Bombay High Court Quashes FIR Filed By Priyanka Chopra Against Former Manager Over Objectionable Messages After He Tenders 'Unconditional Apology'

The Bombay High Court on Thursday quashed a 14-year-old case filed by actor Priyanka Chopra against her former manager Prakash Jaju with the actor’s consent following an amicable settlement between the parties.

According to the settlement, Jaju tendered an unconditional apology with “folded hands”, adding that he had no intention to hurt or intimidate Chopra, who is now settled in the USA.

The case pertains to an FIR of 2008 wherein Jaju was booked under sections 506(II) (criminal intimidation), 509 (words or gesture intended to insult the to a woman’s modesty) of the IPC and section 67 of the IT Act, for sending certain objectionable messages to Chopra and certain words spoken during a telephonic conversation.

A division bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan heard the matter in chambers wherein Chopra appeared through video conferencing and said she has no objection if the FIR is quashed. 

"The judges asked her if she was agreeable to the clause that he could contact her professionally, to which Priyanka said that she preferred if he didn't and the clause was accordingly deleted from the consent terms," an advocate present during the hearing said on the condition of anonymity. 

While Jaju was represented through Dewani and Associates, Chopra was represented by Advocate Rahul Agarwal.

Jaju approached the HC in a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quashing and setting aside of the case registered at the Versova police station. It was later transferred to DCB CID Unit -D1. Pursuant to the filing of the chargesheet, the matter was pending before the Esplanade Magistrate court in Mumbai.

According to the plea, Jaju worked as Chopra’s secretary from 2001-2004, after which disputes arose for payment of dues leading to multiple proceedings. However, the parties settled the matter amicably in 2007 through a settlement deed.

However, in 2008, Jaju allegedly sent objectionable messages to Chopra pursuant to which the subject FIR was registered.

Only recently Jaju filed the petition in HC based on a settlement agreement of November 2022. “The Petitioner and the Respondent no.3 (Original Complainant) amicably resolved all their difference and recorded the same in the form of Consent Term,” the court was told.

Jaju said that realising his misdemeanour, he honestly approached Chopra to settle the disputes between them and clear any misunderstanding.

“He never had any intention to send any obscene or intimidating messages and he has realized that the messages may have been perceived as such, and is highly repentant for the same and for any inconvenience caused to the Party No. 1 (Chopra) by the receipt of such messages.”

The settlement agreement further said that, “the Party No.2 (Jaju) with folded hands tenders his unconditional, unqualified and unequivocal apology to Party No.1 (Chopra) for the hurt and inconvenience caused to her due to the receipt of the 'sms messages and further unequivocally states that he keeps Party No. 1 (Chopra) in highest regard and never had any intention of causing hurt or intimidation or inconvenience. etc. while sending said messages. Party No. 2 (Jaju) is full of remorse and fully repentant for everything and sincerely regrets the entire incident.”

In turn Chopra, as per the consent terms, said she’s considered the apology.

Citation: Citation - 2023 LiveLaw (Bom) 35