Media365
Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw has described the molestation complaint filed against him by social media influencer Sapna Gill as baseless, claiming it was motivated by personal animosity and a desire for publicity. In a written response submitted to a Mumbai court on Tuesday, Shaw argued that Gill’s plea was frivolous and filed with the intention of damaging his reputation. He stated that the complaint was a retaliation to a 2023 criminal case registered against Gill following an alleged altercation involving Shaw at a suburban hotel.
Gill was arrested in February 2023 after being accused of attacking Shaw during an argument over taking selfies at a hotel. After securing bail, she approached the Andheri Airport police station with a complaint accusing Shaw, his friend Ashish Yadav and others of molestation and outraging her modesty. The police, however, declined to register a First Information Report, stating that no offence was made out. Following this, Gill moved a magistrate’s court seeking directions to the police to register an FIR. The police reiterated their stand before the court, after which the magistrate ordered a fresh inquiry under Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to assess whether sufficient grounds existed to proceed with the case. Challenging this order, Gill filed a revision petition before a sessions court in April 2024 through her lawyer, Ali Kaashif Khan. Shaw, who had not responded earlier, finally filed his reply this week, alleging that Gill was “playing the womanhood card” to settle a personal vendetta and counter the earlier FIR lodged against her. Shaw’s reply further claimed that Gill, whom he described as a struggling actor, had approached the court with the intention of gaining publicity and extorting money by falsely implicating him. Responding to Shaw’s submission, Gill’s lawyer said the reply failed to present any concrete evidence or alibi in Shaw’s defence. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on March 31.
