Aditya Pancholi convicted for assaulting man in the parking lot

Actor Aditya Pancholi was convicted by the Andheri magistrate court on Saturday for assaulting a man in the parking lot of his building in 2005, actor says will appeal sentence

Aditya Pancholi assaulted a neighbour in the parking lot of his residential building in 2005

Actor Aditya Pancholi was convicted by the Andheri magistrate court on Saturday for assaulting a man in the parking lot of his building in 2005.

Magistrate Amitabh A Panchbhai convicted the actor under Section 325 of the IPC (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and sentenced him to a one-year imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 20,000. Pancholi was later granted bail on a bond of Rs 15,000 and cash bail of Rs 12,000.

Setting an example
The court observed that it wanted Pancholi’s sentence to be set as an example. “In the opinion of this court, just because the accused is a film star or a celebrity, deterrent or stringent punishment should be given so as to set an example for the general public who imitate such celebrities,” it said. “The pronouncement of the sentence must be fair and free from any prejudice whatsoever.”

None of Pancholi’s family members accompanied him to the hearing.

The case
On August 21, 2005, the actor had attacked a neighbour from his building, Pradeep Pashine, in the parking lot. According to Pashine’s statement in court, when he entered the parking lot of his building, Magnum Opus, that evening, he found his parking space occupied by another vehicle, which turned out to be Pancholi’s. So, he parked his car in front of it.

An hour later, he got a call from the building watchman, asking him to move his car. When Pashine opened the door of his car, Pancholi attacked him. Pashine, who suffered a nosebleed in the assault, asked his wife to call the police. Pancholi’s wife, Zarina Wahab, tried calming the situation by dissuading them from making the call. But Pancholi continued to threaten Pashine, who then went ahead and filed a police complaint.

The investigating officer said in his deposition that a complaint under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC was filed against Pancholi.

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