Bombay High Court 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 Khan and his bodyguard Nawaz Shaikh are allowed.
The HC also quashed the process (summons) issued to Khan and Shaikh by a lower court last year. A magistrate’s court had, in March 2022, issued process to Khan and Shaikh and directed them to appear before it on April 5.
The order was passed in a complaint filed against the duo by journalist Ashok Pandey alleging he was threatened and assaulted by them.
In April last year, Khan approached HC challenging the summons. On April 5, 2022, the HC stayed the summons pending hearing of the actor’s petition. Shaikh too later filed a petition challenging the summons, which was also stayed by HC.
Khan in his petition had claimed there were contradictions and improvisations in Pandey’s complaint and that he had not said anything to Pandey at the time of the alleged incident.
Metropolitan Magistrate R R Khan had issued process to Khan and 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.
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.