Actor Vijay Raaz has been cleared of sexual harassment charges filed by a crew member in 2020. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Gondia), Mahendra Sorte, dismissed the charges due to lack of evidence.
Case Background
The crew member alleged that Vijay Raaz sexually harassed her during the filming of ‘Sherni’ around five years ago. The alleged incident took place between October 25, 2020, night and October 29, 2020, morning, and was reported to the Ramnagar police station in Gondia.
Investigation Flaws
The court noted that the investigating officer failed to visit the alleged crime scene at the hotel. The complainant had named two or three hotel staff members, but their statements were not recorded.
The court also found that the CCTV footage did not clearly show the alleged act. As a result, the prosecution’s evidence was deemed weak and insufficient.
Verdict
The court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, Vijay Raaz was acquitted, as the benefit of doubt goes to the accused.
Vijay Raaz was arrested on November 4, 2020, in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, where the film crew was based, but was released on bail the same day. The case had been ongoing in court since then.