The Bombay High Court heard Aditya Pancholi’s plea seeking to quash the 2019 rape FIR filed against him at Versova Police Station. His counsel termed the complaint malicious and cited the Bhajan Lal judgment. The court issued a fresh notice to the complainant and posted the next hearing for February 24, 2026
Aditya Pancholi
Aditya Pancholi is one of the popular actors of the ’90s, predominantly known for playing grey characters. While his career boasts an impressive filmography, the actor has found himself in hot water over controversies for several reasons. In 2019, a popular actress accused Aditya Pancholi of rape. The actor has now filed a plea in the Bombay High Court to quash the FIR filed against him.
Aditya Pancholi’s plea to quash FIR
The Bombay High Court, on Thursday, heard a petition filed by Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi, seeking to quash a rape FIR (including IPC Section 376 and other sections) filed against him in 2019 at Mumbai's Versova Police Station. Appearing for the actor, advocate Prashant Patil reiterated the plea to set aside the FIR. While Pancholi has been named as an accused in the matter, the complainant is a female Bollywood actress.
Advocate Prashant Patil revealed that the public prosecutor, appearing for the police, stated that despite 11 notices sent by the police, the victim did not appear for the investigation. Following this, the Bombay High Court issued a fresh notice on Thursday, directing her to appear on the next date, scheduled for February 24.
The FIR registered against Aditya Pancholi on June 27, 2019, continues to stir controversy. The accused claimed that the complaint was filed nearly 15 years after the alleged incident, describing it as “malicious.”
Citing the Supreme Court’s ‘Bhajan Lal’ judgment, the petition argues that the case falls within the parameters where criminal proceedings can be set aside.
Aditya Pancholi on recording presented to court
Prashant Patil shared that an individual met Aditya Pancholi before the incident, and a recording of the meeting remains with them. The recording has been presented in court, alleging wrongful intention behind registering the complaint again. The case currently remains pending before the court, with the next hearing set for February 24, 2026.
About charges against Aditya Pancholi
In 2019, the Mumbai Police filed an FIR under charges of alleged rape against Pancholi based on a complaint by a Bollywood actress. In the complaint filed at Versova Police Station, Pancholi was charged under Sections 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) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Soon after the FIR was filed, the actor asserted that he was “falsely implicated in this case.”
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