Aditya Pancholi moves Bombay HC to quash rape FIR filed by Bollywood actress; court issues fresh notice

The Bombay High Court on Thursday heard a petition filed by Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi seeking quashing of a rape FIR registered against him in 2019 at Mumbai’s Versova police station.According to ANI, appearing for the actor, advocate Prashant Patil reiterated the plea to set aside the FIR. Pancholi has been named as an accused in the case, while the complainant is a female Bollywood actress. During the hearing, Patil informed the court that the public prosecutor, representing the police, stated that despite 11 notices issued by the investigating agency, the complainant had not appeared for the probe. In light of this submission, the High Court issued a fresh notice on Thursday, directing her to remain present on the next date of hearing, which has been scheduled for February 24.The FIR against Aditya Pancholi was registered on June 27, 2019. The complaint invoked several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 376 (rape), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 384 (extortion), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation).According to the petition filed before the High Court, the actor has contended that the complaint was lodged nearly 15 years after the alleged incident. The plea describes the FIR as “malicious” and seeks its quashing on legal grounds.Citing the Supreme Court’s landmark Bhajanlal judgment, the petition argues that the case falls within the parameters where criminal proceedings can be set aside. Advocate Prashant Patil further submitted that an individual had met Pancholi prior to the FIR being registered, and that a recording of the interaction is in their possession. The recording, the defence claims, has been presented before the court to demonstrate what it termed as “wrongful intention” behind the complaint.Soon after the FIR was lodged in 2019, Pancholi had asserted that he was “falsely implicated in this case.” The matter is currently pending before the Bombay High Court, with further proceedings set to continue on February 24, 2026.