India’s glittering film industry has found itself at the crossroads of fame and felony, as some of its biggest stars and influential figures have been pulled into high-stakes criminal proceedings. From courtroom dramas that rival any on-screen thriller to midnight raids splashed across front pages, these legal entanglements remind us that even the brightest lights of Bollywood must answer to the law. Here is a closer look at the headline-making cases that have seen celebrities swap red carpets for court dates and left fans watching real-life drama unfold. From high-profile courtrooms to midnight raids, India’s film fraternity has faced its share of legal controversies, reminding fans that stardom does not place one above the law.
Salman Khan’s Run-in with the Law
In 2002, superstar Salman Khan was accused of a hit-and-run in Mumbai that left one man dead and four injured. Initially convicted in 2015 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, Khan was granted bail the same day and later acquitted by the Bombay High Court in 2016.
That same year, Khan and a co-accused were convicted in an endangered-wildlife case for poaching two blackbucks during a film shoot in Rajasthan. Although sentenced to five years, he received bail and remains out on appeal, continuing to headline major releases.
Sanjay Dutt and the 1993 Bombay Blasts
Veteran actor Sanjay Dutt spent nearly five years in prison after being convicted under the Arms Act for possessing illegal weapons linked to the 1993 Bombay serial blasts. Dutt’s defence, that the weapons were gifted by gangster-turned-politician Dawood Ibrahim’s associates, failed to absolve him. Released in 2016, Dutt returned to the screen in the Khan-directed biopic Sanju, which chronicled his troubled past.
Jacqueline Fernandez’s Money-Laundering Probe
In mid-2023, Jacqueline Fernandez was arrested in connection with the multi-crore conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar case. Alleged to have received lavish gifts financed by extorted funds, Fernandez spent several days in Mumbai’s Byculla Jail before posting bail. The ongoing Enforcement Directorate investigation continues to probe her financial transactions and gift exchanges.
Rhea Chakraborty and the Narcotics Case
After actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death in 2020, Rhea Chakraborty was accused of abetting his suicide and caught in a nationwide narcotics investigation. The Narcotics Control Bureau arrested her for purchasing drugs, though she was later granted bail. While cleared in the abetment charges, the drug-possession case remains pending in the Supreme Court.
Vikas Bahl and #MeToo Allegations
Director and producer Vikas Bahl faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment in 2018 under India’s #MeToo movement. Although no formal criminal charges were filed, several actresses publicly accused him of misconduct on set. The Mumbai Police registered an FIR in 2023 after renewed complaints, and the case is under investigation.
Closure and the Court of Public Opinion
These high-profile legal battles illustrate the judiciary’s reach and reinforce that celebrity status offers no immunity. While most cases remain under appeal or investigation, the glare of media attention ensures that each hearing is scrutinised in courtrooms and on social media alike, underscoring that in Bollywood, crime and consequence often play out both on- and off-screen.
By – Sonali