Aditya Pancholi challenges 2019 rape FIR in court, fresh notice issued

The Bombay High Court on Thursday heard a petition filed by actor Aditya Pancholi seeking to quash a 2019 rape FIR registered against him at Versova police station in Mumbai. The case pertains to a complaint lodged by a female Bollywood actor.

Pancholi has been booked under Sections 376, 328, 384, 341, 342, 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. These include charges of rape, causing hurt by means of poison, extortion, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation.

Appearing for the actor, advocate Prashant Patil urged the court to set aside the FIR. During the hearing, Patil informed the bench that despite 11 notices issued by the police, the complainant had not appeared for investigation. The public prosecutor, representing the police, confirmed this submission.

Taking note of the development, the High Court issued a fresh notice directing the complainant to remain present on the next date of hearing. The matter has been posted for February 24. The FIR was registered on June 27, 2019. In his plea, Pancholi has argued that the complaint was filed nearly 15 years after the alleged incident and termed it “malicious.” Relying on the Supreme Court’s Bhajanlal judgement, the petition seeks quashing of the proceedings on legal grounds.

Patil also told the court that an individual had met Pancholi prior to the complaint being filed and that a recording of the interaction exists. According to the defence, the recording has been placed before the court to indicate alleged wrongful intent behind the case.

The High Court has not passed any final order on the merits of the petition. The matter remains pending and will be taken up again later this month.

Soon after the FIR was registered in 2019, Pancholi had maintained that he was “falsely implicated in this case.” The legal proceedings have since continued, with the latest hearing bringing the case back into focus.