Legal corrrespondent

Shimla, May 20

The High Court today quashed the FIR registered against veteran actor Jeetendra for allegedly sexually harassing a woman 47-year-ago at a hotel in Shimla while shooting for a film there.

Justice Ajay Mohan Goel has passed this judgment on a petition filed by Jeetendra contending that the present case is a gross abuse of the process of law. It was further contended in the petition that the facts of the case would also suggest that it was a case where there was an attempt to blackmail the actor for some gains or favours.

It further contended that the present case related to 1971 that was more than 47 years ago and the case had been registered under Section 354 of the IPC.

It was further contended that there was no reason given as to why the complainant had taken 47 years to register the said complaint and what was the instant motivation for having filed the case which was devoid of relevant details. It was further contended in the petition that false and frivolous allegations had been levelled against him by his cousin, the complainant.

The petitioner has urged the court to quash the FIR under Section 354 of the IPC against him. The case was registered against the actor on February16, 2018 at the Women Police Station, Shimla.

While quashing the FIR, Justice Goel observed that “A perusal of contents of the FIR demonstrates that the same are vague and lead to a conclusion that the allegations which have been made therein are absurd and inherently improbable, on the basis of which, no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused/petitioner.”

The court further observed that there was no cogent explanation coming forth from the complainant as to why the complaint was filed at such a late stage.”