Journalist's Complaint Against Salman Khan, Bodyguard Quashed By High Court

The Bombay High Court today quashed a 2019 complaint lodged against actor Salman Khan by a journalist alleging misbehaviour.

A single bench of Justice Bharati Dangre said the applications filed by Salman Khan and his bodyguard Nawaz Shaikh are allowed.

The high court also quashed the process (summons) issued to Salman Khan and Nawaz Shaikh by a lower court last year.

A magistrate's court had, in March 2022, issued process to Mr Khan and Mr Shaikh and directed them to appear before it on April 5.

The order was passed in a complaint filed against the two by journalist Ashok Pandey alleging he was threatened and assaulted by them.

In April last year, Mr Khan approached the high court challenging the summons. On April 5, 2022, the high court stayed the summons pending hearing of the actor's petition. Mr Shaikh too later filed a petition challenging the summons, which was also stayed by the high court.

Mr Pandey had alleged that in April 2019, Mr Khan and Mr Shaikh abused and assaulted him for filming the actor while he was cycling on the road.

Mr Pandey had filed a private complaint before the magistrate seeking action against the actor.

Mr Khan in his petition had claimed there were contradictions and improvisations in Mr Pandey's complaint and that he had not said anything to Mr Pandey at the time of the alleged incident.

Metropolitan Magistrate RR Khan had issued process to Mr Khan and Mr Shaikh after noting a police report submitted in the matter stated that offences under Indian Penal Code Sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) are made out against the accused persons.

Mr Pandey had alleged the actor snatched his mobile phone while cycling on a Mumbai street when some media persons started clicking his photos.

The actor had allegedly entered into an argument and threatened him, Mr Pandey said in his complaint.

The issuance of a process marks the beginning of criminal proceedings before a metropolitan or judicial magistrate based on a complaint lodged by an individual.

The magistrate court issues the process if it finds prima facie substance in the allegations made in the complaint.

Once the process is issued, the accused persons have to appear before the court.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)