Bombay High Court Takes Up Aditya Pancholi's Plea to Quash 2019 Rape FIR
In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court conducted a hearing on Thursday regarding a petition filed by Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi. The actor is seeking the quashing of a rape First Information Report (FIR) registered against him back in 2019 at Mumbai's Versova police station.
Defense Highlights Complainant's Non-Appearance Despite Multiple Notices
Advocate Prashant Patil, representing Aditya Pancholi, presented arguments before the court to set aside the FIR. During the proceedings, Patil informed the bench that the public prosecutor, acting on behalf of the police, had disclosed a crucial detail. Despite the investigating agency issuing eleven formal notices, the complainant—identified as a female Bollywood actress—had consistently failed to appear for the probe.
In response to this submission, the High Court took decisive action by issuing a fresh notice on Thursday. The court explicitly directed the complainant actress to remain present on the next scheduled hearing date, which has been fixed for February 24, 2026.
FIR Registered Under Multiple Serious IPC Sections
The FIR against Aditya Pancholi was officially registered on June 27, 2019. The complaint invoked several stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code, reflecting the gravity of the allegations. These sections include:
- Section 376 (rape)
- Section 328 (causing hurt by means of poison)
- Section 384 (extortion)
- Section 341 (wrongful restraint)
- Section 342 (wrongful confinement)
- Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt)
- Section 506 (criminal intimidation)
Petition Alleges Malicious Intent and Cites Legal Precedents
According to the detailed petition filed before the High Court, Aditya Pancholi has raised substantial legal objections. The actor contends that the complaint was lodged nearly fifteen years after the alleged incident occurred. The plea categorically describes the FIR as "malicious" and seeks its quashing on solid legal grounds.
Furthermore, the petition references the Supreme Court's landmark Bhajanlal judgment, arguing that this case falls squarely within the established parameters where criminal proceedings can be legitimately set aside by the judiciary.
Defense Presents Alleged Recording as Evidence of Wrongful Intention
Advocate Prashant Patil made an additional submission during the hearing. He stated that an individual had met Aditya Pancholi prior to the FIR being registered, and a recording of that interaction is currently in their possession. The defense claims this recording has been formally presented before the court to demonstrate what they term as "wrongful intention" behind the complaint.
It is noteworthy that soon after the FIR was lodged in 2019, Aditya Pancholi had publicly asserted that he was "falsely implicated in this case." The matter remains actively pending before the Bombay High Court, with all further proceedings scheduled to continue on the aforementioned date of February 24, 2026.
