Malaika Arora in Trouble Again as Court Re-Issues Warrant in Saif Ali Khan's 2012 Hotel Brawl Case

Bollywood diva Malaika Arora has landed in legal hot waters once again. A Mumbai court has re-issued a bailable warrant against her for not appearing as a prosecution witness in a 2012 assault case involving actor Saif Ali Khan. The matter traces back to a late-night incident that occurred more than a decade ago at a five-star hotel in south Mumbai.

On the night of 22 February 2012, Saif Ali Khan was having dinner with his then-girlfriend Kareena Kapoor (now wife), her sister Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Amrita Arora, and other close friends. According to the complaint, what was supposed to be a peaceful night out turned violent after an altercation with an NRI businessman, Iqbal Mir Sharma.

Sharma, the complainant, claimed that he was disturbed by the noise coming from Saif’s table and objected to their loud behaviour. Things escalated quickly, and he accused Saif of physically attacking him. Sharma alleged that Saif punched him hard enough to break his nose and also claimed that Khan’s friends assaulted his father-in-law, Raman Patel.

Saif Ali Khan, however, had a different version. He alleged that Sharma provoked the fight. According to Saif, Sharma used abusive language and made insulting comments about the women sitting at his table, which led to the scuffle. Saif and his co-accused, Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi, were arrested soon after the incident and later released on bail.

The case was filed under Section 325 of the Indian Penal Code for causing grievous hurt. The court is now recording statements of all witnesses in the matter. Malaika Arora, who was reportedly present at the scene, had been summoned earlier but failed to appear. The court had issued a bailable warrant on 15 February and re-issued it on Monday when she did not show up again. The next hearing is scheduled for 29 April.

Chief Judicial Magistrate K S Zanwar is overseeing the proceedings at Esplanade Court. The testimonies of all witnesses, including Malaika’s, remain crucial in this long-pending case.

On the professional side, Malaika continues to charm audiences as a judge on Hip Hop India Season 2, sharing the panel with choreographer Remo D’Souza. At 51, she’s still ruling hearts with her glamour and grace, but her court troubles seem far from over.