A journalist working for a news channel named JK24X7 has filed a criminal complaint against Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on June 25 before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Andheri, Mumbai. Two of Salman’s bodyguards, including one named Vijay, have also been named in the complaint.
The journalist has accused the actor of robbery, assault, criminal mischief and criminal intimidation under section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 392 (punishment for robbery), 426 (punishment for mischief), 506(II) (punishment for criminal intimidation, attracting three years of rigorous imprisonment if found guilty), R/W. 34 (Prima facie, this act amounts to attempt to murder under section 307 IPC) from the IPC.
The case dates back to April 2019. The complainant had then filed a police complaint against Khan for snatching a journalist’s mobile phone while he was trying to shoot a video of the actor.
In the criminal complaint filed, journalist Ashok Shyamlal Pandey refers to the incident which transpired on April 24, 2019, at about 4.40 pm, causing him severe mental and physical torture at the hands of the actor and his associates. The complainant was travelling in his car from Juhu to Kandivali with his cameraman Sayyed Irfan when he spotted the actor on his cycle, escorted by his bodyguards.
Copy of the complaint against Salman KhanThe journalist recounted that after taking due permission from Khan’s bodyguards, they started photographing the actor. However, after Khan realized he was being filmed, the journalist was suddenly attacked by the actor’s bodyguards. In the meanwhile, Khan too joined them.
According to the complaint filed, the three assaulted, abused and misbehaved with the journalist and the cameraman and snatched away the journalist’s mobile phone. Though the journalist mentions that he informed Khan about filming him with due permission, Khan ignored his plea and deleted some important information from his phone. The complainant said that Khan even tried to break his phone and soon after left the spot. He further added while they were dialling 100, Khan’s bodyguards returned his phone.
The copy of the complaint further states that police authorities not only delayed the investigation but also disposed off the complaint in two months suggesting no such illegal act and/or offence was found in the matter.
Pandey has also stated in the written copy of the complaint that one Mr Zohaib had approached him for out of court settlement on behalf of the accused. He added that Mr Zohaib not only admitted that the illegal act took place but also requested to settle the matter, which was duly denied by him.
The court is likely to pass an order on July 12, 2019.
Khan was previously convicted by Jodhpur court in the blackbuck poaching case. Actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu were also involved in the case but were acquitted. Khan reportedly had shot and killed two blackbucks (chinkaras) in the Bhagoda ki Dhani village and the complaint against him was registered on October 2, 1998. He was also accused of carrying firearms with expired licenses.