SHIMLA – The Himachal Pradesh High Court has quashed an FIR against veteranBollywood actor Jeetendra, alleging that he sexually assaulted his cousin48 years ago.
Justice Ajay Mohan Goel Monday dismissed the FIR lodged on February 16 lastyear under section Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman withintent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC, PTI has reported.
The offence is punishable with a maximum imprisonment of two years.
In his 26-page judgment, Justice Goel found credible the actor’s contentionthat the FIR was “mala fide” as the woman’s daughter had been rejected inan audition by Balaji Motion Pictures Limited run by the Jeetendra’sfamily.
The judge said the contents of the FIR do not provide ground to proceedagainst the accused, as they appear to be ‘vague’ and ‘inherently absurd’.
In the FIR, Jeetendra’s cousin alleged that the assault took place in 1971when the actor took her to a room at a hotel in Shimla.
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The room had two separate beds. While she was sleeping, he allegedly joinedthe two beds and tried to outrage her modesty.
He was drunk at that time, she claimed.
Jeetendra’s cousin claimed before the registration of the FIR that the#MeToo campaign against sexual harassment encouraged her to speak againstthe “abuse”.
In 1971, she was 18 years old while Jeetendra was 28.
