In a marathon legal battle spanning years, veteran actor Aditya Pancholi faced the Bombay High Court yet again on Tuesday for the 28th time in a rape allegation case. Stemming from a 2019 FIR at Versova station, the accusations claim Pancholi exploited a budding actress sexually from 2004 to 2009, a narrative he’s fought tooth and nail.
During proceedings, his attorney Prashant Patil renewed the application to scrap the FIR entirely. The court set March 4 as the next date, amid mounting evidence of the complainant’s non-cooperation. Patil highlighted that despite 11 police notices, she hasn’t shown up once to give her statement.
The High Court responded decisively, ordering her re-summoning and appearance. Her lawyer requested an adjournment to gather instructions. Post-court, Pancholi told reporters the matter is headed for dismissal, but details would unfold on the upcoming date.
Unraveling the backstory, the FIR was registered nearly 15 years after the alleged incidents, where the woman claimed Pancholi sedated her, violated her, snapped compromising images, and coerced her through threats. Pancholi counters that it’s a fabricated story born of grudge, unfit for judicial continuance.
This case has gripped headlines since 2019, spotlighting issues of delayed justice claims in entertainment circles. With Pancholi maintaining innocence and pushing for quashing, the legal fraternity awaits the court’s verdict that could redefine such disputes.