In a significant development in the highly publicized matrimonial dispute between actress Rakhi Sawant and her estranged husband, Adil Durrani, the Bombay High Court has quashed the FIRs filed by both parties against each other. The court’s decision marks a turning point in the couple’s tumultuous relationship, paving the way for divorce proceedings after an amicable settlement was reached.
Court Quashes FIRs Against Both Parties
The Bombay High Court, presided over by Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh Patil, took the decision to quash the FIRs following the couple’s agreement to settle their disputes amicably. Rakhi Sawant, who was present in court, stated that she had no objection to the quashing of the FIR she had filed against Durrani, along with the subsequent chargesheet filed by the Oshiwara police station.
Similarly, the court also quashed an FIR registered by Durrani against Sawant with the Amboli police station. This complaint pertained to an obscene video that was allegedly shared with friends. Durrani expressed his consent to the quashing of the FIR, reiterating the statement in his affidavit that he had no objections to the decision.
While quashing the FIR, the court refrained from imposing any costs, noting that the matter arose out of a matrimonial dispute. The bench emphasized that “the dispute is a matrimonial dispute that has been amicably settled by the parties,” and consequently allowed the petitions and quashed the cases.
Terms of Settlement and Undertakings
As part of the settlement agreement, both parties provided undertakings to the court. The bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh Patil stated, “Needless to say that both the parties are to abide by the undertaking given by them.” The undertakings include conditions that both Sawant and Durrani will not talk about the issue publicly and will not make any allegations against each other.
This clause appeared to take immediate effect, as Sawant, when approached by media persons outside the court, refrained from discussing the specifics of the case. Instead, she made a cryptic statement saying, “Donald Trump ki beti hoon main, unki jai, Jai Salman Khan bhai, Bharat Mata ki jai, Modi sarkar ki jai, main aaj azad ho gayi” (I am free today).
Background of the Matrimonial Dispute
The couple, who married under Islamic laws in May 2022, had filed FIRs against each other following severe marital discord. Their relationship, which began in 2021, turned sour within months of marriage, leading to a series of legal battles that played out publicly.
Rakhi Sawant had filed a complaint against Durrani alleging domestic violence, mishandling of funds, and infidelity. She accused him of physically assaulting her and engaging in extramarital affairs. Durrani was arrested by Mumbai Police in February 2023 and sent to judicial custody following Sawant’s allegations.
On the other hand, Durrani filed a complaint against Sawant under sections 500 (defamation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, for allegedly circulating his private, sexually explicit videos in public and on television shows.
The legal tussle between the two involved multiple court appearances, with both parties filing various applications, including bail cancellation requests, defamation cases, and anticipatory bail pleas.
Divorce Proceedings to Follow
Both parties are proceeding with divorce proceedings after quashing the FIRs and reaching a settlement. This marks the formal end of a marriage that lasted barely over a year but generated significant media attention and legal complications.
Rakhi had earlier expressed her desire to be free from the marriage, stating in March 2023, “Mera divorce hone waala hai. Hum abhi azaad ho chuke hain” (I am getting a divorce, I am free now). She had mentioned that there are certain things in life that one should leave behind and move on from.
The Marriage and Conversion
Rakhi Sawant and Adil Khan Durrani got married in a nikah ceremony on May 29, 2022, at Sawant’s home in Oshiwara, Mumbai. The ceremony took place at 1:30 p.m., and the bride was given a meher (security deposit) of Rs 51,786.
For the marriage, Rakhi converted to Islam and changed her name to Rakhi Sawant Fatima, as evidenced by their Nikahnama (marriage certificate). The nikah was performed in the presence of a Vakil (guardian) Abdul Kadir Lokhandwala, and two witnesses, Kulsum Bi Naseeruddin Naik and Ahmed Riyaz Shaikh. The couple also registered their marriage with the Municipal Corporation.
Previous Legal Entanglements
The couple’s relationship had been marked by numerous legal complications. Rakhi had filed applications for cancellation of Durrani’s bail and a defamation case against him, alleging that he continuously tarnished her image and influenced witnesses. She accused him of making public appearances and press conferences to gain cheap publicity and of joining alliances with people who had strained relations with her.
Meanwhile, Durrani’s complaint against Sawant resulted in the rejection of her anticipatory bail plea by both the Dindoshi Sessions Court and the Bombay High Court. The courts observed that Sawant had criminal antecedents and that the material allegedly transmitted by her was not only obscene but also sexually explicit.
Relief and Moving Forward
The Bombay High Court’s decision to quash the FIRs brings relief to both parties, allowing them to move forward with their lives without the burden of criminal cases hanging over them. The court’s emphasis on the matrimonial nature of the dispute and the importance of amicable settlement underscores the judiciary’s preference for resolving such matters through mutual agreement rather than prolonged litigation.
With both parties having agreed not to make further allegations against each other, the focus now shifts to completing the divorce proceedings. Rakhi Sawant’s statement outside the court “main aaj azad ho gayi” (I am free today), captures the sense of closure that this legal resolution brings to a highly publicized and contentious chapter in both their lives.
The case serves as a reminder of how matrimonial disputes, especially those involving public figures, can escalate into complex legal battles involving multiple FIRs and court proceedings. The Bombay High Court’s intervention and facilitation of an amicable settlement has brought this saga to a relatively peaceful conclusion, allowing both parties to part ways without further legal complications.
By – Sonali