Bhandarkar granted anticipatory bail in rape case

Mumbai, Nov 14 (IANS) A Mumbai magistrate court Monday granted anticipatory bail to Bollywood filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar in the 2004 case of rape and criminal intimidation filed by actress Preeti Jain.

He was provided bail on a surety of Rs.30,000.

Magistrate B.B. Pantawene also asked Bhandarkar to deposit his passport with the court and not to leave the country. The magistrate also warned him against influencing witnesses in the case.

The court asked him to furnish the bond after Bhandarkar produced a copy of anticipatory bail obtained by him seven years ago.

Bhandarkar has, however, challenged the magistrate court's Sep 19 order to initiate proceedings against him.

The case is likely to be transferred to the sessions court for trial Nov 29.

In July 2004, Jain had lodged a complaint alleging that Bhandarkar had raped her several times between 1999 and 2004 under the pretext of marrying her and casting her as actress in his movies.