Introduction:

In a recent development, the Bombay High Court has issued a notice concerning a petition filed by actress Hansika Motwani and her mother, Jyoti Motwani, seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) lodged against them by Muskan Nancy James, Hansika’s sister-in-law. The FIR, registered on December 18, 2024, at Amboli Police Station in Mumbai, invokes Sections 498-A (cruelty by husband or relatives), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Background of the Case:

Muskan Nancy James, a television actress, married Prashant Motwani, Hansika’s brother, in December 2020. The couple reportedly separated in 2022. In her complaint, Muskan alleges that her mother-in-law, Jyoti Motwani, and sister-in-law, Hansika Motwani, extensively interfered in her marriage, leading to its deterioration. She accuses them of demanding expensive gifts and money and engaging in fraudulent activities related to property. Muskan also claims that she experienced domestic violence, which resulted in her developing Bell’s Palsy, a condition causing partial facial paralysis.

Petitioners’ Arguments:

Hansika and Jyoti Motwani have approached the Bombay High Court to quash the FIR, asserting that the allegations are baseless and motivated by domestic disputes exaggerated to initiate criminal prosecution. They contend that they had no direct involvement in the marital issues between Muskan and Prashant and that their inclusion in the FIR aims to pressure the Motwani family into a financial settlement. The petitioners highlight that the FIR was filed only after Muskan refused to agree to a mutual divorce, suggesting that the criminal proceedings are being misused as leverage in the ongoing matrimonial litigation.

Court’s Response:

A division bench comprising Justices Sarang Kotwal and Shriram Modak has issued a notice regarding the petition and adjourned the hearing to July 3.