FIR filed against Nawazuddin Siddiqui on molestation charges

So far actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been riding high on the success of his films; has become popular for his down-to-earth attitude and his command over acting but this time around he is in the news for all the wrong reasons. According to reports by Times of India, a 24-year-old woman Soni Dadekar, who lives in the same building as him in Andheri, Mumbai, has lodged an FIR against the actor for manhandling and assaulting her.

The complainant has claimed that Nawazuddin’s bodyguards got into an argument with a person over the building’s parking spot, after which she came out of the office and started clicking photographs of the incident, on her mobile phone. At the same time Nawazuddin came down and asked the complainant not to click photographs. When she refused, Nawazuddin pushed her in the chest, following which she called the police.

Nawazuddin’s manager, Anup Pandey, has however denied the charges stating that there was an argument but no physical abuse involved and that this is being done only to defame the actor.

According to the Hindustan Times, Pandey said, “It is a false case. The case has been registered without investigation. It is a society issue which has been going on for a long time. There was an argument, but no hathaa-pai (exchange of physical blows) as claimed in the complaint. We will take the matters up.”

While on the other hand, Arun Chavan, assistant commissioner of police, said, “We registered a case against Nawazuddin under IPC section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty) based on the complainant’s version. As of now, we have not arrested any person, and are in the process of verifying the facts.”

Since the investigation is still in process, nothing can be said over the case. Whether Siddiqui is to be blamed or not, this remains in doubt for now.