Veteran Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi has once again drawn headlines as the Bombay High Court took up his petition to quash a 2019 rape FIR. The case, lodged at the Versova Police Station in Mumbai, involves serious allegations made by a female Bollywood actress, bringing one of the industry's longest-running legal battles back into focus.
Key Legal Arguments Presented
Pancholi’s legal team, led by advocate Prashant Patil, argued for the dismissal of the FIR, citing several critical points:
• The complaint was filed many years after the alleged incident, raising questions about its timeliness.
• The defence described the complaint as “malicious” and asserted a lack of timely evidence to support the claims.
• Legal precedent, particularly the Supreme Court’s Bhajanlal judgment, was invoked, which allows for the quashing of criminal proceedings under specific circumstances.
Courtroom Developments and Complainant's Absence During the recent hearing, the defence presented a recording of a meeting held prior to the FIR being filed. They claim this recording demonstrates “wrongful intention” behind the complaint. While the court noted the submission, it opted to focus on procedural matters rather than rule on its admissibility at this initial stage.
A significant point of discussion was the complainant’s repeated absence from the police investigation. The public prosecutor informed the bench that despite 11 notices sent by the investigating agency, the actress failed to appear for questioning. In light of this, the Bombay High Court has issued a fresh notice, directing her to be present at the upcoming hearing.
