Maharashtra Court Acquits Actor Vijay Raaz From Sexual Harassment & Stalking Case

In a breather for popular actor Vijay Raaz, a Magistrate court in Maharashtra's Gondia district has acquitted him from sexual harassment and stalking case lodged against him in 2020 by an assistant director of the Vidya Balan-starrer film 'Sherni.'

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Mahendra Sorte noted that the victim in the case died and thus could not be examined by the prosecution and the available witnesses - panch witnesses, mostly did not support the prosecution case. 

"As the victim died during the cross-examination, the prosecution could not establish her presence and record her testimony. Evidence of the victim is not available. There is no evidence on record that during the incident of the said crime, the accused sexually harassed the victim by having unwanted physical intimacy with the informant and he chased her to have unwanted intimacy with her even though she made it clear that she was not interested in him. The prosecution failed to establish the nexus of the accused with the alleged offence. Therefore, the prosecution has not proved that the accused has committed the crime in question," the judge said in the order. 

The case dates back to October 2020, when Raaz was shooting for the film Sherni at Gondia district. The victim in her complaint cited various incidents when Raaz tried to make sexual advances. As per the victim, Raaz once tried to touch her shoulder, and on one occasion touched her without her permission. She further stated that the actor removed her face mask, twice in the presence of his make-up man and manager.

Further, she alleged that after shooting, he called her near him and touched her hairs, which were on her chest at that time and went on to say, "बाल तुम्हारे अच्छे हैं | कभी तुमने अपने बाल छोटे करने की सोची है? छोटे बालों में बहुत खूबसूरत लगोगी |" (You have nice hair. Have you ever thought of cutting your hair short? You would look beautiful with short hair.)

Besides this, the victim alleged the Raaz even called her to his room unnecessarily twice. Irked with his advances, the victim felt outraged and ashamed and therefore lodged a complaint against him. 

Appearance: 

Assistant Public Prosecutor AG Yele represented the State.

Advocates Saveena Bedi and VN Barapatre represented Raaz.

Case Title: State of Maharashtra vs Vijay Sukhwindersingh Raaz

Click Here To Read/Download Judgment