant” was sent to sex crimes investigators conducting a separate investigation.

Ms Porter made orders requiring Victoria Police to copy the content of the phones and return them to Ms Behbahani within a week, saying it was “in the interests of justice to set a timetable” to hurry the investigation along.