#MeToo: Bombay HC Grants Injunction Against Actress In A Suit Filed By Casting Director Vicky Sadana Accused Of Sexual Assault

The Bombay High Court on Monday granted a temporary injunction against an actress in a suit filed by casting director Vicky Sadana against an actress[YYY] who had accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2013 when she came to Mumbai for an audition. She is the defendant in this suit along with the Bennet Coleman Group and others.

Sadana was booked under Sections 354, 509 and 406 of the Indian Penal Code by Versova Police after YYY, stated that she was assaulted by Sadana during her visit to Mumbai.

The court restrained the actress and other defendants from talking about the said allegations and from publishing such allegations.

Justice KR Shriram, who was hearing a notice of motion filed in a suit against [YYY], granted interim relief and allowed prayer clause (a) in Sadana’s suit which stated: “Pending the hearing and final disposal of the Suit, the Defendants by themselves, their servants and agents be restrained by an order and injunction of this Hon'ble Court from in any manner repeating or airing or re­airing or publishing republishing the aforesaid defamatory interview / statements as set out in paragraphs 7 to 11 as set out in plaint or any other defamatory statement against the  Plaintiff or any other statement pertaining to the Plaintiff in respect of the said case.”

Senior Advocate Veerendra Tulzapurkar appeared on behalf of the plaintiff, Sadana, and Navin Arora, instructed by Ashutosh Shrivastav, appeared on behalf of the defendant YYY.

Although the interim relief of injunction has been granted against the defendants, the court noted:

“At the same time, it is clarified that FIR, if any, lodged, may however, proceed on its own merits and this Court has not expressed any opinion or views in those proceedings.”

The defendants have been directed to file an affidavit-in-reply in the next two weeks and plaintiff has been directed to file a rejoinder if any, within two weeks after the affidavit by defendants is filed. The said notice of motion will now be listed for final hearing on January 22.