New Delhi:
The Supreme Court has stayed criminal proceedings against film producer-director Madhur Bhandarkar in an alleged rape case.
The Court has issued notices to Pretti Jain, who filed a case of rape against Mr Bhandarkar and the Maharastra govt, seeking their replies on Bhandarkar's plea to quash the case.
In July 2004, Pretti Jain, living in Malad suburb of north Mumbai, created a sensation after she accused the national award winning director of rape on the pretext of giving her a lead role in his film.
Pretti alleged that she slept with Mr Bhandarkar from 1999-2004 as he promised her a role in his films and marriage.
In a statement later, Pretti, alleged: "We had sex 16 times and Madhur made promises of giving me a lead role in his films. However, he didn't offer me a lead role in any of his movies. At times when I refused, he raped me."
In September 2005, Pretti was arrested after she reportedly hired a contract killer for Rs.70,000 to murder Mr Bhandarkar.
In November last year, the Bombay High Court had granted bail to Mr Bhandarkar on a bond of Rs. 30,000 and two sureties.
Mr Bhandarkar is credited with making sensitive, critically acclaimed and box-office hit films like Chandni Bar, Page 3, Traffic Signal, Corporate and Fashion, among others.