Actor Vijay Raaz was acquitted in the 2020 sexual harassment case due to lack of proof. The court observed, “Failed to present sufficient evidence,” while his lawyer said the false claim badly hurt his career.
Bollywood actor Vijay Raaz was acquitted by a Maharashtra court on Thursday in a sexual harassment case filed against him in 2020 by a female crew member during the filming of Vidya Balan’s Sherni.
The Gondia court determined that the prosecution had “failed to present sufficient evidence to substantiate the claims beyond a reasonable doubt.“
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mahendra Sorte, dismissed the charges under Sections 354-A (sexual harassment) and 354-D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code, citing significant lapses in the investigation.
According to reports , the complaint was lodged at the Ramnagar police station in Gondia, alleging that Raaz harassed the woman between the night of October 25 and the morning of October 29, 2020, at a hotel where the film’s cast and crew were staying.
Raaz was arrested on November 4, 2020, in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, and was granted bail on the same day.
The court noted that the investigating officer did not visit the alleged crime scene nor did they take statements from hotel staff mentioned by the complainant.
The judge commented.
“The evidence presented by the prosecution appears weak and insufficient,”
Furthermore, the CCTV footage submitted did not clearly show the accused committing the alleged act.
The court concluded that “the oral evidence presented by the prosecution was not sufficient to convict the accused,” leading to Raaz’s acquittal. In line with criminal law, the benefit of the doubt was given to the accused.
Raaz’s lawyer, Saveena Bedi Sachar, expressed her satisfaction with the verdict, stating,
“He was shooting near Nagpur for Sherni when the case came up. Not only did he have to leave the shoot midway, but he also lost work thereafter.”
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She added,
“Now that the court has declared him innocent, this should be an eye-opener for those who treat every accused as guilty from the moment allegations are made.”
Following the controversy, Raaz, known for his notable roles in films like Stree, Delhi Belly, Run, and Dedh Ishqiya, has maintained a low profile.
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