Next Hearing For Aditya Pancholi Assault Case Set

MUMBAI- The Bombay High Court has scheduled the next hearing for actor Aditya Pancholi’s petition to quash a 2019 rape FIR for March 4, 2026. During the 28th hearing of the matter on February 24, Pancholi’s legal team reiterated their request to cancel the case, which was originally initiated by a female actor.

Defense counsel Prashant Patil argued that the charges, filed at the Versova police station, should be dismissed based on the Supreme Court’s “Bhajan Lal” precedent regarding malicious prosecutions. The defense claims the complaint was filed 15 years after the alleged incident and suggested the motives behind the FIR were improper. To support this, Patil informed the court that a recording of a meeting between a third party and Pancholi, which took place before the FIR was registered, has been submitted as evidence.

A public prosecutor representing the police noted that the complainant has failed to appear for the investigation despite being served 11 separate notices. Although a lawyer appeared on behalf of the female actor during Monday’s proceedings, they requested additional time to consult with their client and prepare a formal response.

In response to these developments, the High Court issued a fresh notice directing the complainant to appear at the upcoming session. While Pancholi declined to comment extensively on the ongoing legal procedure, he confirmed that the court’s next steps will be determined during the March 4 hearing. (IANS)