Rakhi Sawant Moves HC to Get Rid Of Defamation Case: ‘A Woman Can’t Be Booked for…’

Actor Rakhi Sawant has dismissed a defamation case filed against her as a “publicity stunt” and sought its quashing in the Bombay High Court (HC). The case stems from an incident where Sawant allegedly displayed videos of the complainant in public and made defamatory remarks about her.

The complainant initiated defamation proceedings and filed an FIR on October 18. Sawant was charged under Sections 354(A) (outraging modesty of a woman), 500 (defamation), 504 (criminal intimidation), 509 (intent of provoking breach), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with Section 67(A) of the Information and Technology Act (IT Act).

Sawant’s plea specifically contested the applicability of Section 354A of the IPC, arguing that it cannot be applied to her since it is intended for charges against men.

Sawant has maintained that the FIR is a fabricated attempt to frame her. “It is submitted that the aforesaid FIR has been filed by the informant in an attempt to harass the petitioner herein and to frame her in a false and a bogus case and is a publicity stunt used to gain notoriety and fame, by berating and attacking the reputation and modesty of the Petitioner. That the present FIR is mala fide and is motivated with fraudulent intentions and has been registered by the informant with ulterior and revengeful motives to harass the Petitioner and pressurize her,” the plea reads.

In her plea, Sawant has also stated that a careful perusal of the FIR indicates that no confidence can be generated on its genuineness. “The petitioner states that without going into the merits of the matter, a careful perusal of the FIR by itself indicates that no confidence can be generated in respect of the genuineness of the said FIR…”

Sawant also stated that the dispute was resolved amicably. “…In any case, as the Petitioner and the Respondent no.2 have amicably resolved all the disputes however pendency of the present F.I.R is nothing but just a tactic played by the respondent no.2 to waste the precious time of the court and also to be highlighted in the media,” the plea stated.

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