Mumbai: Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi has approached the Bombay High Court seeking quashing of a rape FIR registered against him six-and-a-half years ago.
The FIR, lodged on June 27, 2019 at Versova police station, invoked IPC Section 376 (rape) along with other relevant provisions.
The case stems from allegations made by an actress. Pancholi denied the allegations, calling the complaint “malicious.”
Advocate Prashant Patil, who represented the actor, requested the court to set aside the FIR, arguing that the complaint was filed nearly 15 years after the alleged incident, raising questions about the delay.
The petition also relies on the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal, which outlines guidelines under which criminal proceedings may be quashed.
Patil further submitted that prior to the registration of the FIR, an individual had met Pancholi and a recording of the meeting is in their possession.
The recording has reportedly been placed before the court to support the actor’s claim that the complaint was filed with wrongful intent.
During Thursday’s hearing, the public prosecutor informed the court that the complainant had failed to appear before the police despite 11 notices being issued to her.
Following this, the high court issued a fresh notice, directing the complainant to remain present on the next date of hearing, scheduled for February 24. This is not the first time Pancholi has sought relief from the court in the matter.
In 2022, he had approached the Bombay High Court seeking dismissal of the FIR and directions to the police regarding the progress of the investigation.
